Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy for the 5th Sunday of Lent April 5, 2025 Presider: Dotty Shugrue ARCWP Co-Presider: Joan Pesce Prayer Leaders: Jen and Den Rigdon IT: Cheryl Brandi Michael Rigdon Jerry Bires

  

                

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Theme:  IS THIS A TEST?

 

Dotty: Welcome to our Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy our “Church Without Walls.”  Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday in the Season of Lent. 

Whoever you are.

Where ever you are.  Just as you are.

You are welcome at our table

let us pray…

 

Opening Song: Who will Speak if we Don’t

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ70EZqlCys

 

Dotty:  Opening Prayer:  

Holy One, you are within, around and among us.

Today we dare to listen to you, truly understand what you are saying to us, not what we think you said. Open our hearts and minds as we collectively listen and share the Good News!

 

Rite of Transformation:

Our world is surrounded by the forsaken, the mistreated, the sexually abused, the poor, the unloved, the deserted and so many more abuses ofhuman life.  The ministry of Jesus calls us to find our way to service our broken humanity.

Transform us O Holy One

 

Liturgy of the Word

 

Jan R:  First Reading:  Excerpts from “God’s Moments” By Andy Otto:  

 

Complex rules often represent an attempt to control and standardize rather than trust in people’s capacity for authentic spiritual growth and discernment. The irony Rohr points to is that by trying to protect people through complex rules, institutions can actually limit the very complexity and uniqueness that Jesus embraced.

Consider Jesus’ encounters with those on the margins. With the Samaritan woman at the well, he engaged her complex reality – her ethnicity, relationships, and spiritual seeking – not with judgment but with understanding that led to transformation. When faced with the woman caught in adultery, rather than enforcing the letter of the law, he challenged her accusers’ simplified view of justice and honored her dignity as a complex human being. Both women found new life not through rules but through being truly seen and trusted. In other words, Jesus trusts the individual to discern their way forward. Catholic tradition holds the conscience to be paramount in discerning the spirit of God moving us toward wholeness. Sadly, institutions don’t always trust that people have the capacity to make good choices.

These are the words of Andy Otto and the community responds;

Let it be so!

 

Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God by Dena Dean

                     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhhQACwrEFM

 

Spirit of the Living God

Fall fresh on me

Spirit of the Living God

Fall fresh on me.

Melt me mold me

Fill me use me

Spirit of the Living God

Fall fresh on me.

 

Joan P.  Gospel Reading: John 8:1-11

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

 

Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak, he reappeared in the Temple area, and when the people started coming to him, Jesus sat down and began to teach them.

A couple had been caught in the act of adultery, though the religious scholars and Pharisees brought only the woman, and they made her stand there in front of everyone.  “Teacher,” they said, “this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. In the Law of Moses, the punishment for this act is stoning. What do you say about it?”

They were posing this question to trap Jesus so that they could charge him with something. Jesus simply bent down and started tracing the ground with his finger. When they persisted in their questioning, Jesus straightened up and said to them, “Let the person among you who is without sin throw the first stone at her.” Then he bent down again and wrote on the ground.

The audience drifted away one by one, beginning with the elders. This left Jesus alone with the woman, who continued to stand there. Jesus finally straightened up again and said, “Where did they go? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Teacher,” came the reply.

I do not condemn you either.  Go on your way---but from now on, do not sin anymore.” 

These are the inspired words of the apostle known as John and the community responds by saying: 

 

So Be It.

 

Dotty:               Homily Starter and Shared Reflections

 

Statement of Faith

 

Den R:  We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.

We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.

We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.

 

Jan R.  Prayers of the Community

 

As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns.  Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….” 

 

Our response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

Sacred Spirit, we bring to the table and we remember all those who are taken from work, from colleges and schools from their homes and forced to leave our country, those who indeed have Visas and who pay taxes on their earnings:

 

Response:  Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

We remember our immigrants, families, woman and children who are denied entrance into our county, who are returned to Mexico or sent to other countries:

 

Our response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

We remember our veterans who are in danger of losing their benefits after serving our country with honor.

Response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

We remember all women who have lost their right to make medical decisions with the Doctor because of unjust laws.

Response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

We remember the tragedy of our countries lack of leaders, who we have elected make decisions for we the people they were elected to serve, who do not stand and challenge our democracy, and do not follow our constitution:

Response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

We remember Pat (MacMillan) Lewis, who lived a life of witness to the needs of the poor, injustices by our government, and served our MMOJ community selflessly.  

Our response: Holy One, may we love and serve all.

 

       And for what else shall we pray?

 

Gracious and loving Spirit, we place our trust in your faithful love and presence within us and our entire universe. 

All: So be it!

                           Liturgy of the Eucharist         

 

Joan P.  O Heart of Love, Your Spirit moves through the love within us, expanding in widening circles to embrace our world. United with all women and men who confronted the structures of oppression in their times with unique vision and compassion, we sing:

 

Holy, Holy, Holy:  Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

 

 

Sacred Spirit, You are always with us. We are grateful for Your constant loving and unconditional presence. You give us life, and we live and breathe with your Spirit. You raise our consciousness to the blindness within us. We believe the Gospel message of healing those

we meet along the way. 

 

Dotty:  In blessing the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, they become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world. 

 

Please join in praying the prayer for the breaking of the bread:

 

Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. 

We will live justly.   

 

Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to be Your presence in the world.  

We will love tenderly.

 

Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to speak truth to power.  

We will walk with integrity

 

On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends.  He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly, he bent down and washed their feet.

 

 (Together we lift our plate of bread as we pray)

When Jesus returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:

 

Take and eat the Bread of Life 

Whenever you remember me like this  

I am among you. (pause) 

  

Jesus then raised his cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered the wine saying: 

 

Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you. 

Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. 

This is the bread of life and cup of blessing. 

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.

 

Receive Bread and Cup now with the words:

“You are the face of Jesus in this world.”

 

Communion Song and Reflection:  Quiet Place by The Many

           

https://youtu.be/hcq385i1kHE

 

Den R.  Let us pray the prayer of Jesus:

 

O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,

We celebrate your many names.

Your Wisdom come.

Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us,

Each day you give us all we need.

You remind us of our limits, and we let go.

You support us in our power, and we act with courage.

For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us,

and the celebration among us, now and forever. 

Amen       (Miriam Therese Winter)

 

Jan R. We are called to do everything Jesus did, to be the living presence of a love that lives justly, of a compassion that heals and liberates, of a joy that generates laughter, of a light that illumines right choices and confronts us darkness.

 

So, we trust you to continue to share with us your own Spirit, the Spirit that filled Jesus, for it is through his life and teaching, his loving and healing, all honor and glory is yours, O Holy One, forever and ever. Amen

 

Before we leave let us offer one another as Sign of Peace: 

 

       Namaste, Namaste, Namaste         

 

Introductions, Prayers of Gratitude, and Announcements

 

Joan P. Let us raise our hands and bless each otherwith the words:  

May you be blessed with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships.

May you seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart. 

May you continue to be the face of the Holy One to all you meet.  

May your name be a blessing in our time.

 

Closing Song: Anne Wilson - Stand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcedC8cR7cM\                                        

 

 

If you want to add a prayer intention to our MMOJ Community Prayer book, 

please send an email to Joan Meehan.  jmeehan515@aol.com

If you want to invite someone to attend our liturgy, 

please refer them to our website at marymotherofjesus.net

 

 

 




 

 

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Fourth Week of Lent, March 29 2025 Liturgy Team: Cheryl Brandi & Jerry Bires (IT), Jim Brandi, Beth & David Ponce, Jane Shugrue, Michael Rigdon

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Beth: Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus, 

our inclusive Catholic Community, our church without walls.

“Whoever you are, wherever you are, 

you are welcome at our table.”

 

Michael & All: Let us begin together ✝️ in the name of God our creator, Jesus our brother, and Spirit Sophia. Amen.

 

Theme: With an unconditional love, our Abba welcomes us home

70 times 7 times! How many times is that? Always one more! 

 

We welcome each other with a sign of Christ’s peace:

All: Namaste, Namaste, Namaste. May Christ’s peace be with us!

 

Gathering Song 🎶

Peace before us, Peace behind us, Peace under our feet.

Peace within us, Peace over us, Let all around us be Peace.

Love before us, Love behind us, Love under our feet.

Love within us, Love over us, Let all around us be Love.

 

Opening Prayer. David. Jesus the Christ, we celebrate today the marvel of your Abba’s unconditional love breaking into the lives of each one of us—into the lives of all people everywhere. May we rejoice  in your Abba’s love, as you do. All: Amen

 

 

 

Liturgy of the Word. Excerpts from The Messageby Eugene H Peterson

 

Jim. The first reading is from the book of Joshua.

God said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt.”

The People of Israel continued to camp at The Gilgal. They celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the plains of Jericho.

Right away, the day after the Passover, they started eating the produce of that country, unraised bread and roasted grain. And then no more manna; the manna stopped. As soon as they started eating food grown in the land, there was no more manna for the People of Israel. That year they ate from the crops of Canaan.

 

Michael & All 🎶

Love before us, Love behind us, Love under our feet.

Love within us, Love over us, Let all around us be Love.

 

Jane. The second reading is from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. 

Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

 

Michael & All 🎶

Love before us, Love behind us, Love under our feet. 

Love within us, Love over us, Let all around us be Love.

 

Beth. A reading from the Good News attributed to Luke.

By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends." Their grumbling triggered this story.

Jesus said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'

"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.

"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.

“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'

"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.”

“The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'

"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'” These are the words of Gospel writer Luke, and we respond, All: Let it be so! 

 

Shared Homily. Michael & Community (and CHAT GPT)

The story of the Prodigal Son, as seen through the eyes of Henri Nouwen in his profound work, *The Return of the Prodigal Son*, is a tale that echoes the journey of many of our lives. It is a parable of forgiveness, love, and the endless mercy of the Father, beautifully captured in the one moment that transforms a life.

 

The Prodigal Son's tale is familiar: a young man's reckless request for his inheritance, his journey into a distant land, and his squandering of wealth in wild living. But Nouwen invites us to delve deeper, encouraging us to find ourselves in the shoes of each character in this story. Perhaps we are the younger son, lost in a world of instant gratification, searching for meaning in material pleasures, only to find ourselves empty and longing for home. 

 

Nouwen writes of the moment of return, a moment characterized not just by longing, but by the courage to come back, the bravery to face the consequences, and the hope that transcends failures. He highlights the son’s ultimate return as a more profound event than his departure, likening it to a decision moment that we are all called to in our journeys with God—the decision to return home and accept the warmth of Abba’s  embrace.

 

The father in the story is an embodiment of God’s unconditional love. The profound mystery of divine forgiveness is illustrated in his response: arms wide open, filled with joy, ready to celebrate without shedding a word of reproach. This radical love calls us to wonder: Can we accept this gift? Do we allow ourselves to be embraced, despite our imperfections?

 

Nouwen also invites us to consider the elder son, the one who stayed behind, yet harbors resentment and jealousy. His story reminds us of the dangers of self-righteousness and bitterness. In recognizing him, we are urged to reflect on our own hearts and the barriers we create between ourselves and God’s boundless love.

 

In the end, Nouwen reminds us that the real spiritual work is to claim our true identity as children of God, daring to return and celebrate that the lost can be found, the dead can live again. It’s an invitation to live not as strangers, but as beloved sons and daughters, constantly returning, and dwelling forever in the home of Abba, who is love itself.

 

May we, inspired by Nouwen's insights, find the courage to return, to forgive, and to embrace the unfathomable grace that awaits us, each day, anew. Amen.

 

David & All. Profession of Faith.

We believe in God, the creator of the universe, 

the fountain of life, flowing through every being. 

We believe in Jesus the Christ 

who reflects the face of God and the fullness of humanity. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God in the cosmos, 

who calls us to loving service without counting the cost. 

We believe in our global communion with all in the circle of life.

Amen to loving actions on behalf of justice, healing, 

compassion and equity for all in our world! 

We are called to be light to the world!

 

Prayers of the Community

Jim: Aware that the Holy One is present within us and works through us, we bring to the table our intentions. 

Response: We remember and we pray.  

We bring to the table the many families and children who suffer due to wars in the Ukraine and in Gaza and Israel, R.

We bring to the table the hundreds of thousands of displaced, starving women & children in Gaza. May love drive us to provide for so many who are suffering and dying. R.

We bring to the table the seriously ill, particularly members of MMOJ and our family and friends. R.

Joan M. We bring to the table the petitions in our MMOJ prayer book, especially….

Jim. And who/what else do we bring to the table today? R.

We can do all things in the power of the Spirit of love working through us. All: Amen

 

Offering of Our Gifts at the table Have bread and wine on your table

Jane. O Holy One, we bring you our gifts from creation, bread of the grain and wine of the grapes. We recognize that they are holy in you their creator. And we know that they will make us holy, one with you and one with each other.

 

Jane. Please join in song to begin our 

Eucharistic Prayer

🎶 Here in This Place

 

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

 

Beth & All, with hand extended in blessing: As we do in this place what you did in an upstairs room, send down your Spirit Sophia on us and on these gifts of bread and wine that they may become for us your body, healing and making us whole. And that we may become for you, your body, loving and caring in the world until your kindom comes. Amen.

 

 

 

David & All: 

On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, 

Jesus took bread said the blessing, 

broke the bread 🥖 and gave it to them saying, 

“Take and eat. This is my very self.” (Pause) 

Jesus then raised high the cup of blessing 

and offered them the wine🍷with these words, 

“Take and drink of the covenant made new 

through my life for you and for everyone. 

Whenever you do this, remember me.”

 

Jim & All: 

Remember, gracious God, your Church throughout the world. 

Open us to welcome everyone. 

In union with all people, 

may we strive to create a world where suffering is diminished, 

and where all people can live in health and wholeness. 

Thru Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, 

all glory is yours, gracious God. Amen

 

Jane. This is Jesus, God with us, loving us forever. All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love.  All: We are the Body of Christ.  

All sing 🎶: Holy gifts for holy people, come you hungry and believe. Come receive Christ’s body offered, come and be what you receive(x2)

 

Communion Instrumental 🎶 Sentinel Meadow, Mars Lasar

http://youtube.com/watch?v=B9JFOEcq1GA&fea  2:33

 

Beth: We pray our common up prayer that Jesustaught us: 

All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Abba and Amma of us all, 

Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your will be done by all created beings!
May your beloved community of peace and freedom 

sustain our hope and come on earth. 

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen. 

Adapted from The New Zealand Book of Prayer | He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa.

This version of the Lord’s prayer was influenced by Maori theologians 

 

Michael. Prayers of Thanksgiving. Announcements.

 

Final Blessing. With hand extended in prayer

Michael & All 🎶

Peace before us, Peace behind us, Peace under our feet

Peace within us, Peace over us, Let all around us be Peace.

Love before us, Love behind us, Love under our feet

Love within us, Love over us, Let all around us be Love.

Christ before us, Christ behind us, Christ under our feet,

Christ within us, Christ over us, Let all around us be Christ!

 

David. Go in the peace of Christ.

Let us bring God’s reign of love and peace to all those we meet!

​David & All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

 

Final Song 🎶 Hymn of Promise, Natalie Sleeth. STOP @ 2:07

https://youtu.be/sDpByzZqeQ4?si=H0rT4_0lT7C_CAv-

 

________________________________________________________

 

Email your prayer petitions to Joan Meehan: JMeehan515@aol.com

 

You can find our weekly liturgy at: MMOJliturgies.blogspot.com