Theme for Season of Creation 2023: Let Justice and Peace Flow
Liturgy adapted from Season of Creation Ecumenical Prayer Service
by Laudato Si’ Movement
Creation Calls- Are we Listening?
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Welcome and Greeting (Elena)
Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida! All are welcome to participate with us this afternoon in this liturgy which celebrates the fourth week of the Season of Creation.
Creation is Calling. Are you listening?
Whoever you are,
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table. (Integral Christianity by Paul Smith) (Have bread and wine/juice on your table)
And so we gather in the name of our Creator and source of all Being, Eternal word, and Holy Spirit Sophia Wisdom.
Opening Prayer (Maryal), after a moment of silence.
Creator, Source of All Being, from your COMMUNION OF LOVE your WORD went forth to create a symphony of life that sings your praise. By your HOLY WISDOM you made the Earth to bring forth a diversity of creatures who praise you in their being. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
Give us hearts to listen for the good news of your promise to renew the face of the Earth. Enlighten us with the grace to follow the Way of Christ as we learn to walk lightly upon this holy ground. Fill us with the hope to quench the fires of injustice with the light of your healing love that sustains our common home. In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus the Christ. All: Amen
Gathering Song: Christopher Grundy “As the Moon “
https://youtu.be/qkDwd0uv178?si=Ytzq5qKEJHcs5tnD
Litany of Lament and Repentance: (Maryal), after silence.
By our unwillingness to listen for so long, we are now lamenting the loss of our fellow species and their habitats that will never speak again. We grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished. Creation cries out as forests crackle, animals and humans alike flee the fires of injustice that we have lit through time.
We have closed our ears to the counsel of our fellow creatures, who have had so much to teach us. We fail to listen to the cries of the poor and the needs of the most vulnerable. We silence the voices of those who hold the traditions that teach us to care for the Earth. We close our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the Scriptures.
Turn us O DIVINE LOVE from our desire to turn in upon ourselves and at times refuse to hear the voices of our co-creatures. Call us again, open our ears. Gather us in to relationships of mutual care and listening. Enlighten us by your Spirit that renews the face of your Earth. Amen.
(Elena) As we extend a hand over our hearts let us together express words of Repentance:
We are called to acknowledge our contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of Creation.
Let us remember we are born in Divine Blessing and that we are perfect in the Holy One’s eyes. Let us also realize, and forgive ourselves, for not always acting in ways of Divine Blessing, both towards ourselves and others. Now, let us imagine all of the ways we can be brightly lit by a love that heals and transforms us as we evolve and grow in awareness of our divinity and our humanity.
(Pause for several moments…… All: I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.
Liturgy of the Word
(Maryal) Jeremiah is a prophet known for writing what he lived and living what he wrote. This is of importance to note because he is the prophet of choice when we find ourselves having to live through difficult times and seek some trustworthy help in knowing what to think, how to pray, how to carry on. We live in disruptive times. The decades preceding and following the pivotal third millennium are not exactly unprecedented. There have certainly been comparable times of disruption in the past that left everyone reeling, wondering what on earth and in heaven was going on. But whatever their occasion or size, troubles require attention. Listen to that kind of frustration expressed by Jeremiah in the first reading.
First Reading – (David)
Jeremiah 8: 18-9:1
I drown in grief. I’m heartsick. Oh, listen! Please listen! It’s the cry of my dear people reverberating through the country.
Is God no longer in Zion? Has the king gone away? Can you tell me why they flaunt their plaything-gods, their silly, imported
No-gods before me? The crops are in, the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. We’re still waiting to be rescued. For my dear broken people I am heartbroken. I weep seized by grief. Are there no healing ointments in Gilead? Isn’t there a doctor in the house? So why can’t something be done. I wish my head were a well of water and my eyes fountains of tears so I could weep day and night for casualties among my dear, dear people.
These are words of concern for his people as expressed by the Prophet Jeremiah. We who have listened respond: SO BE IT.
PSALM 19 – (David) HELP US O COMPASSIONATE ONE TO RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH! ~O Merciful presence, the ignorant seem unrestrained in the world; they defile the Sacred Altar, your dwelling place within; they leave those weaker than themselves in ruins. HELP US………… ~Chaos and destruction follow them as they oppress the poor through deception and greed, and kill the faith-filled who resist. Yes, they have poured out their blood like water throughout the world; many have disappeared without a trace. How long will the unjust bring anguish to the loving, to those who seek justice and peace? HELP US ………… ~How long, O Indwelling Presence? Will your patience last forever? When will you awaken our long dormant spirits? Pour out you Love on every nation, open the hearts of all people; We await a new birth of Consciousness, we call upon your Name! For the ignorant and the unloving are laying waste to the planet. HELP US……… ~Forgive us for the use and abuse of our Creation; humble us with your steadfast Love, before the world becomes a barren waste. Help us O Compassionate One, to renew the face of the earth; deliver us and forgive our sins, that we might know the joy of co-creation! Let other nations not cry out, “Where is their faith?” Let all who have spilled the blood of the innocent repent and make reparation before the eyes of the world. HELP US…….. ~Let the cries of the victims of injustice come before You; according to your great Power, break the bonds of oppression! Let all that has been garnered through greed be returned in full measure with open hands. Then we your people, those who would companion with You, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will abandon ourselves into your hands with grace-filled, open hearts. HELP US O COMPASSIONATE ONE TO RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH!
(Maryal) Creation calls us to an enhanced consciousness of the presence of the Divine and our relationship with Her here on earth. It also calls us to believe that our relationship with The Divine and the beauty in the after earth life that awaits us is unimaginable. (Beth) The Painted Face Of God by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
I’ve often thought in my life how hard it will be to leave this earth And once when I was so ill and lay dying and crying Thinking how horrible to leave the people I so loved As though I would never see them, ever again. Those most precious to me, To never hold them, smell them, hear them again And especially also to leave the mysterium of this earth. Our beloved yellow sun Our brilliant blue sky Our mother of pearl shining moon Our green grasses Our purple heather Our black-winged raptors Our silver wolves Our colored songbirds All these of such beauty A seeming nowhere else known in the entire universe. To leave this painted face of god That we lived mirrored upon This painted face of god That teaches us through the seasons of flowers and pines on mountains And creatures and red hearts beating In flurries all over the world In all that moves with purpose on earth In all else How can anyone believe that here on earth is not god, Right here on earth. How can we leave This magnificent, incandescent, radiant, beautiful painted face of god On earth And I wept and I grieved How can we leave this beautiful god on holy earth So filled with gems and diamonds and gold and silver And all the elements of wonder And I wept But in time now as many years have passed in my life As I gather more years I am able to see better now the far encampment in my own life And coming closer and closer now In the seventh decade of my life To all the time travel awaiting me And awaiting us all I realize, I realize yes, god is here on earth We are with god here So very very yes And that we travel one day From god here on earth To the star-rapt god riding across the sky That they are the same That we may leave in this way or in that way But we are only traveling From our precious painted god on earth To our precious star-rapt god of the cosmos That we are not leaving We are only traveling Leaving god to go to god And so it is for John And so it will be for us one day And thus we are together on the journey now Some a little ahead Some a little behind But not apart Not ever We are all traveling together So may it be for you And so may it be for me And so may it be for all of us Ride on, dear anam cara, friend John Ride on white Adios
Dr. Estes speaks in memoriam of her friendship with John O’Donohue who died suddenly at age 52 in 2008.
“John” whom she refers to is John O’Donohue. “Anamcara” means “soul friend” in Gaelic
(Maryal) This reading is found in Matthew Fox’s “Creativity.” It is meant to awaken us to creation’s call to release our creative powers, a gift bestowed on all humankind, and thus choose to work as one to assure our survival and sustainability as a species.
Gospel Reading: (Beth)
Where does our hope lie? Where shall we ground ourselves for continuing on and changing our ways radically? Can we be confident that creativity is the key to our survival and sustainability as a species? Creativity is who we are, creativity can redeem and save our species. I agree with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes that, “All women and men are born gifted.” All we need to do is release this creativity, get out of its way, as M.C. Richards used to say. Estes also believes that “ a woman’s creative ability is her most valuable asset. I believe this is true of men as well.—it is the most valuable asset of our species. What are we waiting for? Let us remove the obstacles, let go of the guilt, and get moving. We have nothing to lose but our pessimism and cynicism, as Otto Rank warned us, “pessimism comes with the repression of creativity.” Creativity is not in short supply. There is an abundance of it, plenty to go around. It has always been this way. From the original fireball to the birth of the atoms, galaxies, supernovas, stars, sun, planets, earth and her marvelous creatures. We humans are latecomers to the creative universe, but we are powerfully endowed with creativity. Some of my hope comes from the realization of how perilous our situation is on this planet. As more and more people get out of denial and the addictions denial puts us in and come to realize the danger that our unsustainable species is in, there will be action and there will be grounds for hope. This sounds paradoxical, and it is: Our very despair is a cause of hope, for despair often results in breakdown, and breakdown results in breakthrough. Our systems are breaking down today—all of them. And we feel it. All our professions, all our religions, all our politics and economic and educational establishments need reinventing. They all lack feminine energy, wisdom energy. They lack cosmology and creativity. This gives hope –that the Divine can and will return in a more balanced form to our species. She will return through a coming alive of our love of life and a response to the pain so omnipresent on our planet. This response will precipitate an outbreak of creativity. If we can use justice and compassion as contours to contain and to critique the use of creativity, then what we give birth to will serve other generations and other species instead of destroy them. Then the Spirit will be at work once again, creating and recreating with humankind.
(David) Let us not deceive ourselves or live in a silly illusion about our creativity. Creativity is a choice. (In theological terms , it is grace and works operating together. It is an option to live a life with grace.) Creativity is not a particular gift given to certain people only. It is a personal choice and a cultural choice. An individual choice and a family, professional, and a social choice, and at this time in our history it is a species choice. We chose whether to let creativity flow or not—in our educational systems, our media, our politics, our economics, our religions, our very psyches. In theological terms , it is a matter of letting the Spirit in, the Christ in, the Buddha nature in. I believe Sri Aurobindo had this in mind when he predicted a ‘coming dawn” for the resurrection of poetry itself---provided we tap into a “larger cosmic vision” that would and could release the “Divine possibilities” of our species. Perhaps Hildegard of Bingen, put it best when she said: God has gifted creation with everything that is necessary….. Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God’s work. Humankind is called to co-create…….. God gave to humankind the talent to create with all the world………….. It is true that we are a species that can say “NO” to our potential. We can choose not to develop our potential, our creativity and that of our children. We can choose to turn our creativity over to others and to institutions that appear more imposing than ourselves. Yes, we can use our creativity for demonic purposes----even to deny our powers of creation is to serve demonic powers that will willingly fill the gap. Yes, we can resist evolution—even our own. And our bad deeds will shame. And our species will end, bringing down much beauty with it. But I do believe that humankind can opt instead for the “Good deeds that glorify.” We must. The Spirit of Creativity is expecting us to do so. Creation is waiting for our response. These are inspired words shared by Matthew Fox and we respond with a hearty AMEN! ALLELUIA!)
Homily Starter: Elena
Community Sharing: We welcome your inspired thoughts at this time. Unmute yourself to share and remember to remute yourself again when finished.
Profession of Faith: (Cathy) and All
We believe in God, who creates all things,
who embraces all things, who celebrates all things,
who is present in every part of the fabric of creation.
We believe in God as the source of all life,
who baptizes this planet with living water.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the suffering one, the poor one, the malnourished one, the climate refugee, who loves and cares for this world and who suffers with it.
And we believe in Jesus Christ, the seed of life,
who came to reconcile and renew this world and everything in it. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God,
who moves with God and who moves among and with us today. We believe in everlasting life in God.
And we believe in the hope that one day
God will put an end to death and all destructive forces.
(Gurukul Theological college, India / adapted by Keld B. Hansen 2009)
Our Community Prayers – (Maryal)
Loving God, even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near your altar. You are attentive to all you have made.
God, who listens to every living thing,
All: Help us listen as you do.
Loving God, help us provide refuge to every animal and plant with whom we live. Help us be attentive to all you have made.
God, in whom all creation subsists,
All: Help us listen as you do.
Loving God, when Jesus cried out and gave up his Spirit, the earth shook and the rocks split. You are known by the whole of creation that listens to you.
God, to whom all creation responds,
All: Help us respond to you.
Loving God, help us hear and know you just as the earth and rocks do. Help us to learn from the way in which we see creation to recognize your glorious beauty.
God, to whom all creation responds,
All: Help us respond to you.
Loving God, you are present in your creation and seek to heal her wounds. You can be found walking in the garden. Open our eyes to see you, the gardener.
God, who is present with your creation,
All: Help us be present too.
Loving God, we often abandon your creation and cause its wounds. Help us to follow in your footsteps and learn to walk in the garden with you.
God, who is present with your creation,
All: Help us be present too.
Loving God, who hears every voice, knows each cry of injustice, and is attentive to the suffering of the earth: teach us to listen. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may listen to the world you have created and not close ourselves off from it. Reveal to us the ways in which we have failed to hear your voice in how we treat the earth.
God, who listens to every living thing,
All: Help us listen as you do. Amen Joan M: prayer book requests….. All: Help us listen as you do. Amen
(Maryal): For what else do we pray? All: Help us listen as you do. Amen
Offering: (Cathy) (Have bread and wine/juice on your table)
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.
Eucharistic Prayer
( David) & All. We commit ourselves to live the ministry of the Gospel as we speak clearly with respect and love, as we challenge the contradictions within our society, especially during these times of division and fear. We remind ourselves daily to remain faithful in our words and actions to our commitment to nonviolence. We are called to the inner life, our spiritual life, to be open to the new beginnings in our lives. We walk with Jesus seeking wisdom and peace.
(Hold your hand over bread and wine)
(Beth) & All. Jesus, we remember the last meal you had with your followers. We call upon Sacred Spirit, ever and always with us, to bring blessing on this bread and wine as they are made sacred through our faith in the presence of Christ with us.
During Jesus’s life on earth, he lived and died loving the poor, healing the sick and challenging the injustices within society. Because of his ministry, Jesus was feared by the authorities of his day, and they sought out ways to bring him to his death.
(Maryal) & All. On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift 🥖 and pray:
(Elena) & All. When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self.
Pause, then lift the 🍷 and pray:
(Maryal) & All. Jesus took the cup, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying: Take and drink. This is the new covenant. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. (pause)
(Cathy) & All. 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.
(Elena) & All. Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. We listen to the groaning of creation, remembering that we are bearers of light and hope. We are Christ alive today.
Throughout the weeks of Creation we have been encouraged to Listen to the joy, beauty, dance, cries and needs of this earth. In preparation to receive communion and so become communion let us quiet our souls and then,rid of distractions, listen and
connect with Creation’s call.
Communion Song: Brian Doerksen Sung by Eric Soh “Creation Calls- Are you Listening?” 8/23
https://youtu.be/28sqs5H5hao?si=l5BW0eEhNR0dvcjt
We now share the bread and wine, saying,
“ May Justice and Peace be shared through your Presence within us”
(Maryal): A Prayer for Our Earth (Pope Francis in Laudato Si’)
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
And in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poo
help us to rescue the abandoned and
forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the
world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain
At the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your
infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace. All: Amen
(Cathy): Let us together pray our common prayer taught to us by Christ
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother 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 heavenly 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)
Sharing of Peace: (Beth)
If we are in Christ, we are becoming a new creation.
We see God around us. We see God within us.
We give thanks to our Creator.
Let us show the caring nature you have instilled within us by greeting each other as a sign of God’s peace, love, forgiveness and grace. The peace of our Creator be with us in all things.
All: Namaste 🙏🏿 Namaste 🙏🏼 Namaste 🙏🏻
(adapted from Celebrating Creation: Honoring Indigenous People, Kelly Sherman-Conroy, ELCA)
Thanksgiving. Introductions. Announcements.
(Elena) and All: Final Blessing May God who established the dance of creation, Who marveled at the lilies of the field,
Who transforms chaos to order,
Lead us to protect creation, To listen to the voice of all creatures That reflect God’s glory. (adapted from the CTBI Eco-Congregation Programme)
Do not hesitate to dance and or Praise our Creator with body movement right from your seats wherever you are. Creation calls !!!
Closing Song: Grateful- A love song to the world
https://youtu.be/sO2o98Zpzg8?si=GqFC3XLTZ7FyBroG
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