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Welcome and Gathering
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| The Annunciation by Fra Angelico |
Opening Prayer and Lighting of Advent Candle 4 – the candle of love
Source of All that Is, we are grateful for your loving presence within, around and among us.
light the fourth candle
We light this fourth candle and remember that we are called to create, share and be light in all our ways of relating to all of Creation and commit ourselves to work for peace and justice in our world. And so, we respond:
All: Let us kindle the light of love!
Opening Song:Say Yes! By Bob Franke
https://youtu.be/-N76HoEjfyk?si=YyWeeDIpEd480dXa
Called to see our missed opportunities to love and serve others, we pray:
All: Transform us, Holy One
Called to believe in God’s limitless forgiveness of all sin and evil, we open ourselves to the “love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), we pray:
All: Transform us, Holy One
Called to say yes to messengers of grace inviting us to serve others and to hear the cries of the impoverished longing for equity and justice, we pray:
All: Transform us, Holy One
Gloria: Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/dgn_8q1UWwk?si=NHFFcs_nH_0_vp0D
Opening Prayer: Mary Kay
We rejoice in Mary’s yes to birth new life,Emmanuel, God with us. Like Mary may we be open to angels of grace who come to us with unexpected invitations to do what appears to be beyond our abilities. Like Mary, may we let go of fear and trust that we will have everything we need to birth Christ anew in our world today.
All: May it be so. Amen
All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Joan M.
First Reading: A reading from The Second Incarnation Flows from the First
By Richard Rohr
Ordinary matter is the hiding place for Spirit, and thus the very Body of the Holy One. Since the very beginning of time, The Spirit has been revealing its glory and goodness through the physical creation. Christians believe that this universal Christ presence was later “born of a woman under the law” (Galatians 4:4) in a moment of chronological time. This is the great Christian leap of faith.
We daringly believe that the Spirit’s presence was poured into a single human being, so that humanity and divinity can be seen to be operating as one in the Divine—and therefore in us! But instead of saying that the Holy One came into the world through Jesus, maybe it would be better to say that Jesus came out of an already Christ-soaked world. The second Incarnation flowed out of the first, out of the Spirit’s loving union with physical creation.
These are the inspired words of Richard Rohr and the community responds to them by saying: Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm: Come be Beside Us by Jan Phillips
https://youtu.be/Tdv_AEec7kI
Joan P.
Second Reading: A reflection from Catholic theologian Lizzie Berne DeGear
In the Hebrew Bible this notion of receiving grace, or being favored, is to be had Just as the Bible speaks of a “gaze of grace”, so this concept of mirroring teaches us from a psychological perspective about the gaze of grace between mother and child.
Picture a baby held by its mother, and caught in her loving gaze as she really sees the miraculous and unique wonder that is her child. Some psychologists believe that this is how a baby first conceives of itself as a self. A baby can read from his or her mother’s face what she is seeing when their eyes meet, and this is how the baby first “sees” him or herself.
Now imagine Mary as a mystic with the ability to experience herself as held by God, loved by God, Known by God.
These are the inspired words of Lizzie Berne De Gear and we respond to them by saying : Amen
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| Mary, Love Forever Being Born by Kelly Latimore |
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https://youtu.be/IC4nbwmQDVw?si=TnQK9qzWzNS_2cmM
Mary Kay:
Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of Luke
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a maiden betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and her name was Mary.
And coming to her, Gabriel said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Holy One is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
These are the inspired words of Luke, evangelist and we respond to them by saying
All: Thanks be to God
(Pause for silent reflection)
Homily: Bridget Mary Meehan
Have you ever been surprised by God and your life took a different turn than you expected? I have. In 2005, Dorothy Irvin dropped by my home for a visit on her way to her mother’s home in Florida. She delivered the message that changed my life forever. The first ordination of Roman Catholic Women Priests in North America was scheduled to take place on the Saint Lawrence River and that Judy Johnson, the Coordinator of Planning had been trying to locate me and invite me to attend this historic Ordination. To say that I was surprised is an understatement and at the same time delighted to be invited. When I shared this with my interfaith bible study group, they said that they wanted me to be their priest. One of the women in the group even donated her frequent flyer miles so that I could fly free to Canada. This invitation changed my life. It led to my priestly ordination on a boat in Pittsburgh and the birth of our movement in the United States.
In the Gospel, Mary heard God’s message through the angel Gabriel, Her response in Hebrew means “Here I am.” In saying, “Here I am,” Mary sees her own goodness reflected in God’s gaze. As Lizzie Berne De Gear writes “Mirrored by God she can trust her own creative power and not let shame or doubt or cultural expectation put boundaries upon it… It is what those called by God to do great things say!!
“What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself, Meister Eckhart writes, “And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to his Son if I also do not give birth to him in my time and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: when the Son of God is begotten in us.
Like Mary- each of us is mirrored in God’s gaze of boundless love and utter delight! Let’s take a few quiet moments to reflect on seeing our own goodness mirrored in God’s gaze….
Silent pause
Reflect on any new ways you have experienced God calling you to birth Christ anew in our world today….
How has your response to the Holy One’s surprising invitations changed or blessed your life?....
Silent pause
Mary Kay: Advent Woman of God
Community Sharing: Reflect on what inspired you in the readings or homily today…
Statement of Faith: Mary Kay:
All: We believe in the creator and lover of all, the Divine Mystery, beyond all comprehension. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who shows us that the overflowing presence of the Holy One dwells within us and is nearer to us then we are to ourselves. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, who empowers us with spiritual gifts for loving service and compassionate action. We believe in the great homecoming reunion of all God's people where all tears will be wiped away in a joyful gathering of God's holy people in the Communion of Saints. Amen
(Statement of Faith shared by Bridget Mary)
Prayers of the Community: Joan M.
For a deeper realization of the Christ Presence working through us each day, we pray.
Joan and ALL: May Christ be born anew in us each day.
For peace in the Ukraine and Middle East, we pray:
Joan and ALL: May Christ be born anew in us each day.
For good health, energy and vitality for ourselves and all for whom, we pray
Joan and ALL: May Christ be born anew in us each day.
:For healing for the sick and comfort for the grieving, we pray
Joan and ALL: May Christ be born anew in us each day.
For our loved ones who have passed into God's eternal embrace, we pray.
Joan and ALL: May Christ be born anew in us each day.
Joan Meehan shares Prayer Intentions in MMOJ book
… and for what else do we pray?
We ask you now to please share your intentions.
Closing: Joan M.
We give thanks for all whom we held in the circle of grace and will continue to pray for and serve. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of The Gifts
(All hold bread plate)
Bridget Mary: Blessed are you, God of all Life. Through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you fruit of the earth, and work of human hands. It will become for us the bread of life.
ALL: Blessed by God forever.
(All hold cup)
Mary Kay: Blessed are you, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Mary Kay: Blessed by God forever.
PREFACE
Jack: God dwells in us.
ALL: And in all people everywhere.
Jack: Lift up your hearts.
ALL: We lift them up in the joy of Divine Presence within us.
Jack: Affirm the power of love within you and within all.
ALL: Alleluia
Jack: With all creation and the angels and saints, we sing our hymn of praise:
We Are Holy – Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Mary M: Mothering Presence, you brought forth all creation from your Life-Giving Womb. O Giver of all Gifts, you came as Love Poured Out to dwell among us. You revealed yourself in Mary's womb, in a shining star, in humble shepherds, and in a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Jack: Today, we see the Christ Presence shining forth as pure love in the eyes of the elderly, in the service of care-givers, in the witness of justice-makers, and in the dreams embedded in our own hearts. We give thanks for the Giver of Abundant gifts that nourishes and sustains us. We commit ourselves to be gifts of your goodness and generosity as we serve the needs of the least and the last in our world.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit: (All raise hands toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)
Mary Kay: We ritualize the Christ Presence born anew each day in us and in the entire cosmos as we pray:
All: Come Holy Spirit deepen your Presence within us and in these gifts of bread and wine.
Bridget Mary and ALL:
Now, as we share the bread of life and lift the cup of blessing at this festive meal we pray:
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 this, all of you, and eat. Do this in memory of me.”
Pause
Mary Kay and ALL:
In the same way, Jesus took the cup of wine. He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink. Do this in memory of me.”
Pause
BMM: Let us proclaim the sacred presence of our nurturing God:
All:Christ, you are born again and again in us and through us each day.
Mary M: We remember angels of grace and prophets and saints in every age illuminating the darkness of doubt with faith, courage and wisdom: Miriam and Moses, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Joseph, and all our beloved family and friends, We recall the spiritual treasures that they passed down to us through the ages.
Jack: We rejoice that ordinary matter is the hiding place for Spirit and the Body of the Holy One. We join in the divine cosmic dance in communion with all that is, all that was, and all that will be. Through Christ, in Christ, with Christ, all praise and glory echoes through the universe as your Spirit dances for joy within us!
The Great Amen. Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/0sDDgwZlijc?si=sxoaV_RjinjGC9AB&t=3
COMMUNION RITE
The Prayer of Jesus
Mary Kay: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
All: O Holy One, you are 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 your 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
(Adapted, Miriam Therese Winter, MMS)
BMM: Sign of Peace:
Please extend a sign of peace to one another:
All: Namaste, Namaste! Namaste!
Litany for the Breaking of Bread
Mary Kay: Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread:
(Presiders break the bread)
Mary Kay and All:
O God of Courage, we are called to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly.
O God of Compassion, We are called to be Your presence in the world. We will love tenderly.
O God of Truth, We are called to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.
(Presiders hold up bread and wine)
Bridget Mary: This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other. All are welcome to the Feast. Eat and drink and delight that you are mirrored in God’s gaze!
Communion Meditation: Ave Maria by Ashana
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Mary Kay:
We believe that God delights in us from the first moment of our existence and trust that we are called to be the face of God our world by serving others generously especially the vulnerable and those in need. May we see everyone through the eyes of love.
ALL: May it be so, Amen.
Bridget Mary: Thanksgiving, Introductions, Announcements
CONCLUDING RITE
Mary Kay: We go forth to welcome the disguised messengers of grace who come to us with unexpected invitations to birth Christ anew each day.
ALL: Amen. May it be so.
BLESSING
(Everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing and pray)
Bridget Mary and ALL:
Like Mary, may Love grow inside of us.
Like Mary, may Love direct us to follow Jesus.
Like Mary, may Love guide us to dream impossible dreams.
DISMISSAL
Mary Kay: Go in peace to be the face of God in the world.
All: Here we are, we are ready!
Closing Song: You are the Face of God by Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/rH-BKtAP2q4?si=VIsuHJ-A8rYhMTIE
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 our website at https://marymotherofjesus.net
Please support our community, send your check to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233