Celebration of the Epiphany
MMOJ Inclusive Catholic Community
Presiders: Dotty Shugrue and Joan Pesce
Readers: Jeanne Schmidt, Mary Kay Staudohar
Prayer Leaders: Jack McKillip, Mary Montavon
IT Director: Cheryl Brandi
Zoom link:
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Meeting ID: 934 7370 8926
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Dotty: Welcome: We Gather together to reflect for The Feast of the Three Kings. As we listen to the readings, we will recognize several different themes. I invite you to hear the message of Light and Peace and think about how this message has meaning for you today.
The Three Kings journey, and we travel with them as they travel to find a Child who had great promise, a leader of a new world. Together we are led by the Light to be instruments of peace in our broken world.
Opening Song: Journey of the Angels Enya – Journey of the Angels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ijBshb47-c
Joan P: Gathering Prayer
O Christ-Light, from the beginning of time, you have graced the universe with your brilliance and your love. As we gather to celebrate travelers who followed a star to discover the birth of a child, and the Divine light within him and within them, may we remember our own birth into the light and love of Holy Mystery. May we, in this time of giving, reach out, now and throughout the year, to those in need of your loving touch and healing graces. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Let us begin by greeting one another with a Peace greeting.
Namaste, Namaste, Namaste
Jack: Transformation Rite: Called to be Transformed
Called to be bearers of Light: Open our eyes that we may see.
Response: We are transformed because we believe.
Called to respond to the cries of our broken world: Open my mind that I may listen.
Response: We are transformed because we believe.
Called to respect differences and accept individual choices: Open my heart that I may love.
We are transformed because we believe.
The Liturgy of the Word
Jeanne: First Reading: A reading from the prophet Isaiah
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
These are the inspired words of the prophet Isaiah, and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia from The Celtic Mass
https://youtu.be/dxEIlQiIH9U
Mary Kay: Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew (MT 2:1-12)
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews?
We observed his star at its rising
and have come to pay him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly disturbed as did
all Jerusalem.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the astrologers secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and offer him homage.”
After their audience with the ruler they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
These are the words of the writer known as Matthew and the
community responds: Let it be so
Shared Homily
PROFESSION OF FAITH
Mary M. We believe in the Cosmic Christ, 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.
We believe in the Cosmic Christ, the everlasting Presence,
within the Universe.
Joan M: Prayers of the Community:
As we prepare for this sacred meal, we share those things that concern us, that bring sadness in our lives, that we may find strength and comfort from one another. We voice our concerns as we pray:
We bring to the table all families who are living in horror and terror because of war in so many places in the world.
Response: Christ- Light bring peace to them.
We bring to the table our troubled leaders who are dividing our country as they continue to refuse to listen to one another.
Response: Christ-Light inspire and change their attitudes..
We bring to the table those we love who need healing.
Response: Christ-Light heal them.
We remember all the intentions in the MMOJ Book of
Prayer Request.
For what else do we pray
We make these prayers believing that we carry the Light of Christ as we journey in our commitment to the ministry that Jesus lived.
Eucharistic Prayer
Joan P: We give thanks for our belief that we are the body, hands, and feet of Christ. We find nourishment from your Energy as we strive to hold all of life sacred. Awaken your Spirit within us. We are inspired by the story of the three kings who followed the light.
As your people, we gather in the power of your Spirit. As followers of Jesus, we seek to live as wise and holy Spirit-filled people,courageous, prophetic, ever hope-filled as we answer your call to serve one another.
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Jack: Together we walk in the Light. The journey is long. Sometimes we walk in peace;other times, we walk in fear. Whatever comes our way we embrace The Light of Christ on our journey.
Understanding who and where you are is often a challenge but knowing you are with us givesus comfort and peace. We awaken your Spirit within us and within our whole universe. We bring Light wherever we go.
Mary M. We are ever aware that Christ is with us as we as we gather at our Eucharistic table.Together we call upon Christ- Spirit, ever and always with us, to bless this bread made from grain of the fields and this wine made from the vine. It is sacred as we share it together,
Dotty: On the night before he faced his own death,
Jesus sat at supper with his companions, the women and men whom he loved. 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 your plate of bread and pray:
When Jesus 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)
All lift your cup of wine and pray:
Then Jesus lifted the cup of the new covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
(pause)
Joan P: We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity.
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 the Bread and Wine at your table with the words:
I am/you are The Light of Christ
Communion Meditation/Song: Peace fromBethel Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW6xcmqfiY4
Mary M: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
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. LET IT BE SO
(Miriam Therese Winter)
Introductions – Thanksgivings – Announcements
Dotty: Blessing:
May we seek truth boldly and love deeply.
May we welcome opportunities to share an understanding of the the Sacred Spirit in our world, in all of life, in all creation and in our ever-expanding Universe.
May we continue to be the face of the Sacred the body, hands and feet of the Living Christ.
May we be a blessing in our times, ones who hold the Light as we walk with all those who pray for peace.
Closing Song: Go The Distance - Hercules Soundtrack | One Voice Children's Choir Cover
https://www.youtube.com/the watch?v=5xhDdTiHKoE
Request for prayers in our MMOJ Community Prayers book:
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy, please refer them to our website: www.marymotherofjesus.net
where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
Please send donations to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233