https://zoom.us/j/93473708926?
Meeting ID: 934 7370 8926
Passcode: 552967
Learning to Love as Jesus Loves
“We are not on Earth to simply learn, but to love. We are on Earth to love everyone and everything. We are meant to find and experience joy in feeling and expressing love to others. It is through the acts of love and compassion that we are brought closer to our spiritual center, and to God.” (Nancy Rynes, First Message, pg. 49)
Welcome and Gathering
Katy Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive catholic Community where all are welcome.
We invite you to pray the liturgy and respond where it says “All.”
-All participants will be muted during the liturgy except for the presiders and readers.
-Please have bread and wine/juice nearby as we pray our Eucharistic prayer.
Whoever you are,
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table.
(Integral Christianity by Paul Smith)
Let us now take a few minutes to collect ourselves as we prepare to focus our minds and our hearts on our knowledge that we are all One, brought together on this Saturday to celebrate our continual striving to grow ever deeper into being the Love and Compassion of Jesus Christ Universal our Wise Elder Brother, guided always by his Spirit Sophia, Wisdom.
Opening Song
A time for quieting ourselves as we enter our Community Worship
The Words of St Teresa of Avila
Christ Has No Body Now but Yours – David Ogden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoV6R6qk4vY&list=RDHqVQnsrNuyM&start_radio=1
Opening Prayer
Katy Yours, Holy Mystery, She Who Is, our Creator, is endless power-with:
yours is the power of person-making among those diminished by pain who do not know their own dignity;
yours the grace of conversion to turn from dead-end ways and walk the path of newness of life;
yours the light of conscience;
yours the power to shake up assured certainties and introduce the grace of a new question;
yours the wisdom to foment discomfort among the unduly comfortable;
yours the oil of gladness enjoyed in experiences that heal, refresh, and invigorate;
yours the vigor that energizes the fire of active, outgoing love.
All: Empowering Mystery, loving, gifting, freeing, in you we live and move and have our being. (#89 Prayers to She Who Is, William Cleary)
Liturgy of the Word
Pat F: The First Reading from the First Message-Love is the Main Reason for Living
Love is one of our main reasons for being on Earth. As love forms the structure of Heaven, it exists as an undercurrent in our world, too. While in heaven I saw and experienced this spiritual love as an undercurrent of intense, warm, all-encompassing energy that formed the structure of everything. Every tree, every mountain, every flower and every cloud vibrated with love at its center. Now that I’m back in my regular life I can sense that love energy here on Earth too. It is all around and when I allow myself to fully experience it, the feeling and sense of that love is overpowering in its beauty.
In reality, spiritual love is at the heart of both realms ---Heaven and Earth. Love is meant to be a joy-filled expression of our connectedness to our Creator and to each other here on Earth. It is through the act of loving and being loving that we live fully. ALL: May this be so as we choose Love.
*Nancy Rynes. “Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near Death Experience (NDE)” CreateSpace, Amazon.com and Solace Press, Denver CO, 2015,
Psalm Response 25:
Mary Al and All: Turn to me O Holy One, and envelop me with your love.
Mary Al: All too often glorious gifts of Grace, of Love and Light, are veiled by my business. I bow down before You; instruct me, that I might choose the way of love and truth.
Response All: Turn to me O Holy One, and envelop me with your love.
Mary Al: I would live in your abundant Love and my children as well. Your friendship is offered to all whose hearts are open; Make known your promises to them.
Response All: Turn to me O Holy One, and envelop me with your love.
Mary Al: Turn to me, O Holy One, and envelop me with your love. Relieve the blocks in my heart that keep separated from you. May integrity and wholeness fill me as I dwell with You, O loving presence.
Response All: Turn to me O Holy One, and envelop me with your love.
Mary Al: May we, together with the angels and the company of heaven, help unfold your Plan for planet Earth.
Response All: Turn to me O Holy One, and envelop me with your love.
(Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness, Nan Merril.)
Bob F: Second Reading: Love is an action we choose*
Besides beings something we feel, love is also an action we choose. It is our choice to practice love in some form or another every day…We can choose to extend love, compassion, and kindness to everyone and everything in our lives. This may not be easy, but it’s what we’re being asked to do.
In choosing love, choosing to love, and choosing to open our hearts to see and experience love all around us, we will learn as well.
In choosing to love as expansively as we can, we will likely need to learn how to let go of past hurts and to see beyond the surface, straight to the heart of people or situations... In choosing to love we choose to open ourselves to learning and living our lives fully as spiritual expressions
Practicing the action of love in all its forms teaches us to be vulnerable, generous, to show compassion to others, to ourselves, to the world and to the universe. Actively demonstrating this love over time will teach us to be generous with our words and actions and to be compassionate with others, no matter their circumstances.
We respond All: May this be so as we choose Love.
*Nancy Rynes. “Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near Death Experience (NDE)” CreateSpace, Amazon.com and Solace Press, Denver CO, 2015, pg. 51
Celtic Alleluia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1rc7ojQtJU
Denis Rigdon: Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45
A person with leprosy came to Jesus, knelt down and begged, “If you are willing, you can heal me.” Moved with pity, Jesus put out his hand, touched the leper and said, “I am willing. Be clean.” Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and the person with the disease was cured, skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed the person with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Go off and present yourself to the priest and make an offering for your healing as Moses commanded as a testimony to the religious authorities”
But the person who was healed went off and began to proclaim the whole matter freely, making the story public. As a result, it was no longer possible for Jesus to enter a town openly and he stayed in lonely places. But people found Jesus and came from all over.
All: I do believe, so may I live.
Homily Starter and Community Sharing
Lectio Divina (choose a reading(s))
Communal Statement of Faith
Jeanne S and ALL: We believe in Holy Mystery in whom we are born, we live and move and have our being and to whom we return. We believe in Jesus our Universal Christ, our brother and love, our hope and our light.
We believe in the Sophia Wisdom of Jesus renewer of the brokenness within our society and the world. Sofia who energizes and guides us to rebuild caring communities and to challenge injustices. We believe that all are one in the community of creation and we are responsible for tending to and sustaining Earth’s life-giving systems for future generations.
We believe in the Communion of Saints, our heavenly friends and family, who support us on life’s journey. We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our faith community and across the world. We believe that God calls us to live fully, love tenderly and serve generously meeting those who are marginalized, othered, discriminated against, denied dignity and self-worth. May we make life’s journey with the Compassion who is Jesus and gratefulness for his Love to be shared. Amen
Prayers of and for the Community
Pat F: We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table.
Response: Pat and All: Sophia Wisdom, give us guidance as we respond with your compassion.
Pat F: We pray for all those who have died as a result of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the West Bank. We pray for those who are hostages, suffering, deceased or missing. Pat and all: R
Pat F: We pray for all those suffering as a result of the natural disasters taking place on our planet. May we commit to doing all we can to create a sustainable earth for all species. Pat and all: R
(Joan shares) We pray for all the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list:
Pat F and All: Sophia Wisdom, give us guidance as we respond with your compassion.
Pat F: And, for what else should we pray?
Pat F and All: Sophia Wisdom, give us guidance as we respond with your compassion.
Pat F. Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer, words, actions and solidarity.as we live, reflect and pray on Way with Jesus who is Love.
Presentation of the Bread and Wine
Denis: (lifting up the Bread) Blessed are you, Holy Mystery, Creator of all life, this bread is your community of MMOJ We have this bread to offer, it will become for us the Bread of Life. May your Love flowing through us nourish all our brothers and sisters. Denis and All: Praise to you Jesus Christ, Wise Elder Brother, our Way and our Love.
Katy Blessed are you, Holy Mystery, in whom we live and move and have our being. This wine is our desire to live following your Way for us. May the Love who you are flow through us as a river renewing the lives of all whom we meet. We have this wine to offer, it will become our spiritual drink to sustain us in our lives. All: Praise to you Jesus Christ, Wise Elder Brother, our Way and our Love.
Rite of Transformation
Jeanne S: We pause now to remember a time we have not born fruit in caring for self and others. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one broken or damaged relationship. (Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
Jeane S and all: As we ask for and receive forgiveness, and You transform energy into Love,open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us on our life’s journey. Let it be so, Yes!.
Eucharistic Prayer
Let us rejoice as we sing:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy sung by Linda Lee Miller
(adapted from Holy, Holy, Holy by Karen Drucker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKBBIj5LZA
Katy: Come Holy Spirit and settle on this bread and wine. Fill them with the holiness and Wholeness of our Loving Brother, our Cosmic Christ living in the center of our souls today.
(With an outstretched arm, we pray the consecration together.)
Denis and All: We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends, followers and family to share a final Passover meal. It was at this supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with us saying: “Take this, all of you, and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of the Love of God in the world through time. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you.
[short pause]
Bob F and All: In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends, followers and family saying: “Take this, all of you, and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me. This is the new and everlasting covenant.”
Pat F: God, we know you bless your Pilgrim People of God throughout the world. We, your people, ask for your grace that we may continually grow in our love and caring for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, Mary Eileen, Olga Alvarez our Bishops and for everyone with whom we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins (those who are lepers of the 21st century) of church and society. All our brothers and sisters are members of your Blessed Family. We remember also all those, living and dead, who touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember especially….(mention names here, if you would like to..)
Mary Al and All (lift up bread and cup): We believe that the Spirit of God is at work in and among us and will do more than we could ever ask or imagine. We choose a life of Love for all of humanity, every species and Earth herself. We believe that it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Creator God, forever and ever.
Great Amen: Linda Lee Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy76fpfkNsg
COMMUNION RITE
The Prayer of Jesus*
Denis: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Denis and All: Loving God, our heavenly Mother and Father, holy be your name, may your kin-dom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day that which we need, and forgive us for taking from the earth and all of its inhabitants, more than was necessary, for we forgive those who have hurt us. Let us not fall into the temptation of holding on too long to our grief and old hurts, but grant us the grace to let go and place our pain in your hands. For your desire for each of us is fullness of life with each other and you in your kin-dom and through the power of your grace, we can be all that you desire us to be, so may yours be the glory, both now and forever. Amen. (Written by Liz Wendeln, Sister of Charity, Nazareth, used at her funeral liturgy. Friend of Wanda and Miriam ARCWP)
Sign of Peace:
Pat F Eternal wellspring of peace-
May we be drenched with the longing for peace
That we may give ourselves over
As the earth to the rain, to the dew,
Until peace overflows our lives
As living waters overflow the seas. (Marcia Falk)
Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say, “Namaste, Namaste, Namaste.”
Bob F: Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
Bob F and All:
Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your Loving presence in the world; we will do so.
Denis (lift up the bread and wine) This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Denis and All: May we live as the Body and Love of Christ in the world, serving all in need, especially those living without hope, faith and love.
Denis: Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the living bread of life.” And “You are the living wine of compassion.”
Communion Song:
Perhaps love - Placido Domingo & Placido Domingo jr. (Szeged 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPG5xwbspWQ
After Communion Reflection
Jeanne S: O sing to the Cosmos a new song: sing to the Beloved, all the earth! Sing to the Creator, and bless the Name above all names. Declare the splendor of the Radiant One to all nations, the marvelous works of Love to all peoples! For great is the Beloved and greatly to be praised: reverence Love above all else. …Truth and integrity live with Love; strength and beauty dwell with the Beloved. Yield to Love, O families of the earth, yield to Love’s glory and strength! Yield to Love and learn of justice; make of yourselves an offering and be guided by Love! For through Love will come truth and justice, offering all the people gifts of new Life. Amen (Taken from Psalm 96, Nan Merrill)
Introductions/Thanksgiving/Announcements
Closing Community Prayer
Mary Al: A Prayer for Peace across the world, especially Israel, Gaza, West Bank, Ukraine, Sudan
For those who are fleeing: sanctuary
For those who are staying: safety
For those who are fighting: peace
For those whose hearts
are breaking: comfort
For those who see no future: hope and Love.
Mary Al and All: Amen
Closing Community Blessing
Katy and Denis: Together with our arms extended to one another;
we say our Final Blessing especially for the times as we seek to be the Love of God with our lives.
May Holy Mystery’s Light encircle you
May Jesus’ Love enfold you
May God’s Peace encourage you
May Sophia’s Hope fill your heart and soul.
May the Beloved’s Presence enrich us
As we continue our journey to be the Love of God
toward all whom we meet on life’s journey
ALL: Thanks be to God. A blessed Lent of loving to all.
Closing Song:
The Servant Song | Christian & Catholic Hymn | Richard Gillard & Betty Pulkingham | Sunday 7pm Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
“Love is the Energy of Evolution”
‘The Unbearable Wholeness of Being, God,
Evolution, and the Power of Love” Sr Ilia Delio
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
Please support our community, send your check to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy, please refer them to
www.marymotherofJesus.net where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
