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Living in the Light of Jesus
Joan: Welcome:
Good afternoon and welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community.
This is our place of worship, our “Church Without Walls.”
Whoever you are, where ever you are, just as you are, you are welcome at this table.
We join together on this Fourth Week of Lent to reflect on a specific nuance of the life and ministry of Jesus and on its impact on our life and the life of the world. Together we share with one another our journey with the Divine. All are welcome at our table. Bring Bread and a Cup of Wine/Juice as together we remember our commitment to follow Jesus in our world today.
We focus today on the celebration of “Living in the Light,” not just the light from the sun, the moon and the stars but more importantly the Light of the Holy One who warms us with the warmth of love, filling our very being as we let that love flow forth to all people, near and far, to all creatures great and small, to the earth we walk on and to the Universe that keeps us seeking for all the mystery it holds.
Dotty: Opening Prayer:
Holy One, we pause and reflect on the sheermagnitude of the Divine within and around us and in every aspect of life in the world and beyond. Be with us as we make the transition from the world of busyness, the things that trouble us and rest in the Presence of Divine Love. Holy One, surround each of us with your light. Let it warm us and help us bloom into the fullness of our being. Let us find it in ourselves to answer your call to live in the light. AMEN.
Let us welcome one another with a greeting of Peace:
“Namaste, Namaste, Namaste!”
Opening Song: Anthem: We are called, We are Chosen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP2gwC5TGFs
Transformation Rite
Mary M: Called to break thru the darkness in our world and be the Light that can bring New Life.
All: Transform us, Divine Presence
Called to encourage all those who speak truth to injustice throughout our world.
All: Transform us, Divine Presence
Called to speak plainly so what we do is seen as done in the name of Jesus and all that he has taught us.
All: Transform us, Divine Presence
Jeanne S. First Reading is taken from “Is Jesus God? Finding Our Faith,” by Michael Morwood
Examining the basic insights of Jesus of Nazareth within the framework of the fall-redemption story presents a massive shift for Christian theology.
This attempt at the task is not motivated by a desire to dismiss doctrinal formulations based on the fall-redemption story. Rather the task is attempted with the conviction that if the people who shaped those traditional formulations were alive today, they would certainly use the knowledge and information of this age to articulate their understanding of Jesus.
The task is to understand Jesus and his message in the context of the Spirit of God being actively present in all places at all times in a universe that has existed for at least twelve billion years.
Can we consider Jesus in the context of contemporary knowledge about the universe and our planet? Can we move our understanding of Jesus beyond the framework of a particular story of creation and a fall that was shaped in a completely different cosmology?
Can we examine the teaching of Jesus as people who believe that in him the Spirit of God came to its clearest, most wonderful human expression?
And can we then, in a global context, articulate what it is in the message and life of this man that offers insight and good news to the questions human beings ask about life and connectedness to the realm of the sacred?
So, we consider the life and preaching of Jesus, conscious we are doing so in a selective way. We look to see how the Spirit moved in him and speaks to all of us through him.
These are the inspired words of Michael Morwood. And the community responds:
ALL: Let it be so! and So it is!
Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God
https://youtu.be/xoJN0owUoWA?si=2pvLtcO7o5Bl6tv_
Mary K. Gospel: A reading from the Apostle called John (John 3:14-21)
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so the Chosen One must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in the Chosen One might have eternal life.
Yes, God so loved the world as to give the Only Begotten One,
that whoever believes may not die but have eternal life.
God sent the Only Begotten into the world not to condemn the world,
but that through the Only Begotten the world might be saved.
Whoever believes in the Only Begotten avoids judgment, but whoever doesn’t believe is judged already for not believing in the name of the only Begotten of God. On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light came into the world, people showed they preferred darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. Indeed, people who do wrong hate the light and avoid it for fear their action will be exposed; but people who live by the truth come out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what they do is done in God.”
These are the inspired words of the Apostle called John and the community responds:
ALL: Let it be so! and So It Is!
Homily Starter – Dotty Shugrue and Invitation to share your thoughts.
Jane S. Statement of Faith:
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.
Prayers of the Community
Joan M: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we share our intentions.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
We recognize the darkness that covers over the truth in our world and we pray that our Lights will break through.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
We recognize injustices that surround us causing horrific suffering to millions of families, children and all human kind.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
We recognize much of the life of the earth is being destroyed through carelessness, selfishness and greed.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
We recognize that suffering and sickness is everywhere and resources are denied those most in need: the mentally ill, the poor, the homeless, the broken hearted, the lonely.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
We recognize the evils of war cause numerous unspeakable acts in the treatment of all persons and in every aspect of creation.
Response: May our Light bring healing to our World
Joan P:O Sacred Spirit, thank you for living and loving through us as we set our hearts in bringing Light into all creation. May all that we do flow from our deep conviction that we carry the Light within us and we strive to share that Light with all those in need. You know we can be short- sighted, yet you also know it is our profound desire to be faithful to all that Jesus teaches us. We know that Christ has no hands, no feet, no body in this world but ours. We accept with joy that we carry your Light wherever we go. Experiencing your presence in each other and in all of creation, we sing:
Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Eucharistic Prayer
Jack McK: Divine Presence, when opposing forces in us tug and pull and we are caught in the tension of choices, inspire us to make wise decisions toward what is good.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus, and for all our sisters and brothers who have modeled for us a way to live and love in challenging times. Inspired by them, we choose life over death, we choose to be light in dark times. We walk in the Light of the Cosmic Christso that all may see the Real Presence of the Divine. We exemplify the way Jesus lived as we speak truth to power. We Follow his example as we commit to challenge systems of oppression. We proclaim hismission of love and peace to all people free of our own prejudices.
Joan P: Please extend your hands in blessing.
We are ever aware of your Spirit in us. We call upon Spirit as we bless this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
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 with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift the plate and pray:
Dotty: 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 the bread of life. (pause)
All lift the cup and pray:
Then he took the cup of the 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 continue to live the Gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity.
This is the Bread of Life and the cup of the New Covenant. How happy we are to celebrate the ministry of Jesus.
Please receive communion saying: I am / We are theLiving Christ.
Communion Song: Stand in the Light by Jordan Smith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDrOVOoTjRU
Prayers after Communion:
Mary M: Divine Presence, your transforming energy is within us and we join our hearts with all who are working for a just world. We pray for wise leaders in our religious communities. We pray for courageous and compassionate leaders in our world communities.
Jack McK: We pray for all of us gathered here and like Jesus, we open ourselves up to your Spirit, for it is through living as he lived that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, at this time and all ways.
Amen.
Jane S: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Jesus, 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 that 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.
Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Introductions – Thanksgivings and Announcements
Please extend your hands and pray our blessing:
Community Blessing:
Joan P: Let us raise our hands together in blessing.
May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate through us.
May the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us.
May we continue to be the face of the Holy One, and
May we be a blessing in our time. Amen
Closing Song: Be a Light by Thomas Rhett
https://www.youtube.com/
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayer 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
Our Liturgy (Mass) is posted on the website every week.
Zoom instructions are also included there.
Please send donations to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079Sarasota, FL 34233