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Let the Children Come to Me
Dotty: Welcome to our Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Church Community Liturgy, our “Church Without Walls.” Today we celebrate the 27th Week of Ordinary Time.
Whoever you are.
Where ever you are. Just as you are.
You are welcome at our table
let us pray…
Today we are going to enjoy the wonder of children. They carry so much wisdom in their little minds. They love life. Deep down it is not hard to scare them and it is critical that they can count on the grownups to comfort them whenever they are scared, sad, and oh yes, happy. Today our focus is on them and the joy they so easily share and their brilliant little minds that know so much more than we can sometimes Imagine. So let us pray with them that all the happy things of life will be given to them. Let us hold in our hearts the tragedies that surround all too many of them and lets always be their for them even when they are away and out of reach.
Luca: Opening Prayer: Today we bring to mind all the children in our lives, all the children all over our world. We reflect on Jesus’s desire to bless children, to listen to them, to insure they feel safe and loved. and to feel safe and secure. We pray we recognize that we are the hands of Jesus today. We are called to support all legislation that will contribute to the safety of all children everywhere.
We will support all efforts to make our world a safer place, efforts to speak out and support the safety of children wherever they live. This we pray as we live the Gospel as Jesus did.
And the community responds:
All: Let it be so and so it is.
Opening song: PS22 Chorus "This Is My Wish" Kevin Ross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEY9GzG-nyg
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Joan P: First Reading from Mathew Fox Daily Meditation on the World of Today
In a recent presentation I heard by Brian Tyler Cohen he reminds us that the United States, which constitutes 5% of the world’s population, owns 50% of the world’s guns! Brian asks this question: “Why might that be?”
Here is the answer. Politicians who are in bed with gun manufacturers prefer money from them to caring about children. To please those who pay them, they prevent common sense laws that the majority of Americans of both parties and none–including gun-owners –want enacted. Such basic things as a ban on assault weapons (meant for soldiers in battle); locking up guns in homes; and more serious background checks. We have a political system built on dark and untraceable money, buttressed by a depraved Supreme Court that has encouraged unchecked dark money in our political system. All of which gives capitalism a very bad name indeed. Greed and thirst for power take precedence over the lives of children. Guns are the new “golden calf” in America. An object of worship. Idolatry is alive and well wherever addictions reign. Kids are “unregarded” while guns, power and greed are overly regarded in today’s America. Such a society has banished a sense of the common good and “respect for life” and love of children. Does the new political slogan “parents rights” include banning guns that kill children in schools? And voting out politicians who refuse to pass common sense gun legislation? These are the words of Mathew Fox, visionary and prophet of our times, and the community responds: Let it be so and so it is.
Celtic Alleluia
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
Luca: Gospel: A reading from the Gospel attributed to Mark 10;13-16
Some of the people were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them; but the followers found fault with those who had brought them. When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
“Let the little children come to me,” he said; “do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the realm of God belongs. I tell you, unless a person receives the realm of God like a child, she will not
enter it at all.” Then he folded the children in his arms, and, placing his hands on them, he blessed them.
These are the inspired words of the disciple called Mark, and the Community responds:
All: Let it be so and so it is
Shared Homily:
Maryal: Statement of Faith
All: We believe in one God, 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 God's Word,
bringer of God's healing, heart of God's compassion,
bright star in the firmament of God's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that we are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of God's love,
a source of God's wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of God's peace in the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the life of God that is our innermost life,
the depth of God living in each of us e breath of God moving in our being.
We believe that God's 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.
Joan: Prayers of the Community:
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares, and concerns. Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We bring to the table all those suffering from the destruction and devastation of war especially the children and families and pray for strength and courage for them and peace throughout our world.
Response: Holy One, we trust in You.
We bring to the table all those who are experiencing the tragic destrurtction of Hurricane Helene, that they may receive all of the support and aid that they need.
Response: Holy One, we trust in You.
We bring to the table all those who have experienced racism in the past and present and we pray that all will open their hearts to truly understand this suffering it causes.
Response: Holy One, we trust in You.
We bring to the table our government officials that they hear and listen to the guiding wisdom of the Spirit.
Response: Holy One, we trust in you.
We bring to the table all the requests for prayer in our MMOJ Book of Prayer Requests (Joan Meehan)
For what else shall we pray…please share your intentions…
We pray for these and all unspoken prayers and blessings.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Luca: We are a priestly people. We are anointed. With open hands and hearts, let us pray our Eucharistic prayer in one voice:
Holy One, you are always with us. We are grateful for Your constant loving and unconditional presence. At times we forget that You are holding us, attending to us. We fall and You pick us up. You send strangers, friends and family to our aid. We are never without Your Light and Spirit.
You are with us in all the circumstances of our lives. Together we sing a hymn of praise:
Holy Holy Holy - Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/9XywpRw3OPw?si=WMU88iQ4KxzCY_XZ\
Maryal: We are grateful for our brother, Jesus, who insisted on the way we must live if we are to be true followers of his ministry. We look to the incredible people in our history and here around us today who have modeled for us a way to live and love in challenging times.
It is difficult to follow the invitation of Jesus: “Love those who hate you, those who do evil against you.” In faith, Holy One, we renew our commitment to embrace the ministry of Jesus and follow his teachings.
We are called to send blessing to all people of the earth. We are called to forgive especially those who trouble our hearts by the choices they make, choices of hate and violence that are destroying people’s lives. We recognize the broken world we live in. We know that it is only love that can heal.
Please extend your hands over the bread and wine you have placed before you and pray
Dotty: Together we call on the Spirit of Life that Spirit that lives and moves in the totality of our being. The bread and wine we have before is blessed by us in the memory of Jesus.
In blessing the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, they become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.
Dotty: On the night before Jesus faced his own death he sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift their plate and pray the following:
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.
All lift their cup and pray the following: He then raised high 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.
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. Please consume the bread and drink the cup with the words: We are one with our God.
Communion Song: Sara Bareilles - Brave | Cover by One Voice Children's Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa2QKIDr7q8
Maryal: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
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 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.
(The Prayer of Jesus as interpreted by Miriam Therese Winter)
Introductions - Thanksgivings - Announcements
Joan: BLESSING: Let us pray our blessing together.
May we continue to be the Face of God to each other.
May we encourage our children and keep them safe.
May we hold in our heart the children all over the world who live in war torn countries.
May we be people of peace to all we meet .
May we deepen in ourselves faith that the Divine is always within us giving us strength and hope.
Let it be so, and so it is!
Closing Song: Let the Children Come to Me – (end 108)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5GLYlRCPE
If you would like to add your intercession to 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.
NEW PO BOX:
Please send donations to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233