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THE ANGEL’S GREETING: TRUST/FEAR NOT
WELCOME AND GATHERING:
(Jeanne) Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an Inclusive Catholic Community, where all are welcome. At these difficult times, it is now more important than ever to gather together to support one another as we are “companions on this journey,” a journey of the unknown; for we are encouraged to “Be not afraid, I go before you always……”
As we share this Liturgy let us be calm, be still in the truth knowing that the Cosmic Christ is consistently and always present in our broken world, in all creation and in the entire Universe.
-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. After you are finished reading, please mute yourself again.
-Please have your Advent Wreath or a candle of Hope ready to light. Please have bread and wine/juice nearby as we pray our Eucharistic prayer.
- Today is The Fourth Sunday of Advent. We are going to begin with The Advent Candle lighting ceremony.
-While our fourth candle is being lit, let us pause and reflect for a moment. The candle is lit.
(Cathy and Community) We light this fourth candle and remember that we are called to create, share and be light in all our ways of relating … to overcome fear as we continue tocommit ourselves to the works of peace and justice needed in our world. And so we respond: Let us kindle the light of love!
Let us all light our fourth advent candle
(Cathy Concludes) Let us not be afraid of the dark wherein the light shines and indeed, with confidence let us welcome the light within each other! May the words of the title and refrain of this song sink deeply into our being.
I Am Confident and Unafraid by The Brotherhood of HOPE
https://youtu.be/C93_o26Mv1I?si=CfAr9E6RMXxhYZYB
Refrain
God indeed is my Savior. I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage come from the Lord,
and he has become my salvation.(Is12:21)
Refrain……
Lo the virgin shall be with child and they shall call his name Emmanuel
Let it be done according to your Word. I am the servant of God. (Is7:14;Lk1:38)
Refrain……
Lo a voice in the desert cries out: Oh prepare ye the way of the Lord
Bring the down the mountain make straight the way, and see the power of God (Isa40:31)
Refrain……
Bless the Holy One, all you peoples, Loudly sound the vict’ryof the Lord
He has given life to our souls, behold the Lamb of God.
Refrain
This song represents Mary of Nazareth and John the Baptist, two prominent Advent figures. While on earth they lived in great confidence while waiting for the Holy One to fulfill the promise made.
(Jeanne) The season of Advent has given us the opportunity to stop, wonder, and reflect on what really happened some two thousand years ago.
As such, our worship this morning will include some quiet spaces,
~space after the Scripture is read,
~space during the offering of our prayers,
~and space before the Benediction.
In the spaces you are invited to pause, watch, wait, listen and look as the flame of the lit candles urges us to meditate on the message delivered by the Angel Gabriel –“Fear not, Christ Comes.”
(Anna and All) We begin our celebration together ✝️ in the name of The Holy One the Source of all Being,
Jesus the Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit Sophia our Wisdom within. Amen.
(Anna) Let us welcome each other with a sign of Christ’s peace!
Bow toward your camera with hands folded as together we say: I bow before the presence of God in You.
Namaste, Namaste, Namaste
Opening Prayer
(Elena) 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, trustingthat we will have everything we need to birth Christ anew in our world today.
Like Mary, may we be surprised by our calling;
like Simeon and Anna in the temple, may the years increase our faith;
like sleepy shift workers on a hillside, may our eyes be opened;
like Joseph may we listen to our dreams;
for this season requires our creative imagination. Amen
(Elena) There is a Presence in our world that asks to be seen,
who will stay awake?
There is a coming to our world that seeks a welcome,
who will offer hospitality?
Even now Jesus The Christ is moving towards us. And together let us all respond: Let it be so and so it
Reconciliation Rite.
(Jeanne) We pause now to remember times when messages of our unworthiness have clouded our vision of the infinite love within us. Let us imagine our imperfections, the chaos and messes of our lives all brightly lit by a love that heals and transforms us, as we evolve and grow in awareness of our divinity and our humanity.
(Pause for several moments. Then Place your hand over your heart.)
All: I love you. Thank you. I’m sorry. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you
Liturgy of the Word
(Joan M) First Reading Micah 5: 1-4;10-15
But for now, prepare for the worst, victim daughter!
The siege is set against us.
They humiliate Israel’s king, slapping him around like a rag doll.
But you Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader who will shepherd -rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.
Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born.
And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel.
He will stand tall in his shepherd rule by God’s strength, centered in the majesty of God-
Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home,
For the whole world will hold him in respect- Peacemaker of the world!
(Anna) Micah:5:10-15
“The Day is coming” --God’s Decree---
“When there will be no more war. None.
I’ll slaughter your war horses and demolish your chariots.
I’ll dismantle military posts and level your fortifications.
I’ll abolish your religious black markets,
Your underworld traffic in black magic.
I will smash your carved and cast gods and chop down your phallic posts.
No more taking control of the world, worshipping what you do or make.
I’ll root out your sacred sex and power centers and destroy the God-defiant.
In raging anger, I’ll make a clean sweep of godless nations who haven’t listened.”
All: We praise you O Faithful Holy One!
Pause
(Cathy)Psalm 80 Psalms for Praying: An invitation to wholeness by Nan Merrill
Response: Restore us, O Holy One; let your face shine upon us, teach us to love!
Eternal listener give heed to your people, You who are our guide and our light!
You, who dwell amidst the angels, shine forth into the hearts of all nations!
Enliven your people with compassion that peace and justice might flourish
Restore us, O Holy one ……..
Gentle teacher help us to turn to you in prayer, fasting from our negative thoughts.
In your steadfast love, You weep with our tears, tears that rise from fear, doubt, and illusion.
You uphold us when we feel the sting of pride, when our anxiety threatens to paralyze us.
Restore us, O Holy One ……..
You companion us through the wilderness, through the shadows created by fear.
You plant your seed into each heart. You uproot the weeds of our sin, You cultivate the soil of our goodness.
Truly in you we become like a tiny acorn, holding the secret of a mighty oak.
Restore us O Holy One,……..
You nourish us with the food of Love, with streams of Living Water. Be our strength as we break down walls that separate and divide; let not fear pluck away the gifts we would share.
Roll away the stones that become obstacles to growth, to producing a bountiful harvest.
Restore us, O Holy One, let your face shine upon us, teach us to love.
Pause
(Jeanne) Gospel: Luke 1:28-33; 35-n
In the sixth month of Elizbeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You are beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you.
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great, he will be called ‘Son of the Highest’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever- no end, ever to his kingdom.”
Yes, I see it all now; I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.
These are the inspiring words of the Gospel writer known as Luke and we affirm them by saying: All: Amen.
Homily Starter and Community Sharing
(Elena)
To end the shared homily
“You Can Do This Hard Thing” by Carrie Newcomer
https://youtu.be/PRGnftH_g4I?si=NKtCmyFSuo5JxzxQ
Communal Statement of Faith
(Joan M) Together let us profess our Faith.
We believe in God, the Creator of an unfinished world in an ever-evolving cosmos, a God whose divinity infuses all that exists and makes everything in the universe sacred. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who carried the message of God’s words to everyone whom he met during his time on earth, and who has continued to do so to everyone who has lived on that planet ever since. He leads us to the fullness of humanity; it is through his incarnation that we have become a new people, called beyond the consequences of our brokenness and failures and have been called to the fullness of life. Jesus will continue spreading the Good News of his promise throughout the universe till the end of time. It is through Jesus, the heart of God’s compassion, that we have become a new people. It is through him that we have been called beyond the consequences of our brokenness and have been raised to the fullness of life.
(Anna and All): We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God in the world who keeps the Christ-vision present to all those who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their lives. She is the Holy Sustainer who heals and energizes people when their strengths and hopes grow weary in their journeys, especially the failing energies of those people who struggle so hard and long in the darkness. She shares with them the strength that they may need to experience the grace of God that day.
(Cathy and All) We also believe that God’s kindom is here with us now and will always be there for those with eyes to recognize it, minds to understand it, hearts to receive it, and hands to spread it and make it known to their brothers and sisters wherever they may be. We say “amen” to faith, hope and love. We say “amen” to the partnership and equality of all people, regardless of gender, race and beliefs. We say “amen” to a world of peace and justice for everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. In all of this we surely believe.
Prayers of and for the Community
(Joan M) We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, saying, “I bring to the Table…”
Our response is: : By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~We pray for all those suffering as a result of the natural disasters taking place on our planet.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~We pray for all who are suffering, lonely, and without faith or hope.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~We pray for all those living in the conditions of war and fear.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~ We pray for the intentions of all our brothers and sisters who would appreciate our prayers for their unsolicited special intentions.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~We pray for all the intentions that remain in the silence of our hearts.
Response: ~ Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~We pray for the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
~And, for what else should we pray?
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
( ) Holy Mystery, grant us the wisdom to respond in the form of a radical transformation from fear to trust as heralded by your angels on so many occasions All: Amen
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
CALLING FORTH THE ADULT
Preface:
(Jeanne)Gracious God, we gather to acclaim our thanks and praise.
You have called us into birth and gifted our youthfulness.
You have protected our growth and blessed our maturity.
You have graced our transitions, amid the changes of life.
And you have called us as a people of faith, to embrace
our world with faith and new vision.
With gratitude in our hearts we thank you for being our companion
on the journey. And in union with all who lift their voices in joy,
we, too, acclaim our song of praise: Holy, Holy, etc.
Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
(Anna) Gracious God, all creation celebrates your empowering presence.
All your creatures hunger for the new life you promise.
In Jesus, our friend and liberator, you reveal our humanity come of age,
the evolutionary fulfillment of many eons,
the invitation to wholeness and the promise of new life.
First Invocation Extend hands over the bread and cup
(Elena and All) In the power of the creative Spirit, Jesus lived life to the full.
We, too, are blessed in the power of that same Spirit,
which we now invoke upon all gathered here,
to celebrate the transformative energy,
symbolized in our gifts of bread and wine,
given to nourish and sustain us into the fullness of life.
Invoking the memory of the tradition:
(Jeanne) While sharing a feast at table, Jesus took bread,blessed you, God of all good gifts.
Jesus broke the bread, and along with the cup, shared it among friends and said:
Take this all of you: eat and drink; this is my body which will be given up for you.
(Elena) After the meal, Jesus took another cup,
poured out in a spirit of solidarity and empowerment.
Jesus gave thanks and handed the cup to those at table saying:
All: Take this all of you and drink from it; this is the cup of my life-blood,
the life of the new and everlasting covenant.
In prophetic solidarity, it is poured out for you and for all.
Sustain one another in sacred memory.
Pause
Eucharistic Acclamation
(Anna) Nurtured by your Word, nourished by your food;
Called anew to be your people, we acclaim your praise.
As a Christian people we inherit a story of liberation and new life.
We remember the blessings of ages past, and we look forward in hope,
knowing that you, our wise and faithful God, will continue to empower us in our earthly mission.
Second Invocation: Extend hands over bread and cup
(Jeanne and All) As a people called to mature and adult faith, we invoke upon
all gathered here, the empowering Spirit of courage and wisdom,
so that we, too, are empowered to be agents of Gospel liberation.
We unite in thought and prayer with all who are weighed down by oppression, trapped in poverty, victimized by violence and exploitation.
We grieve for all who will never reach their full potential,
because of the greed perpetuated by unjust systems.
(Joan M) Bless us, O God of liberation, to work for the freedom of all,
to bring about a world where justice can reign and love can flourish.
In the fellowship of our faith, with all the living and those gone before us,
confirm our hearts in this resolve. May we never betray that fullness of life
to which you invite all your people.
Communion Rite
Prayer of Jesus Translation of the original Lord’s Prayer from the Aramaic bible/Tina Nyambwe
(Anna and All) Oh cosmic birther of all radiance and vibration, soften the ground of our bodies and carve out a space within us where your presence can abide. Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission. Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desires. Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish. Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes. Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose that illuminate the opportunities of our present moment, for you are the ground, the truthful mission, the birth the power and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole again. And so it is.
(Anna) This prayer we make in the name of our Creator God and liberating Spirit, whom Jesus embodied as our primary model. In, with and through whom we offer our praise, this day and forever. Amen.
(Jeanne) Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
~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 presence in the world; we will do so.
(Elena) This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion: Within Our Heart be
Born
https://youtu.be/LHV0BMdtNa0?si=hPNe5ZMXSISwHHz5
Introduction/ Thanksgiving/ Announcements
Closing Community Blessing
(Elena) Please raise your hands in blessing: And together with our arms extended to one another we say:
May we seek truth boldly and love deeply.
May we welcome opportunities to birth the Christ in all those we meet.
May we develop a lifelong visitation response, as Mary did, reaching out and going the extra mile to assist those in need of our support.
May we continue to be the face of the Holy One, and
May our names be a blessing in our time.
(All) We go forth with fear under control and Armed with Trust and Heavenly Angelic Assurances that Emmanuel is ‘God with Us!‘ Amen and Alleluia!
Closing Song:
From the Manger the Angel says: Be Not Be Afraid
https://youtu.be/Uvm0sYo0ULI?si=ohAKhpKxEDkOH_zd
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 www.marymotherofJesus.net where the day’s liturgy is found.
Zoom instructions are also included there.
Please support our community, send your check to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233
