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Meeting ID: 812 6424 0367
Passcode: 854873
Theme: “Abide With Me”
Welcome and Gathering
(Elena): 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 called to abide with God. Let us keep in mind that with God we can do all things and without Her we can do nothing. Our Creator and Source of all being, Jesus Eternal word and Holy Spirit Sophia Wisdom, calls us to “abide with me” We are brought together at this time to transform ourselves and our world through love; love for our Holy One, love for our neighbors, love for ourselves, and love for our planet. Let us begin our liturgy by expressing this love through song.
Gathering Song: Abide With Me by Carrie Newcomer (Stop at 3:49)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWxgvY5j0HY
OPENING PRAYER (Kaellen): In the name of our Source of all Being, Jesus our brother, and Holy Spirit Wisdom, we gather to celebrate our oneness with and in you and in all things. This Great Mystery is the foundation and template for the entire universe, and when fully experienced, has the capacity to change everything. We seek to fully understand this Great Mystery, but more importantly to understand how we live it in our lives. Let our ears hear, our eyes see, and our hearts receive as we remember and expand the power of Love on Earth. During these dark days, we live with the certainty that you walk with us, Infinite One, as we continue to awaken to the call to abide with you in the fullness of grace consciousness, so that we may participate in your plan to unite us as one people abiding in you. May we commit to abide with you as you abide with us in Your name O Holy One.
RITE OF TRANSFORMATION (Andrea): We pause now to remember the times we have not born fruit by straying away from the Vine wherein abides the strength to do good and resist evil. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one time when we have veered off the path taught by Jesus by word and example. (Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
(Andrea and All) As we ask for and receive forgiveness, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be so, Yes, Alleluia!
THE SIGN OF PEACE (Kaellen) It is fitting that, having asked for Divine and mutual forgiveness, we now extend an expression of Peace to each other.
(Kaellen and All): Grant us Your peace O Loving God, that following the example of Jesus and with the strength of the Spirit, we may be eager to spread that peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. Amen (Kaellen) May the peace of our gracious and loving God be always with us. Let us turn to each other and with praying hands offer each other a sign of peace, followed by a joyfilled Gloria. NAMASTE 3x
JOYFUL GLORIA
(Bob) Let us lift our voices in praise.
Glory to the Holy One who surrounds us, who lives within us, whose sacred Word is shared by us in our world and beyond.
Glory to the Spirit of life, who offers us peace, peace in our hearts and peace with one another as we reach out and ask for blessing.
Glory to the Spirit of Life who invites us to learn the lessons of our mistakes.
Glory to Jesus who teaches us how to live the Gospels, and invites us to be loving healers of heart, body and soul.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Consider Jesus
(Pat) We are united with God in Jesus by being in compassionate solidarity with those who suffer. If God is there, resisting evil and willing life wherever people are being damaged, then the followers of Jesus must enter into the same solidarity. There is a traditional axiom which claims that to live a good ethical life one must “do good and avoid evil.” The emphasis shifts today, slightly but very dramatically, to make us realize that this is not enough…. For in the light of the compassion God revealed in Jesus, we must “do good and resist evil.” There is a call to the Christian conscience here to not hide our face from evil, not to walk around it, or pretend it is not there; but to face its massiveness in spite of our feelings of powerlessness or insignificance and to become involved in transforming it. Suffering people are the privileged place where the God of compassion is to be found. A reading found in Elizabeth Johnson’s “Consider Jesus” p.126
Responsorial – Psalm 63 – My Soul is Thirsting (Stop at 2:53)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiMERkzUiwY
(Bob) Gospel Reading: John14: 23 and John15:4-5 The following verses beautifully express the mutually abiding-God dwelling with us. “Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make my home with them. “Remain in me as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer, John, and we affirm them by saying: AMEN.
Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
HOMILY STARTER AND COMMUNITY SHARING
COMMUNAL STATEMENT OF FAITH (Pat and 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 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.
PRAYERS OF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY (Andrea): We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, saying, “I bring to the Table...” Our response is: Holy One, we trust in You. ~We pray for all who are suffering, lonely, and without faith or hope. Response: Holy One, we trust in You. ~We pray for all those suffering as a result of the natural disasters taking place on our planet.
Response: Holy One, we trust in You. ~We pray for all those living in the conditions of war and fear. Response: Holy One, we trust in You. ~We pray for the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list as shared by Joan…
Response: Holy One, we trust in You. ~And, for what else should we pray?
Response: Holy One, we trust in You.
(Andrea) Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
OFFERTORY: Here is My Life by Joe Wise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsHM7_XZT5A
PRESENTATION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
(Kaellen) Gracious God, you have set the banquet table and have invited all of us to a feast of unending delight. Blessed are You, Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this bread, to share, the Bread of Life. (Kaellen and All): Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
(Pat) Blessed are You, O Loving One through Your divine providence we have this wine to share, our spiritual drink. (Pat and All): Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
(Bob) Let us lift up our hearts. (Bob and All) We lift them up to the Holy One, abiding with us and loving through us.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Please extend your hands over the bread and wine as together we pray the epiclesis : (Elena and All) Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in our times of both blessedness and weakness. Even though we have times of doubt, we know You are always with us...you living in us and we living in you. In this festive meal, your Spirit is poured out on each of us gathered in the circle of your friends and disciples, we also ask that your Spirit be spread to those of our community who are not with us today.
Let us rejoice as we sing: All: Holy, Holy, Holy Linda Lee Miller (Holy, Holy, adapted from Holy by Karen Drucker)
https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=orKBBIj5LZA
(Kaellen) We thank you for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history -- and the gift of Jesus in faith. On earth, his life burned with the vision of his mission on earth. Through the example of his life – his teachings and actions - he showed us not only how we should live, but also what was worth even dying for.
( Elena) When his time on earth had come to an end, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – gave us his life for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught...his conviction that love is stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for all people in ages to come, he opened wide his arms...and died. And the spirit that lived in Jesus resurrected him to a new life, a promise made to all of us too who live the new story. Jesus is with us today and he will be through the end of time.
With an outstretched arm, we pray the consecration together. (Elena and All) We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with them saying: take this, all of you, and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant. SHORT PAUSE (Kaellen and All) In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends 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 and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
(Pat ) Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith. (Pat and All) Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.
(Bob) God, we know that you bless your church throughout the world. We, your people, ask for your grace that we may continually grow in our love and caring for Leo, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop and for everyone with whom we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and society. They are all our brothers and sisters, 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....(Pause to mention names in the silence of your heart )
(Pat and All) 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 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 A Prayer of Jesus (Andrea) Let us pray. (All) Our Father and Mother who Is in heaven, whose presence is with us always and whose Spirit dwells within, hallowed be Your name. May your kingdom come and may your will be done in our lives and on earth, just as it is in heaven. Thank you for giving us this day all that we need for sustenance, nourishment and growth. Forgive us, forgive us when we turn away from your love, when we trespass against you and those you put in our lives. Help us forgive those who turn away from us and who refuse to love. Keep us from yielding to temptation, direct us away from anything and anyone that would distract us from your will, your highest good for our lives. Deliver us and protect us from all that is evil. For all Glory and Power is Yours almighty ONE, just as it was in the beginning, it is now and always shall be, world without end. Amen Maria Gullo- Centering Prayer: It is time (Christian Prac….)
(Bob) 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. (Elena and All) May we live as the Body of Christ in the world, serving all in need, especially those living on the margin. (Elena) Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion Song: Again and Again by The Many
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIhZRsaXPB4
(Elena) Introductions/Thanksgiving/Announcements Closing Community Prayer
(Kaellen) Oh Holy One, we go forth in our calling to serve, and committed to our own spiritual transformation so that we might work together to transform our earth to one of peace, equality, and justice for all. Timeless One, Your eternal love wraps courage around us as we enter into your invitation to abide with you, to dance and to bring your Light into the world. Your ageless presence draws us to you as we step forward, ready to embrace where you lead us. Your sustaining peace rests within our every heartbeat and accompanies us into the unknown future. We have no fear, for we live with the assurance that you are always in us and we in you. We are forever grateful to live in your presence and your love. Amen.
Community Blessing: (Pat) With our arms extended to one another we offer this Native American Blessing May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash sway your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know
Its beauty all the days of your life. – Apache Prayer All: Thanks be to God. Let it be so! Alleluia!
Closing Song: We Shall Overcome by Dropkick Murphys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsrYA28CtYQ
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If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
