Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
16th Week in Extra-Ordinary Time
July 19, 2025
Presiders: MaryAl Gagnon and Kathryn Shea
Readers: Suzanne and Jerry Bires
Joan Meehan
IT: Cheryl Brandi
Theme: Make Time for God
Welcome and Gathering
MaryAl:
Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome. Our theme today is, “Make Time for God.”
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 moments to collect ourselves as we prepare to focus our minds and our hearts on our knowledge that we are all one, 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.
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Gathering Song: The Servant Song
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmgpMfnjdU&list=RDkdmgpMfnjdU&start_radio=1
Opening Prayer
Kathryn: In the name of our Beloved, we gather to celebrate life in the fullest and our oneness with and in you and in all things. May we be the people you have called us to be, co-creators of a world that is yet unfolding. May we be the seeds that grow into a world of unconditional love, compassion, and embracement of all people, especially those living on the margins. Let our ears hear, our eyes see, and our hearts receive as we work to expand the power of Your love and truth on this Earth. Amen.
Rite of Transformation
Jerry: Please pray the Hawaiian Ho’oponopono Prayer of Forgiveness:
Jerry and ALL:
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
I love you.
Jerry: As we ask for and receive forgiveness, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be so! Alleluia!
Liturgy of the Word
Suzanne: First Reading: Gen 18:1-10
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
and bowing to the ground, he said:
"Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
and afterward you may go on your way."
The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
"Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"
He replied, "There in the tent."
One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son."
And to this we say, AMEN.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VUnwLjflyo&list=RD1VUnwLjflyo&start_radio=1
MaryAl: Gospel Reading: Lk 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not
care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as Luke and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia Alleluia (Eightfold) – Jan Phillips shortened
https://youtu.be/IC4nbwmQDVw
Homily Starter/Community Sharing
Communal Statement of Faith
Suzanne 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
Joan M:
We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, stating, “I bring to the table..”
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing.
We pray for all the emotional and physical pain taking place in our country and our world as a result of human’s inhumanity.
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing.
We pray for the people in all war-torn countries, most especially the children, that they may live in peace without fear and that goodness and sanity will fill the hearts and minds of those that would cause them harm.
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing.
We pray that our government finds its right mind.
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing.
We pray for all of those suffering from the floods and other natural disasters in our world.
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing
We pray for our MMOJ intentions on our community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Our response is: Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing
For what else should we pray?
Our response is: All: We are grateful for your healing
Joan: Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
Presentation of the Bread and Wine
MaryAl:
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.
MaryAl and All: Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
Suzanne: Blessed are You, O Loving One through Your divine providence we have this wine to share, our spiritual drink.
Suzanne and All: Blessed are, You, Holy One, forever.
Suzanne: Let us lift up our hearts.
Suzanne and All: We lift them up to the Holy One, living in us and loving through us.
Eucharistic Prayer
Kathryn:
Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in our times of both blessedness and weakness. 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
(adapted from Holy, Holy, Holy by Karen Drucker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKBBIj5LZA
MaryAl: 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.
Kathryn and All: 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.
MaryAl 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]
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.
Kathryn:
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.
Suzanne and All:
Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.
Jerry:
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 Francis, 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….(mention names here, if you would like to..)
Jerry 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
The Prayer of Jesus
Suzanne and ALL: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Holy One beyond all names
Eternal Wellspring
May love rise again in us today
With food for every table
Shelter for every family
And reverence for every life.
Forgive us our failings in love
And free us from all falseness
That the light of our souls may shine
And the strength of our spirits endure
For Earth and all its people
This day, tonight and forever.
Amen.
(Celtic Version of Prayer of Jesus by John Philip Newell)
Sign of Peace
Kathryn:
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.”
MaryAl:
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.
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Kathryn and All: May we live as the Body of Christ in the world, serving all in need, especially those living on the margin.
Kathryn: Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion Song: Here I Am Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDdniihKBzI&list=RDcDdniihKBzI&start_radio=1
Introductions/Thanksgiving/Announcements
Closing Community Prayer
MaryAl: Oh Holy One, as we step into each new day, we humbly place ourselves under Your loving care. Surround us with Your shielding presence and let Your grace be our armor. Guide our steps and lead us along paths of righteousness. Keep us safe from the unforeseen dangers of the day and guard our minds against negative thoughts. As we interact with others, let us be a beacon of Your love and peace, reflecting Your goodness in all that we do, for You, and You alone, are the Truth, the Way and the Life. May we intentionally make time for you in our lives so that we can truly focus on your messages for us. . In the name of all that is Holy, we pray. Amen.
Community Blessing and Commissioning
Kathryn: And together with our arms extended we say:
May you be blessed with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May you seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart.
May you sit with God to know your heart and soul.
May you continue to be the face of the Holy One to all you meet.
May your name be a blessing in our time.
ALL: Thanks be to God. Let it be so! And so it is! Alleluia!
Closing Song: When I Pray by Daniel Nahmod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77UDeznzOck&list=RD77UDeznzOck&start_radio=1
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.org where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
