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Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy
18th Sun in Ordinary Time August 2, 2025
Liturgy Team: Elena Garcia ARCWP, Cathy Alexander,
Suzanne Bires, Susie Zavodnyik, Joan Meehan,
I Team: Cheryl Brandi, Jerry Bires, Michael Rigdon
Theme: With Some Imagination…..
Welcome And Greeting
(Elena) Today’s readings remind us that imagination is the tool we can use to see the world differently. Imagination enables us to glimpse the world as God sees the world. In the gospel we meet a rich man who lives in isolation. He speaks to himself, and about himself, with no regard for anyone or God. He even thinks he owns his soul.
We welcome everyone to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community, where all are welcome:
Whoever you are, Wherever you are, Just as you are, you are welcome here.
We ask you to please have bread/crackers and wine/juice near you so that you may conveniently consecrate them for your Communion in the service.
We begin this and every liturgy In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Brother and Holy Spirit Sophia, our Wisdom. All: Alleluia
Opening Prayer
(Cathy) O Holy One, You nourish and challenge, call and direct, forgive and comfort ---- sheltering us in your presence every moment of our lives. Enkindle in us ways to use our imaginations in ways that lead us to create unity, bring about healing and end divisions by sharing our wealth, be it treasure, time or talent. We ask for the imagination to see the world as you see it, a world of relationships where your Son, Christ, is “all and in all.” May our hearts respond in joy and trust to your call for imagination transformation, as we gather today in the Name of All that Is. Open our minds beyond structures to the truth of the Gospel, and guide us in living sacramental equality. Let our lives continue the revelation of your goodness, you who are God forever and ever. AMEN
Gathering Song: We Shall Be Known
https://youtu.be/Vt_VQs8LP6k Stop at 2:00
Rite Of Transformation (Elena) We pause now to remember the times we have failed to love one another and all beings on earth, when we have not born fruit in caring for self, others, and our planet Earth. Let us take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one broken or damaged relationship.
(Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
(Elena and All) As we ask for and receive forgiveness, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be so! Alleluia!
The Sign Of Peace
(Cathy) It is fitting that, having asked for Divine and mutual forgiveness, we now extend an expression of Peace to each other.
(Cathy 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 (Cathy): 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. NAMASTE 3x
Gloria: Glory to God
https://youtu.be/udjH7EON5IY
by Marty Haugen - video by Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck
Reading: Matthew Fox speaks of “A Time For a New Spiritual (not Religious) Order (Suzanne B)
Speaking of a need for a Reformation makes me question whether the time has arrived for a new religious order that is not tied to a particular religion but is a Spiritual Order, one that might help people of various religious faiths and none to gather around a common value and focus. I think our times call for a focus on the sacredness of the Earth and all her creatures. “The Order of the Sacred Earth.” Its members may come from any and all life-styles, married, single, celibate, gay, strait and from any and all occupations so long as their work mirrored the values of honoring and supporting the Earth and her creatures. Blue collar and white collar workers would be welcomed.
What then would bind them together as a community? A common vow. One that reads like this: “ I promise to be as good a mystic (that is, lover) of Mother Earth that I can be and as good a prophet or warrior defending Mother Earth that I can be.” The Order would be established on this common vow and it would provide both a focus for our life decisions and our citizenship but also a community of support to assist one another in the living out of our values and commitment. It would represent a new stage in religious history actually, a leap forward in our spiritual evolution because it would take us beyond denominationalism and hurl us into a deeper calling to be mystics (lovers) and prophets (defenders)of what we cherish. It would allow people to stay in their respective traditions or to move beyond them or to be one foot in and one foot out. Thus it would set a new standard for Ecumenism or Interfaith, Interspirituality existence and work. Why am I so confident that the time has come for such a new kind of order? First, because it is clear, as Bishop Spong has pointed out, that Christianity must change or die----But I also believe other religions are equally challenged today to move beyond their literal teachings to a deeper expression of the very essence of religion –Gratitude and Compassion, Awe and Creativity, Justice and passing on the Earth as the splendid and grace-filled being that it truly is. Whether we talk of the Earth and her creatures as “The Cosmic Christ” or the “Image of God” or the Buddha Nature” all traditions are trying to wake us up to a sense of the sacred which surrounds us and feeds and nurtures us but which we can all too readily take for granted.
This reading is taken from an article authered by Matthew Fox and we respond: Thank you.
(Susie Z ) Psalm 113: 1-9: God restores joy and gladness of heart.
Sing praises to the Beloved of all hearts!
Sing praises all you who would honor Love,
Sing praises to the Architect of the universe!
RES: God restores joy and gladness of heart.
Bless the Holy One from this time forth and forever more!
Aspire to know the unknowable, to enter fully into the Great Mystery
To be fertile ground to the Heart-seed of Love.
Aspire to gifts of the Spirit, be open to grace and express gratitude!
RES : God restores joy and gladness of heart.
Who is like the Blessed One, the One who is Infinite Love, Power, and Wisdom,
Who enters into human hearts and brings comfort to those in need?
Yes, those who call upon the Merciful One, are lifted up and blessed with new life
They wear a crown of joy, as they recognize their oneness with Spirit.
RES: God restores joy and gladness of heart.
Come, all who suffer and are heavy-laden, open your hearts to Love
Sing praises to the Heart of all hearts!
RES: God restores joy and gladness of heart.
Gospel acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
https://youtu.be/4cs8NDVM3Vk
Gospel Luke 12:13-21 (Joan M)
Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?” Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods – who gets it?’ “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”
These are inspired words found in the Gospel of Luke. And we all respond: Alleluia! Homily Shared Homily What did you hear in today’s readings? Please share your wisdom with the community.
Profession of Faith
(Susie and All) We believe in you O God, Creator of the universe, whose divinity infuses all that exists, making everything sacred. Jesus, we believe in You, messenger of the Divine Word, the bringer of healing and the heart of Compassion. We believe in you Holy Spirit, the breath of our innermost life, and the Sustainer who heals and energizes us when our spirits grow weary in our journeys.
We believe that You are here with us today in this gathering, calling us to be a loving and just people. We believe the poor have a priority in your plans and we are called to do our best to serve them in your name. We believe you are offering us freedom and grace to become our true selves, so that we can turn from false, worldly securities and look to you for our true identity as your children. We believe that as You were anointed by God to do God’s will, through our baptism, we too are called to be a sign of God’s Kingdom on earth where we are all sisters and brothers
PRAYERS OF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY
(Joan M) As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
Sacred Spirit, we bring to the table all those who are taken from work, from colleges and schools, from their homes, and forced to leave our country, those who indeed have Visas and who pay taxes on their earnings:
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table our immigrant families, who are denied entrance into our country, who are returned to their country of birth or sent to other countries , who are put away in prison without the benefit of our systems of justice.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table our veterans who are losing their benefits after serving our country with honor, and all women who have lost their right to make medical decisions with their doctor because of unjust laws promulgated by our country.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table all those in this country who are being negatively impacted by the direction this current administration has chosen.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table all those suffering as a result of the natural disasters taking place on our planet and all who are suffering, lonely, and without faith or hope.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table all those living in conditions of war and fear and all our brothers and sisters who would appreciate our prayers for their unsolicited special intentions as well as all the intentions that remain in the silence of our hearts.
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
We bring to the table the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer book. (Joan shares) Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
And for what else shall we pray? Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words: “I bring to the table……… and we respond:
Response: By Your grace we cast aside fear and embrace trust.
(Joan) Gracious and loving Spirit, we place our trust in your faithful love and presence within us and our entire universe. We turn to your Presence in one another to be a source of strength during these very difficult times. We know and believe that the message of Jesus lives in us. We count on your sacred Energy to lift us up. We pledge to lift one another in love and support, to grow in compassion and generosity as we share our treasures, time and talents. All: Let it be So
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation Of The Gifts
(Suzzane B ) Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have bread, wine, all creation, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we become your new creation.
All: Blessed be God for forever.
Although we come from diverse backgrounds, we are one body, for we all share in this one bread. And so, let us sing along with Joe Wise as he leads us in song to bring ourselves with gratitude and humility, just the way we are, to the celebration of Eucharist.
Song: We offer our gifts. 🎶 “Here is My Life”
by Joe Wise
https://youtu.be/Ao5VnopCP-Y
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
(Cathy) The Holy One dwells within you.
All: And loves through you.
(Cathy) Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Great Spirit dwelling in all creation.
(Cathy) Let us give thanks that we are co-creators of a new heaven and earth.
All: It is right to proclaim our oneness with All.
Extend your hands over the bread and wine for the epiclesis
(Cathy and All) Sacred Spirit, You, are always with us. We are grateful for Your constant loving and unconditional presence. You give us life, and we live and breathe with your Spirit. You raise our consciousness to the blindness around us. We believe the Gospel message of Jesus and we embrace his calling to us, to be faithful.
(Elena)The disciples, women and men, were gathered together with Jesus for the Seder meal.
Anticipating the likelihood of betrayal, arrest and pain, Jesus wanted more than anything to be with his friends, to share a meal, exchange stories and create memories.
On that night before he died, while gathered with the people closest to him, Jesus once again, showed us how to love one another, by leaving his place at the table and washing their feet, like the least of household servants.
(Together we lift our plate of bread as we pray)
When Jesus returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat the Bread of Life. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. (PAUSE)
Jesus then raised his cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered the wine saying:
Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
( Cathy) This is the bread of life and cup of blessing.
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.
(Cathy & All) Please join in praying the prayer for the breaking of the bread:
Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice.
We will live justly.
Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to be Your presence in the world.
We will love tenderly.
Ever Present Sacred Spirit, you call us to speak truth to power.
We will walk with integrity.
(Elena) Like Jesus, we are inspired and come before this altar with open hands and open hearts. We will live a life rooted in compassion, as it is living as Jesus lived, that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, O Holy One, at this time and all ways.
Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ! All are welcome. All: AMEN
Receive the Bread and Cup before you and as we share let us proclaim
“You are the face of Jesus in this world.”
Communion Song and Reflection:
What Shall I Give? by Sara Thomsen
https://youtu.be/UUTs9qa5h3g
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
(Susie Z and All)
Eternal Spirit, Earth maker, Pain bearer, Life giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven –
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe.
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world,
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come to earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In the times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trial too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power
that is love, now and forever. Amen
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
(Joan M) Creator of the cosmos, divine dancer, you have lifted us up and swung us around to see your beauty in nature's awesome gifts everywhere and in everyone. May we continue to move together to the divine rhythm of harmony and peace, Justice and equality, dancing joyfully in love with all created beings forever. You guide us to new life and inspire our work and play with creativity and joyful enthusiasm. We walk in the footsteps of those on whose shoulders we stand. All: Amen
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS, THANKSGIVING, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Concluding Rite
(Elena) The Holy One is within you ;
All: And within all people and all creation everywhere.
We are called to do everything Jesus did, to be the living presence of a love that lives justly, of a compassion that heals and liberates, of a joy that generates laughter, of a light that illumines right choices and confronts our darkness.
So, we trust you to continue to share with us your own Spirit, the Spirit that filled Jesus, for it is through his life and teaching, his loving and healing, all honor and glory is yours, O Holy One, forever and ever. Amen
Before we leave our “squares” Let us offer one another comfort, support and a week of peace during this particular time of suffering in our country and in our world. Let us never falter in our convictions that justice will be served and peace will return. Let us send one another from this space with deep peace: Namaste, Namaste, Namaste
(Everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing)
Community Blessing and Dismissal
(Cathy and All) 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. Following the example of all those on whose shoulders we stand, may we 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 Faith, and the Way. In the name of all that is Holy, we pray. Amen.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!!
Concluding Hymn: “Standing on the Shoulders” by Joyce Johnson Rouse
https://youtu.be/elh77GtHWPU
I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me I am stronger for their courage, I am wiser for their words
I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter future
I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling on this Earth
We are standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us. They are saints and they are humans, they are angels, they are friends We can see beyond the struggles and the troubles and the challenge When we know that by our efforts things will be better in the end
They lift me higher than I could ever fly Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn't tried We wouldn't be here celebrating today
I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me I am honored by their passion for our liberty
I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer
And my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me
They lift me higher than I could ever fly Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn't tried We wouldn't be so very blessed today
I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me I am honored by their passion for our liberty,
I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer
And my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me.
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If you would like to add an 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
www.marymotherofJesus.org where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included.
