THEME: OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD
WELCOME(Elena) We are delighted to welcome you into the MMOJ family. Your presence among us is a gift, and today we celebrate the light you bring with you. All are welcome here. We invite you to pray the liturgy where it says “All.” And please sing your heart out! Everyone will be muted during the service. During the shared homily and prayers of the community, we invite you to unmute yourself to contribute, and then re-mute yourself again. Please have bread and wine or juice with you as we pray the Eucharistic Prayer.
As we reflect on the liturgy of the 1st Week of Lent, we are reminded that obedience, although not always difficult, in our everyday lives, we encounter moments when obedience is a battleground. Situations force us to confront our pride and self-will. While we know we cannot achieve perfection, reflecting on Christ’s perfect obedience does offer us hope. As we gather together today to celebrate Eucharist let us focus on deeper listening and awareness of the graces we receive to overcome temptations and to grow closer to Jesus on this journey.
GATHERING SONG: I Will Surrender by Karen Drucker
OPENING PRAYER
(Kaellen) Holy One we are aware of the hunger within us and beyond us. We see our own shadows or dark sides and recognize our complicity in creating a world invested in competition and domination. May we know your desires for us, seek wisdom in the choices we make, and may we be in the place where we meet the world’s hungers. AMEN
TRANSFORMATION RITE
(Cathy) We pause now to remember the times we have not born fruit in caring for self and others. A time perhaps when we have failed to respond to your command to love each other as you have loved us. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity to respond to Divine given grace to overcome self-centered or self-serving choices. (Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
All: As we ask for and receive forgiveness, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be.
THE SIGN OF PEACE
(Elena) It is fitting that, having asked for Divine and mutual forgiveness, we now extend an expression of Peace to each other.
(Elena): 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 your Word and peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions.
All: Amen. May the peace of our gracious and loving God be always with us.
(Elena) Let us turn to each other and with praying hands offer one another a sign of peace. NAMASTE 3x
Liturgy of The Word
(Maryal) A reading from the book of Genesis 3:1-8
The serpent was clever, cleverer, than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”
The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’”
The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything! —she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hidden from GOD.
These are the words of the author of Genesis from the Message Bible and we respond to them by saying
All: Amen
Responsorial Psalm: Root of the Root https://youtu.be/Ssv0mNxu3Cw
Psalm 51 (Mary K and All)
O Gracious One, open my lips and my mouth shall sing forth your praise;
For you do not want sacrifice; You delight in our friendship with you.
A sacrifice most appropriate is a humble spirit ; a repentant and contrite heart;
O Merciful One, receive our love. Let the nations turn from war, and encourage one another as good neighbors.
O Blessed and compassionate Friend, melt our hearts of stone,
break through the fears that lead us into darkness,
and guide our steps toward the way of peace.
Gospel Acclamation Spirit of the Living God by Michael Crawford
(Mary Kay) A Reading from the Gospel Mt 4:1-11
After Jesus was baptized, he was led by the Spirit into the desert where he was tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.
The Tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread."
He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
Then the Tempter took Jesus to the holy city, where they stood on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written: God will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Jesus answered him, "Again, it is written, You shall not put your God, to the test."Then the Tempter took Jesus up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Tempter!
It is written: God, alone shall you worship, God alone shall you serve."
Then the Tempter left him and angels came and ministered to him.
These are the inspired words of Matthew and we respond by saying: All: Amen
SHARED HOMILY
STATEMENT OF FAITH
(Kaellen and all)
We believe that God is love and that Divine Presence is beyond anything we can imagine.
We believe in Jesus, prophet and teacher, who journeyed on the earth, proclaiming good news, healing the sick, liberating those bound by fear, and inviting everyone to an open table.
We believe in Sacred Spirit, Wisdom Sophia, breathing in us and loving through us.
We believe in the communion of saints, our heavenly friends who, help us on our journey. We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our Church and our world. Here we live our prophetic call of Gospel equality.
PRAYERS OF AND FOR THE PEOPLE
(Maryal) Response: All: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love ~ As we prepare for the sacred meal, we pray for the needs of the people of God in our community and around the world and for the earth and all universal life sustained by God.
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love ~ We pray for all suffering from natural disasters all over the world, that they not lose hope and that they feel the light of your love.
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, give wisdom to those who negotiate to bring about justice, peace and a better quality of life to all people, that all may live in a fully human way.
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~We pray for the people who live in war-torn countries 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. R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~We bring to the table all those who are in need of healing of body and soul from cancer and all other chronic illnesses. Grant them, O Holy One, an increase of faith and the strength of hope to endure.
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~You are the Way, The Truth and the Life, awaken in us the courage to set aside all pettiness and all half-truths that keep us divided from one another.
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~We bring to the table our MMOJ intentions found in our community prayer book. (Joan Meehan)
R: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
~And for what else do we pray? Begin with, “I bring to the table.”
And we all respond: Have Mercy on us, according to your steadfast Love
Holy One, may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity.
All: Amen
Offertory: Preparation of the Gifts
Offertory Song: “Here is My Life” by Joe Wise
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:
(Mary Kay) Like Jesus, may the longings of our hearts deepen our desire to walk the sacred path to which God calls us, and choose love in every step. As we journey through this holy season of lent, we recall how your Son, Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days, facing temptation and drawing strength from your Word. In the silence of the desert, He confronted the allure of power, the desire for security, and the challenge of trust. He resisted the lies of the evil one, showing us the path of faithfulness and surrender to your will.
(Maryal) May we discover the path to wisdom in times of temptation and struggle. May we experience strength in weakness and healing in pain, and share your compassion with all whom we meet. May we taste the goodness of the One we long for, at every meal. May we nourish one another at this welcome table.
Therefore, with angels and all the saints, we, too, give you thanks as in exultation we acclaim:
“Holy, Holy, Holy” by Karen Drucker https://youtu.be/nTewBnxBy30
Please extend your hands in blessing. (EPICLESIS)
(Elena and All) As we bless this bread and wine, we celebrate the outpouring Spirit within us, around us and among us. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus the Christ.
(Community holds bread and prays together)
(Elena and All) On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat. Do this in memory of me.”
Pause(Community holds cup up and prays together)
(Maryal and ALL) In a similar way, when supper was ended Jesus took the cup of wine. He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink, for this is the chalice of my blood of the new and eternal covenant. Do this in memory of me.”
(Kaellen and All) Let us proclaim the sacred presence dwelling among us:
Our souls’ desire is -like Jesus- to be the face of God;
Our souls’ desire is-like Jesus- to walk the sacred path;
Our souls’ desire is-like Jesus- to love with open hearts.
(Cathy) We walk in communion with Mary mother of Jesus, and all the saints in heaven and on earth who triumphed over evil, loved tenderly, did justice and served generously. We remember our loved ones in the Communion of Saints. (pause for silent prayer)
(Community members hold their plates and cups during Doxology)
(Elena and All) Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, may our deepest desires energize us to serve the needs of the world beyond us.
The Great Amen. Linda Lee Miller
(Mary Kay and All) THE PRAYER OF JESUS
We pray together the prayer of Jesus:
O Holy One, who is within, around, and among us,
we celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom comes.
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)
(Maryal and ALL) JOIN US IN THE LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD
Loving God, You call us to speak truth to power. We will do so.
Loving God, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will do so.
Loving God, You call us to be Your presence in the world. We will do so.
(Cathy) This is the Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing. How Blessed are we who are called to this Table.
ALL: Jesus, you affirm our blessedness as your presence in the world. (Elena) Let us share the Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
COMMUNION SONG
Something New by Jan Novotka
Open the eyes of my (our) heart. Purify and bless my (our) heart.
Open my (our) heart(s) that I (we) might see, that I(we) might be, something new! Behold! Behold! I’m making something new!
Behold! Behold! I’m making something new!(Mary Kay) PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION O Holy One, we thank you for the gift of Your Son, whom we have received in this Holy Communion. As we reflect on his time in the desert, where he faced temptation yet remained steadfast in faith, may we find strength in this sacrament to resist our own temptations. Empower us to seek Your will above all else and to rely on your word as our guiding light. Fill our hearts with the grace of perseverance, that we might walk in the path of righteousness during this Lenten season. We ask this through Jesus, Our Brother. Amen
INTRODUCTIONS/THANKSGIVINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Elena)
The following is a reflection shared by an ARCWP member at the beginning of a recent meeting.We are wonder~full creations!
The universe, yet incomplete on the sixth day, God created us humans. And God said to us,
“I shall give to you a heart full of compassion, a spirit free to fly with the birds, a myriad of ways to carry life into the world, wisdom to know great mysteries, courage to rise out of oppression, strength to move mountains, gentleness to kiss the earth, passion to set the world on fire, vision to respect all that bore you here, a playful nature to dance with the children. laughter to fill the valleys, tears to wash the pain away, hands for laboring and loving, intuition to know the unknown, desire to be that which you were created to be.
And God said to us ~ You are my beloved! I have created you in my image and likeness and
You are Good !
ALL TOGETHER Yes ! We are indeed wonder~full creations!
Community Blessing and Commissioning Let us raise our hands and bless each other. (Kaellen and All) As we journey through this Lenten season, may we be strengthened by the example of Jesus in the desert.
May His resilience inspire us to confront our own temptations with courage and faith.
May our longings lead us far and farther still toward the place where what we desire can be met only by the Holy One within us.
On this day of all days,
May we grow closer to The Holy One through prayer, fasting and service to All.
May we go in the company of the One who calls us to love everyone with an open heart
May the peace of Jesus be with us always.
Let us go forth knowing that we are accompanied by the love of Jesus and the support of this community.
AMEN -- May It Be So! May It Be Now! May It Be!
Our Closing Song is: My Souls’ Desire- Carmel Boyle
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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
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