CELEBRATION OF THE ASSUMPTION
OF MARY MOTHER OF JESUS
AUGUST 15, 2026
Original
Theme: Mary, Leader for Women Today.
Presiders: Dotty Shugrue ARCWP and Joan Pesce
Prayer Leaders: Pat and Bob Ferkenhoff
Scripture Readers: Jane Shugrue and MaryAl
Gagnon
Opening
Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGUQuA6MtYU
Blessed is she who believed
Opening Prayer: Joan Pesce
Let us pray:
Dotty: Mary, Mother of Jesus. Today we celebrate your life on earth. We see this faith belief that you left this earth in glory as you rose to the heavens after your death. We, followers of Jesus, recognize that you, as the mother of Jesus, do and will always hear our plea for comfort to us during our struggles in to live faithful to the teachings of your Son.
ALL: So be it!
Joan: As we prepare for our celebration of Eucharist, we pause to remember our broken world:
Holy One we seek strength from the Christ energy in us. We need the strength that comes from dedicated communities who actively choose to speak out against any and all behavior that is contrary to the ministry of Jesus. Let us find comfort in the love and support of community as we actively speak up about unjust laws, the lack of assistance for the poor, neglect and abuse of children, the unjust control of women to name only a few. We embrace the ministry of Jesus and witness to our faith as we serve others. Let it be so, and so it is.
Reader: Mary Al: from Scripture The Book of Revelation believed to be the work of John the apostle Ch 12 (excerpts)
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, an with the 12 stars on her head for a crown, she was pregnant, and in labor…. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who is to rule all nations ….
These are the words of the Book of Revelation as revealed in The Book of the Apostle John
And together we pray Let it be so, and so it is
Alleluia
(stop after 2nd alleluia)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/USRJS57DFx8
Reader: Jane: A reading from the Gospel of Luke 1:39 - 56 as interpreted in The Message New Testament by Eugene H. Peters
Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly.
You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! Why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said and believed every word would come true!
And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news,
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel. He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
These are the inspired works of the Apostle Luke.
All: So be it and So it is
HOMILY STARTER: Dotty Shugrue ARCWP
Bob: Profession of Faith.
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.
Pat and Bob:
We pray Holy One, renew in our hearts our commitment to journey always in faith and hope as we reach out and support, comfort and love those closest to us, those who live in our country and all the people of the earth.
As we prepare for the altars before us to share this sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions.
We bring to the table members of our MMOJ community who are experiencing difficult times for a variety of reasons may they find peace of mind and heart and have need of our special prayer.
We bring to the table all those who serve the needs of other, those who serve our communities, all those who give of themselves locally, whose compassion brings healing of hearts.
We bring to the table the people of our troubled country, especially those who actively address issues of bigotry of all kinds, may they be heard, may they be listen to, may we all see transformation within our selves. our communities and most critically our elected officials.
We bring to the table all women of the world who are mothers and all those who have been “mother” to others. May they be inspired by the life of Mary the mother of Jesus and may we recognize that the power and Spirit of Mary lives within us, within both women and men always giving us strength and wisdom.
We bring to the table all members of our community; we remember in a special way everyone in our midst who needs to be healed
…pause… unmute and share name/s….
may all be healed by Mary, our eternal Mother.
We pray for these and any other unspoken intentions. And together we say:
ALL: Let it be so and so it is.
(Place your bread and wine before you on your table)
Joan: Ever present Sacred Spirit, you who hold us in your loving hands, we offer these gifts of bread and wine as we celebrate your life with us.
Holy, Holy, Holy…. Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Bob: We give thanks to you, Holy One Every life and heart is stretch toward you, O name untroubled, honoring the name of God, praised with the name Creator. To everyone and everything comes the kindness of the Holy One and love and desire.
And if there is sweet and simple teaching, it gifts us mind, word and knowledge; mind, that we may understand you; word, that we may interpret you; knowledge: that we may know you. We rejoice and are enlightened by your knowledge; we rejoice that you have taught us about yourself. We rejoice that in the body you have made us divine through your knowledge.
Pat: The thanksgiving of the human who reaches you is this alone; that we know you. We have known you, O light of mind. O light of life we have known you. O womb of all that grows, we have known you. O womb pregnant with the nature of Creator God, we have known you. O never-ending endurance of the Spirit of Life who gives birth, so we worship your goodness. One wish we ask: we wish to be protected in knowledge, one protection we desire; that we do not stumble in this life. When they said these things in prayer, they welcomed one another, and they went to eat their holy food, which had no blood in it.
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(hold your hands over the bread and the wine):
Dotty: Ever present Sacred Spirit, you who hold us in your loving hands, you are one with us in blessing these gifts of bread and wine as we celebrate your life with us. These gifts are made sacred through our faith.
We celebrate Mary, Mother of Jesus as a liturgical leader who praised God, preached the gospel, led the prayers, and healed with her hands.
Joan: In this sacrament of breaking bread and blessing wine, we pause and call upon Spirit of Life to bless this bread and wine which is made sacred through our faith. We celebrate with one another as we remember Jesus walked this same earth we walk today.
During Jesus’s life on earth, he lived and died loving the poor, healing the sick and challenging the injustices within society. Because of his ministry, Jesus was feared by the authorities of his day, and they sought out ways to bring him to his death.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
(All lift your bread and pray)
Dotty: When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self. (pause)
All lift your cup and pray)
Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you. (pause)
Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace, remembering that we are bearers of light and hope.
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.
Everyone consumes the bread and wine at this time
“Receive the bread of life. Drink from the cup of the New Covenant”
Communion Meditation Song: Breath Love (Meditation Song). Heart to Heart with Hildegard
Preview YouTube video Breathe Love (fade out at 3.33)
https://youtu.be/g2eBbv7vVZg?si=ZUlOUwtKYAbx_svN
athe Love
Bob: Sacred Spirit, we remember Mary, the Mother of Humanity, who birthed Jesus into our world. We rejoice that the Universal Christ remains always and ever present within and around us. We remember all those who have transitioned from life on earth to complete union with the Sacred Presence: Mary of Nazareth and all great saints, prophets and martyrs.
We remember our sister priests, strong extraordinary women: who have passed from this life. Their spirit walks with us forever.
We remember, too, family members and friends. We remember all those whose lives have been lost their lives to war, to racism and all other “isms” that exist in our world. And we remember those you wish to be remembered
… Share the names of your loved ones in silence…
All are beloved who have blessed our lives and whose memory continues to inspire us, we remember you.
And we respond together:
Pat: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,
We celebrate your many names.
Your Wisdom come,
Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all 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
(Miriam Therese Winter)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Announcements
Dotty: We together raise our hands as we bless one another.
May you be wrapped up in God’s love, Found deep in his everlasting wings, carried and kept, safe and cherished. May the healing power of Christ breathe across your being now. (Celtic Blessings)
Closing Song: Oh Mother God by Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/_Je14HVGbaM
Oh Mother God flowing through our hearts.
We give thanks for the bread of our lives.
For the hands in the earth and the fruit of your womb.
Oh Mother God, blessed be. Oh Mother God, blessed be.
Oh Mother God thank you for this day.
For the love that you wash over me.
And this joy in my heart I will share with the world.
Oh Mother God blessed be. Oh Mother God, blessed be.
*(The Eucharist Prayer is adapted from “The Prayer of Thanksgiving”. It can be found in A New NEW Testament edited by Hal Taussig)
