Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community Season of Creation 2026, Week Four, September 27, 2026 Presiders: Debra Trees, Jean Talbot, Ellen Garcia, Gayle Eagan

 

Zoom:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155 phone-in for (audio only).Phone Number: (646) 558-865

Peace Prayer

Welcome, Theme and Opening Prayer

Today is the 112^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which is usually celebrated on the final Sunday of September. The theme this year is based on Matthew 18. “Even just one of these children”… addressing the dangers that minors face as they follow the migrant routes such as trafficking, family separation, exploitation and lack of access to basic safety and development. Any of us, as adults, understand and commiserate with this very real situation in our world.

 

Whether in the Upper Room in Albany, NY, online in our Zoom companion community or listening and watching at a later time, we pray for the world. We open our hearts and eyes to the plight of the migrant and refugee. May we find a way to safeguard their futures, their lives, and their Creator-led presence in our loving communities.

 

Opening Song: Bread on the table. By Alex Stone.

https://youtu.be/6mLdD6kD1nw?si=2GsjB2RlRBoGpWwd

 

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

 

First Reading: WE ARE ALL CITIZENS OF A COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT YET EXIST.

 

A just country, a compassionate country, a forgiving country, a multi-racial country, a multi-religious country, a joyful country that cares about its children and about its elders. That cares about itself and about the world. That cares about what the Earth needs as well as what individual people need. I am, you are, a citizen of a country that does not yet exist, and that badly needs to exist.”

 

By Vincent Harding, inspired by Langston Hughes, A bookmark from the SyracuseCulturalWorkers.com site.

 

We as the Upper Room Community, embrace this concept, and we affirm it with a strong - AMEN.

 

Second Reading: From Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2: 1-5)

 

Brothers and sisters if, then, in Christ any encouragement comes, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity, I entreat you to make my happiness complete—live together animated by the same spirit and in mutual love, one in heart, animated by one spirit.

Nothing should be done in a factious spirit or from vanity, but each of you should with all humility regard others as better than yourself,

and one and all should consider, not only their own interests, but also the interests of others. 

 

Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also.

 

These are words attributed to Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and we affirm them with a resounding, AMEN.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker

https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU 

 

Gospel: A reading according to Matthew, (21: 28-32)

 

What do you think of this? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the elder and said, ‘Go and work in the vineyard today, my son.’ ‘I will not go,’ he answered, but afterward thought better of it and went. Then the father went to the second son, and said the same. ‘Certainly, sir,’ he answered, but did not go. Which of the two sons did as his father wished?” “The first,” they said. “I tell you,” added Jesus, “that tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the realm of God before you. For when John came to you, walking in the path of justice, you did not believe him, but tax gatherers and prostitutes did; and yet you, though you saw this, even then did not think better of it, nor did you believe him.

 

These are the words from the community of Matthew and we affirm them by saying Amen.

(New Testament readings from The New, New Testament, Hal Tausig et.al.)

 

Homily Starter

 

We have all had occasion to be around a people-pleaser, and maybe, we have been one ourselves. 😊

 

The people-pleaser seems to always say yes to any request, putting others in front of their own needs and sometimes to the detriment of themselves. When I read this week’s first reading, I imagined that Paul’s request to his friends and Christian family in Phillipi, asking each of his followers to put themselves second and defer to others, was probably a true foreign concept. In today’s society, that concept is not encouraged. In some circles it is thought to be a sign of unhealthy behavior and weakness. The martyr.

Paul was asking his people in Phillipi to put others first from a prison cell. Speaking from his lived experience and conversion to follow Jesus, he was asking his sisters and brothers in Christ to live in the Spirit of Love.

 

Jesus questions his contemporary teachers in their awareness and lived experience. He always challenges everyone, leaders and his followers, and those who he encountered on the road. He challenges us to be aware, live in service and change when we realize that we have a new perspective. Will we be able to do it?

 

Our challenge on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees is to not only provide support and service and take care of especially the most vulnerable. What about having the vision to see what can be? Our first reading gives us the real dream and intention. We can repeat this vision to ourselves over and over and begin the road to making it happen. If we don’t have the dream of what can be and what we want, we cannot get there.

 

Let us continue our practice to put others first, keeping in mind healthy boundaries, to change when we realize that we need to respond in a new way, to dream of what can be, and to work towards that vision in community and love.

 

We would love to hear your thoughts today. Please share. And thank you!

 

Statement of Faith

 

Presider: Let us together pray our Statement of Faith

 

We believe in God, who creates all things,
who embraces all things, who celebrates all things,
who is present in every part of the fabric of creation.

We believe in God as the source of all life,
who baptizes this planet with living water.

We believe in Jesus Christ, seen in the suffering one,
the poor one, the malnourished one, the climate refugee –

who loves and cares for this world
and suffers with it.

And we believe in Jesus Christ, the seed of life,
who came to reconcile and renew this world
and everything in it.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God,
who moves with God
and who moves among and with us today.

We believe in everlasting life in God.
And we believe in the hope that one day God will put an end to
death and all destructive forces.

(Lutheran Theological College, South India, adapted)

 

 

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

Prayers of the Community

 

Presider: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we voice our intentions beginning with the words, “We bring to the table…..”  

 

Presider: We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen. 

 

Eucharistic Prayer

 

Presider:  With open hands and open hearts, let us pray together:

 

All: Holy Mystery, before there were mountains, before rivers carved valleys, before rain nourished forests, your Spirit danced upon the waters. From your love emerged stars, oceans, whales, birds, trees, and all living creatures—woven together in one sacred community. Therefore, with rivers and rain, with salmon and herons, with clouds and oceans, with saints and ancestors, and with all creation we sing:

 

Holy, Holy, Holy by Peter Mayer 

https://youtu.be/A4kiEGVb3E8

 

Presider: Please extend your hands in blessing.  

All: Spirit of Living Water, Flow upon these gifts of bread and wine and flow within us. May this bread become courage. May this wine become compassion. May this meal strengthen us to become living water for a thirsty world.

 

We thank you for our brother, Jesus, who as Living Water crossed boundaries, welcomed strangers, restored dignity. washed dusty feet, stilled storms, and taught us that abundant life belongs to everyone.

 

On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the supper with his companions and friends.  He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.

 

All lift their plate and pray the following:

 

When he 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; this is my very self.

 

All lift their cup and pray the following:

 

He then raised high 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.

 

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.  

 

Presider: Please share Communion with the words: I am / We are Living Water.

 

Communion Song: By the Stream by Christopher Grundy 

https://youtu.be/bKL3RvAEc9w  

 

Prayer After Communion

 

All: Loving Source of All, we remember today those without clean water, those displaced by flood, those suffering drought, defending rivers, protecting oceans, those whose voices have been silenced, and all who long for peace. May our lives become Living Water and the answer to our prayers.

 

Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

 

For it is through learning to live as he lived,

And why he lived,

And for whom he lived,

That we awaken to your Spirit within,

Moving us to worship you truly,

O Holy One,

At this time and all time and in all ways.

And we say yes to You!

 

Prayer of Jesus

 

Presider: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:

 

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)   

 

 

BLESSING

 

Presider: Please join in praying our blessing:

We ask for guidance to help envision our future for the planet. Thank you for being with us as we live your call to each of us. Bless this earth and all who reside on it. Help us to remember the ones who are the most vulnerable, human and others. In all things, we sing your praise. Amen.

 

Closing Song: Canticle of the Turning by Rory Cooney Video by Denise Hackert-Stoner 

https://youtu.be/b-QR_OZB5ik 

 

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community LITURGY for the SEASON OF CREATION Saturday September 26, 2026 Kathie Ryan, Presider

 

 

Zoom:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155 phone-in for (audio only).Phone Number: (646) 558-865

 

Welcome:  The Holy One created all of creation in Love.  We have always been a part of that great love.  The more we experience God, Love, the more loving we become.

Let us pray our opening song with our eyes closed as we Breathe Love.

 

Opening Song Breathe Love by Susan Lincoln and Craig Toungate

https://youtu.be/g2eBbv7vVZg

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

 

1^st Reading: A reading an essay by Rev. Brandan Robertson “A Higher Love.”   (adapted)

 

After all the years in seminary, and all the doctrine I preached, I realized that it was only in service to love that touched my soul. There truly is a higher love, something more going on in the cosmos, than I could ever put into words.

 

All I knew was that love certainly did exist-be it infinite, eternal love, or the very imperfect human love that we all have experienced over our lifetimes.  In the darkest of nights, love has beckoned me forward, given me hope, and grounded my soul. It is love that gives me reason

to press on, to work toward a more just and equal world.

 

Our community affirms these words with AMEN.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker

https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU

 

2^nd Reading: A reading from 1 John

 

Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is from God and experiences God.   Love, then, consists in this: not that we love God, but that God loves us.

 

We affirm these words with AMEN!

 

Shared Homily

When I was in social work school, I learned that there are only two emotions, Love and Fear.   All our emotions stem from one or the other of these two.  If you think about it if we are angry, upset, judging, annoyed, etc. the source will be fear; we don’t have enough, others have more, we are not enough, we are misunderstood, we do not feel valued, or respected. Most of our negative emotions are fear based.   If we are focused on love, we feel less stressed, we are more likely to live in gratitude and joy, accepting of others, we don’t take things so personally, we are open to new ideas, we have enough and we are enough.

Dr. Amanda Udis-Kessler, sociologist, asks the question in her essay, Fear or Love, and I paraphrase here:  Is our core paradigm the way we live our lives, fear based or loved based? How do we handle all the ups and downs of everyday living?  We like to believe we are loved based. Hopefully this is true and we are loved based. But it does not mean we are “always great at loving.”  We struggle and try to love all things at all times.  With that said we are ‘both/and humans’ as we live life.  Sometimes we are fear based and sometimes we are loved based. 

 Our strength is in love, not fear. Fear slows us down. Brandan Robertson wrote “love gives us the reason to press on.”   God loves us, always has and always will.

 

Statement of Faith

 

We believe in the Holy One, 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 the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.

 We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine 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.

 

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

Prayers of the Community

 

As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayer of intentions:

 

 We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen. 

 

Eucharistic Prayer

 

With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer in one voice:

 

O Holy One, you are always with us. In the blessed abundance of creation, we gather to celebrate Your nourishing gift of life. May our hearts be open as You invite us to participate in the wise and wonderful work of co-creation. May we be ever aware of Your Spirit within and among us as our world unfolds amid pain and beauty into the fullness of life. 

 

We are grateful for Your Spirit whose breath inspired the primal waters, calling into being the variety and abundance we see around us. Your Spirit sustains and animates our every endeavor, inviting us to act in wisdom and in truth.

 

In gratitude and joy, we embrace our calling and we lift our voices to proclaim a song of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in this Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

As a community, we gather in the power of your Spirit, refreshing wind, purifying fire and flowing water, for the variety and diversity of Creation. We seek to live as Jesus taught us, wise and holy as Spirit-filled people, courageous and prophetic, ever obedient to your call.

 

Please extend your hands in blessing.

 

We invoke Your Spirit upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, that they may become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.

 

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.

 

lift bread

 

At the table, he took the bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread and offered it to them saying: 

 

Take and eat the Bread of Life

Given to strengthen you

Whenever you remember me like this go and love one another

 

lift  cup  

 

Jesus then raised a 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.

 

In union with all peoples living and dead, we unite our thoughts and prayers, asking wisdom to discern more wisely your call to us in the circumstances of our daily lives.

Please receive the bread and the cup with the words: I press on in love.

 

Communion song: Christ, Shine in Our Lives by Chris Muglia

https://youtu.be/-vnwdrtwBwk

 

Prayer after Communion

 

We seek to act justly and courageously in confronting the suffering that desecrates the Earth and its peoples; to take risks in being proactive on behalf of the marginalized who suffer the environmental injustices of fouled air, tainted water, and a poverty of parks and public spaces that bring people together to enjoy nature. We pray for inspiration to act with the harmony and unity and synthesis that is modeled for us by the trees of the forest, and the stars of the evening.

Holy One, your transforming energy is always moving within us and working through us. Like Jesus, we will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and we will live compassionate lives,

for it is through 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.

Amen.

 

Prayer of Jesus

 

Let us pray as Jesus taught us with an eye toward this Season of Creation:

 

Generous Creator, the intricate and elegant biodiversity of our world is your hallowed autograph on our lives, on our souls and in our hearts.

We yearn for the wholeness of being in harmony with Your will and with all living things.

Each day we draw on your creative, life-giving energy with gratitude and awe as we find nourishment in, seed and field, river and forest.

May we be stewards and co-creators with you in caring for the gifts of Your Creation. 

We acknowledge our shortcomings, especially our neglect of the environment. We seek to be reconciled with those we have hurt and we resolve to do better. 

With your unfailing wisdom and the wind of Your Spirit, inspire us that we may reach out and love one another and care for the world, our home.

Strengthen us to work for local and global justice so that we may one day reap a harvest of equality and fairness as if they were wildflowers, propagating spontaneously, unerringly and in surprising abundance. Amen.

We are called to live the Gospel of Creation in harmony and gratitude with all our sisters and brothers across the Earth. We will live justly, love tenderly and walk with integrity in Your Presence.                                                                                              Lynn Kinlan

 

BLESSING

 

­­­­Let us pray together our closing blessing:

Creator most generous and kind, your gift of Earth and sky reveals your omnipotence and glory. May we go forward boldly to live in the glory.

May we treat all of Creation as sacred and discern the best path to an equitable distribution of the resources we share with our sisters and brothers across the globe. Let us live as if the future depends on it. Amen.

As we go out into our troubled world let us breathe love and experience peace.

Closing Song: Dona Nobis Pacem sung by Carrie Newcomer

https://youtu.be/3qF5WDCFymg?si=Yl0CqjA6GOnFH1iG

 

 

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community Moment of Oneness September 23, 2026 Prepared by Deb Trees

 

                                                                Choose Love

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81507551772
Meeting ID: 815 0755 1772
To connect by phone dial: 1-301-715-8592

Welcome dear friends to this Moment of Oneness.

Jesus centered himself on inclusivity and love. Is it so hard to do that for ourselves? I think it is.

DEB: When someone hurts us; when someone is disrespectful to us; when someone degrades our point of view; when someone makes it seem like it’s our fault that they are not able to function; when someone tries to instigate our reaction; when someone has no idea how they are disruptive. Ahhh. That is when we must choose Love.

We are challenged to Love.

First Reading:

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?

These words are from the works of Matthew (5:43-47) and we affirm them by saying: AMEN.

Second reading: From challenged to Love, in Hearts Renewed, Lenten Devotions for Families by Amy Welborn, 2000

Here’s the hard part. It’s easy to run towards open arms or answer kind words lovingly. Jesus challenges us to do more. Our caring hearts are committed to loving in God’s way. Whomever God loves, we love. Whomever God cares for, we have concern for. But remember—we’re not left to offer kindness in return for hurt all on our own. Jesus stays with us, deep in our hearts, giving strength to love as he does. Whom do you have a difficult time caring for this week?

 

Let’s take a moment of silence as we ponder these readings for ourselves and for our lives…

 

Song: Only Love, By Fearless Soul

https://youtu.be/EDVYKRy0xQU?si=m_FAt5mew2UeiWKW

Intercessory Prayer:

1.     Jesus, you show us the power and the cost of Love.  Help us to follow your way in every moment of our lives here on earth.

2.     Jesus, you give us an example of God’s love for us, Keep reminding us of this great miracle that we can hardly fathom.

3.     Jesus, you love us unconditionally. Show us by your example how to treat all people in our lives, whether they are intimate or a fleeting encounter.

4.     Jesus, you challenge us to Love and trust in God’s grace and presence. Thank you, in complete gratitude, for the opportunities that enfold in our lives.

 

Please add your own requests for anyone, or any issue you desire…

 

Deb: We ask for all of these holy imperatives for ourselves, in our communities and beyond in our earthly presence.

 

AMEN

 

Deb: Final Blessing: May each of us find the strength, patience and love in our hearts to meet others in the sacred space of Love. In gratitude we love, and in gratitude we call all around us to show Love.

 

May we have the awareness to see ourselves as beautiful spirits of God’s Love and Presence. AMEN.