Please join us between 9:30 and 9:55 am via Zoom
Here is the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only).
Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Luther King and remember how his message of nonviolence was powered by a strong faith in the Divine. King was a modern messenger in the prophetic tradition of Jesus, Samuel, Andrew and Simon; each of whom show us what is possible when we are accompanied by the Presence of our God in the work and love of justice.
Ann: Opening Prayer – Sacred Presence of the Holy One, be with us. We gather
to praise you and to feel embraced in Your gentle kindness. Our nation is torn, tempted by division and conflict. We pray for prophetic wisdom so that all of us may serve the causes of peace and justice, renewal and refreshment. Amen.
Opening Song: Lean in Toward the Light by Carrie Newcomer
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading – from the first book of Samuel (ch. 3:3-10, 19-20)
Samuel was sleeping near the Ark of the Covenant in the Tent of Meeting and Eli was nearby in his bed. Yahweh called to Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli saying, “You called. Here I am!”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Now go back to sleep.” He went back to sleep.
A second time, Yahweh called Samuel, and Samuel got up and went to Eli.
“Here I am!” said Samuel. “You called me.”
Eli repeated, “I did not call you. Go back to sleep.”
At that time, young Samuel hadn’t yet encountered Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him.
A third time, Yahweh called Samuel and Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said once more, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli realized that Yahweh was calling the boy, so he said to Samuel, “Go back to sleep and if you are called, say, “Speak, Yahweh for your servant is listening.”
So, Samuel went back to sleep, and Yahweh called, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Yes, Yahweh, I am listening.”
As Samuel grew, Yahweh was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. All Israel recognized Samuel as a prophet of Yahweh.
These are the inspired words of the prophet Samuel and the community affirms them by adding, Amen.
Bernie: Second Reading: an excerpt from “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by Dr. King
If I were standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of a panoramic view of the whole human history up to now, and the Almighty said, "Martin Luther King, which age would you like to live in?" Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the twentieth century, I will be happy."
Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that we, in some strange way, are responding — something is happening in our world. The masses of people are assembled and rising up…
Well, I don't know what will happen. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And God has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
These are the inspired words of Martin Luther King and the community affirms them by adding, Amen.
Lynn: Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah,
Alleluia
Jean: Gospel Reading- John 1: 35 – 42
The next day, John was by the River Jordan again with two of his disciples. Seeing Jesus walk by, John said, “Look! There’s the Lamb of God!” Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. When Jesus noticed them following him, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They replied, “Rabbi, — which means Teacher— where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” Jesus answered.
So, they went to see where he was staying, and they spent the rest of the day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. One of the two was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. The first thing he did was to go and find Simon Peter and say, “We have found the Messiah!”— which means ‘the Anointed One.’
Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, who looked hard at him and said, “You are Simon ben-Jonah; I will call you ‘Rock’”— that is, “Peter.”
These are the inspired words of the gospel writer known as John and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
(pause)
Starter Homily by Lynn
In our Statement of Faith, Jesus is “messenger of the Divine Word…the bright star in the firmament of the Holy One’s prophets, mystics and saints.” Jesus is the bright star but not the only star in the divinely ordered firmament. He is prophetic but not the only prophet. To the extent that any of us speak inspired truth, open ourselves to be guided by the holy and bring the Presence of God to Earth, we are each of us prophets.
Sometimes, we are Samuel, needing to be nudged before we can listen. Maybe we think we are busy or maybe we are daunted by the challenge of what we might hear. If you are like me, you may need the reassurance of someone who believes in you to point out the moment that calls for stepping up. In which case, that someone is a prophet as well. We all need our Eli as did Samuel. Or we need Jesus as did Andrew and Simon Peter.
Then again, we can be Andrew; so excited by to the invitation to “Come and See” that he snags his brother up too. But mostly, we live in what I think of as ‘Middle Prophecy’, not entirely clueless, not entirely passionate but able to bring truth to bear, and become something new. Our Upper Room candidates in the chaplaincy program exemplify this for us.
As stars in the Holy firmament, we are co-creators with our Divine Creator. This is the very task for which we are designed, the promise for which we are destined. It is the calling of our soul, the yearning of our heart.
One of the commentaries that Ann and I discussed in preparing for today’s liturgy mentions that Samuel “grew up accompanied by God’s Presence”. Like Samuel, (or female prophets such as Anna, Miriam or Phoebe who don’t get the profile of being selected by the church for a Sunday reading) we inhabit Divine Presence; we breathe air charged with the same Holy Spirit as those who knew Jesus personally. We also bring Holy Presence with us everywhere.
The second reading is excerpted from King’s remarks in Memphis on the night before he was murdered in 1968. Today, we identify with his musings about our nation being “sick” and “confusion [being] all around”. Like a man vigilant about the Presence of God and aware of the power of persistent hope, he says, “only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars”. Martin was truly a person of faith, a person of action and a prophet in his own time.
How’s the starry firmament look to you up close?
How can our Upper Room be a more prophetic community?
We all benefit from hearing varying thoughts on the readings. Please feel free to share— especially if like Samuel, you don’t think we mean YOU…
Reflections by the Community
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
Lynn: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we share our intentions.
Dennis reads the intentions gathered from the community
Ann: Let us pray our Eucharistic prayer together with open hearts and raised hands:
Holy One, we yearn to be close to you and to live in the embrace of your gentle wisdom. Your divine grace and love lead us away from our anxieties, fears and distractions and toward all that is blessed and hopeful.
Each of us is divinely created in Your image. We are precious to you and to each other because of who we are. We are beloved and blessed in your unconditional love, quite apart from how we act or fail to act.
Thankful for Jesus who treated all of Creation with respect and abundant love, we resolve to follow his example to be a light in the darkness. We recognize Your loving Presence here with us today and always, and we sing:
Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Lynn: Dearest Holy One, there are times when we feel scarcity and emptiness
even though we know You love us more than our human imagination can grasp. May we have the presence of mind to live in Your love. We strive to see You reflected in every person we meet. Guide us in sharing our gifts and in being open hearted so that we may accept help from others.
We thank you for Jesus, who knew what it was like to be an outsider in occupied and foreign lands. May his presence prompt us to bring gospel kindness and understanding to the divisions and conflicts of our time.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
We call upon your Spirit that is present in us at this Eucharistic table. We are grateful for the bread and wine that remind us of our call to be the light of Christ to the world.
Ann: On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with
his 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 the plate and pray:
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 the cup and pray:
Lynn: Then Jesus 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)
Embraced by the wisdom of God and inspired by Jesus, let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.
please receive communion saying, You are / I am the Face of God
Communion Song: Ruah by Colleen Fulmer https://youtu.be/2uofLLMwLCI
Lynn: Holy One, your transforming grace inspires us to follow our consciences
and bring comfort to wherever people are in need. We pray for wisdom, patience and persistence to make a difference in our world. We resolve to love as Jesus loved, to discern the better angels of our nature with hearts open to your Spirit. Amen.
Ann: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Holy One, you are 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 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. Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Lynn: Closing Blessing
Please extend your hands in blessing.
ALL: May the infinite beauty and joy of Creation continue to astound us
May the Presence of the Divine always comfort and inspire us and
May we proceed with conviction and courage to believe and live as prophet do, willing to change ourselves and our world for the better. Amen.
Closing Song: Let Your Light Shine in Us by Kathy Sherman
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