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
Welcome
Julie: Good morning and welcome to the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community. We are so happy that you are here with us this morning. Our theme today is celebrating our mystical oneness in the Cosmic Christ and all the gifts that brings.
Opening Prayer
Mary: Creator God, you have made us from stardust, each of us holy and unique. We all have individual gifts to share. May people everywhere see evidence of our spiritual gifts at work in our everyday lives as we, like the stars, bring light to dark places.
All: Amen.
Julie: Please join in singing our song of peace. Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi by Sinead O'Connor
https://youtu.be/f8pZ6EFlstc
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:
In my earlier account, Theophilus, I dealt with everything that Jesus had done and taught, from the beginning until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After the Passion, Jesus appeared alive to the apostles—confirmed through many convincing proofs—over the course of forty days, and spoke to them about the reign of God.
On one occasion, Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem. “Wait, rather, for what God has promised, of which you have heard me speak,” Jesus said. “John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
While meeting together they asked, “Has the time come, Rabbi? Are you going to restore sovereignty to Israel?”
Jesus replied, “It’s not for you to know the times or dates that Abba God has decided. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
Having said this, Jesus was lifted up in a cloud before their eyes and taken from their sight. They were still gazing up into the heavens when two messengers dressed in white stood beside them. “You Galileans—why are you standing there looking up at the skies?” they asked. “Jesus, who has been taken from you—this same Jesus will return in the same way you watched him go into heaven.”
These are inspired words from the Acts of the Apostles and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Second Reading
A reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
I plead with you, then, in the name of our Redeemer, to lead a life worthy of your calling. Treat one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the peace that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called into one hope when you were called. There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all.
Each of us has received God’s grace in the measure in which Christ has bestowed it.
And to some, the gift they were given is that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers. These gifts were given to equip fully the holy ones for the work of service, and to build up the body of Christ—until we all attain unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Only Begotten of God, until we become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
These are the inspired words of the anonymous storyteller we call Paul and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Alleluia
Gospel
A reading from the gospel of Mark:
Then Jesus told them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.
“The one who believes it and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe it will be condemned. Signs such as these will accompany those who have professed their faith: in my name they will expel demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will be able to handle poisonous snakes; if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; and the sick upon whom they lay their hands will recover.”
Then, after speaking to them, the savior was taken up into heaven and seated at God’s right hand. The disciples went forth and preached everywhere. Christ worked with them and confirmed their message through the signs which accompanied them.
These are the inspired words of the anonymous storyteller we call Mark and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Shared Homily
Julie: In our first reading, the apostles ask Jesus if this is the time; he’s conquered death so is now when he’s going to restore the sovereignty of Israel? Because after all this time, this is what they thought he was about. Instead, he sends them to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. And he doesn’t stick around to give them a crash course in what that means. He doesn’t need to. Because, as our second and third readings tell us, they were all gifted. We are all gifted. Not gifted in a cookie cutter way but in a rich variety, as individual as the faces on this screen. Teacher, prophet, snake handler (please leave the snakes home when we meet in person again!), healer—there is not a single gift or role that marks a follower of Jesus. Instead, we bring ourselves and our unique gifts to The Way.
In modern times, the gifts that enrich our community may be a little different— webmaster, musician, Zoom host, singer, vetting committee member, Board officer, deacon, crafter, priest, community member to name but a few—but each adds to the beauty of our Sunday morning mosaic and to the richness of our community. No one person has all the answers today any more than those Galileans staring up into the sky long after Jesus was gone. So how do we do it? How are we his witnesses to the ends of the earth? How do we live out The Way of Jesus using the gifts we have?
We would love for you to share your gifts and insights with us this morning. Please unmute yourself to share briefly on this morning’s readings. What did you hear? What will you do? What will it cost you?
Mary: Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insights with us this morning.
Please join in proclaiming our Statement of Faith.
Lynn and Bernie: 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.
Dennis: As we prepare for this sacred meal we remember that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, our gratitude and our cares and concerns.
We bring to the table…..
Dennis: We pray for these and all unspoken prayers and blessings. Amen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Presider 2: Please join in praying the Eucharist prayer together:
Ever gentle God, as co-creators of our planet, we offer you the gifts of bread, wine and our lives. May we celebrate our oneness with all creatures great and small in your precious family.
As one with You, we gather as a community to celebrate your gift of life pulsating within and around us and in the glories of nature everywhere.
O Birthing God, you stirred the waters of creation; you dwell on earth, and in every living being. We lift up our hearts to you and with thanks and praise we sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Julie: We thank you for our brother, Jesus, who showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: 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 and for the sake of living fully, 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 within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift their plate and pray the following:
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 and eat; this is my very self.
All lift their cup and pray the following:
Mary: 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 become communion
Both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please receive communion with the words: You are the face of God.
Communion Meditation: The Face of God by Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/OPT7687_yko
Mary: Christ of the Cosmos, we thank you that there are 18 galaxies for every person, that our bodies are made of stardust. Every place we turn, you are present, loving us. You call us, “beloved” and invite us to join the dance of creation in a mystical celebration of our oneness with all living things in your divine love.
Christ of the Cosmos, we rejoice that You, who are more than we can imagine or dream of, dwell in mystery beyond all comprehension. We remember that it was you, who said: “Anything I have done in the name of the Holy One, you can do, too…and even more.”
Christ of the Cosmos, we remember Mary, mother of Jesus, faithful disciple and St. Francis who sang canticles to brother sun and sister moon. We remember our sisters and brothers, the great cloud of witnesses who have cared for earth’s creatures and have blessed our world with their loving service to God’s people.
We praise you in union with them
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.
Amen.
Christina: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
Adapted from Miriam Therese Winter
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.
Oh, 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. Blessed be!"
Concluding Rite
Julie: Lover of the Universe, we are full of awe at your extravagant love flowing through all living things. We immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature that surrounds us each day. We are one with our brother Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen
Mary: Christ of the Cosmos is with us.
ALL: And loves through us.
Mary: Please extend your hands in praying the blessing:
ALL: The blessing of God is upon us as we go in the peace of the Cosmic Christ to live justice! May the gift of miracles find us living in appreciation of God's miraculous power and purpose in daily life. Help us to apply our gifts where they will have the greatest impact. Thanks be to God.
Closing Song:
Blessing to the World
https://youtu.be/s4V1bMYnGwU
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