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 and Theme:
Good morning Everyone. We are so happy to see you here today and to include you who cannot be here in person for our All Souls/All Saints Day liturgical celebration. We ask you to center yourself in this space as we present this opening song. It is an invitation to quiet and internal reflection, from dark to light. May we make ourselves present in this blessed time, an opportunity to love, for ourselves and for our world…
Opening Song: The Prayer, Hayley Westenra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJCWrBdDd88
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Susan
Our first reading is Inspired by the writings of Julian of Norwich. Thomas Merton, writes:
At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion,
a point or spark which belongs entirely to God.
This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God in us.
It is so to speak, His name written in us…
It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven.
It is in everybody…
These are the inspired words of Thomas Merton, and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia (Lynn)
Gospel: Marggie
Matthew 5:1-12A
A reading from Matthew.
On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up the mountain; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him; and he began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the realm of heaven.
Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the realm of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in heaven will be great; this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.”
These are the writings of the follower Matthew and our community affirms them by saying: Amen.
(from the work of Hal Taussig and A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century.)
(Pause)
Homily Starter:
During this time of year our liturgical calendar invites us, through the solemnities of All Souls Day and All Saints Day, to remember in a particular way our ancestors and dearly departed loved ones, as well as Saints, who throughout the centuries, have companioned and inspired us. This is our time to intentionally reach beyond our day to day reality and traverse another realm of eternal existence, mystery and love.
As Deb and I were planning our liturgy for this morning we resonated with the sense that “all souls” and “all saints” include each of us as well. We too are holy souls and saints embarking on this human journey towards union with the Divine, towards love and wholeness. We wish, therefore, to include the human family of one another in this mindful remembrance of All Souls and All Saints!
I invite you now to close your eyes, rest in your heart's gratitude, and bring to your awareness the souls of loved ones who have gone before you, the presences of saints who have mentored you, your own soulful existence, and the soulful presences of those with whom, in some way, you share this precious life.
After a minute or so we will invite you to share your thoughts and reflections.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fotXe4n731E&authuser=0
Statement of Faith: Ellen
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.
We Bring To The Table
Deb: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns.
We ask for blessing on all of our spoken and unspoken prayers. AMEN
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Deb: With open hands let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer together:
O Holy One, the first passion of Jesus was his passion for you and for justice so that all may reap the beauty and bounty of Creation in equal measure. Jesus lived to incarnate your justice for all the world according to your covenant with Israel. In solidarity with Jesus, and with all the faithful men and women who have gone before us, we lift up our hearts and sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Holy One, we celebrate the life of your son and our brother, Jesus. He lived his life and walked forward to his death knowing that you were leading him. We walk forward in his pathway and follow his teaching.
We are standing in the right place with Jesus when we let go of money, possessions, pride and privilege, to become vulnerable and open to you, to accept poverty of spirit and reliance on you.
We are standing with You when we are compassionate for all human beings, and when we extend empathy and love to everyone, especially the poor, oppressed, and mournful. We remember all those who suffer and die each year from war, poverty and unjust disease. We mourn for them, and for all creatures we destroy, and for the earth itself.
We are blessed when we are gentle, nonviolent, courageous and humble, like your saints. We pray to grow in awareness of our unity with all of creation and co-create with You our earth as a sanctuary of peace.
We rejoice, O Holy One, as we join the lineage of Your prophets of justice and peace. We, Your daughters and sons, continue to work with Your grace as we arise and walk forward in the footsteps of our peace-loving brother, Jesus.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
We are ever aware of your Spirit in us and among us at this Eucharistic table and we are grateful for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
On the night before he died, Jesus did more than ask us to remember him. He showed us how to live in humility and generosity when he washed the feet of his friends.
Community lifts the plates
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.
Community lifts the cup
Clare Julian: 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.
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.
Receive communion with the words: You are the face of God and a blessing to us all.
Communion Meditation/Song: “Come Whoever You Are”
Prayer after communion:
Holy One, we trust You to continue to share with us Your own Spirit, the Spirit that filled Jesus, for it is through his life and teaching, his loving and healing that all honor and glory is Yours. Amen.
Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
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
Let us raise our hands and bless each other.
May we continue to honor and remember the lives and sacrifices of our ancestors who came before us.
May we acknowledge the presence of the saints in our lives.
May we realize the holiness and saintliness that each of us bring to our lives and to our world.
And may we All be a blessing in our time. AMEN.
Closing Song: All Saints Day by Carrie Newcomer
The Eucharistic Prayer is adapted from Beatitudes for Peace by John Dear.
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