Opening Prayer (Margaret)We recall the ministry of Jesus focused on bringing justice and equality to those who were oppressed and voiceless. As we join in prayer this evening may we commit to living a life that keeps justice and compassion uppermost in our mind.May we embrace the divine nature with which we are born, leading us to be voices for the voiceless, for the forgotten, for the oppressed in our society.May our efforts be blessed by the Spirit of Life and Love. Amen.
Reading (Judy)
First Coming by Madeleine L’Engle
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time,
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and the Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love:Rejoice! Rejoice!
Reflection time
Prayers of Petition (Jane)
Eternal One, you are love, love made clear in the life of Jesus.
You come: In the hope kindled that keeps us from despair In the peace shared that encourages comfort In joy that makes hearts sing You are near, very near
You come: In the sudden shock of ‘aha’ moments In the laughter of a child In times of spontaneous affection You are near, very near
Please come: To the ones who have given up hope To the depressed and the despairing To the war-torn places and the conflicted hearts Come near loving God, come very near.
Please come: To people who are worrying To the sick and to the dying To those who are sobbing Come near loving God, come very near.
Please come: To the ones whose faith is strong To the ones who look for you To the many who worship you this day Come near loving God, come very near. Amen Janice Freeston
Closing Prayer (Margaret): Holy Mystery, as people committed to love for all, we work to bring justice and compassion to all that we do.We serve from the depths of our being, which is the Divine presence born within us.May we, through our actions, bring joy and happiness to you and to those whose lives we touch.Amen.
Closing Song: Lean on Me (Bill Withers) performed by Playing for Change
We gather today as the Upper Room Community, both near and far, to celebrate new beginnings, while continuing honoring our past from the early days at the Unitarian Church, to our most recent Zoom experience. As we bless this space, let us embrace the everlasting presence of Sophia Wisdom. As we anoint our Eucharistic Table, let us be fed in word and in sacrament. As we bless our Community Chaplains, let us recognize the gifts and ministry they share. Finally, as we celebrate the Liturgy ofWord and the Liturgy of Eucharist, let us remember that we are called to be followers of Jesus, companions on the journey, bringing the love of Holy One to a world hungering for peace and justice.
The new beginnings, the possibilities of change and of dreams not yet lived.
Deven
South: Let us open the gate of Compassion,
The service we can offer, the sharing of our talents and the warmth of our hearts.
Judy
West: Let us open the gate of Acceptance,
The surrender asked of us, the letting go of what no longer serves our growth.
Terri
North: Let us open the gate of Wisdom.
The blessedness of divine guidance, readiness to use our intuition and knowledge.
Joan
Above: Let us open the gate of Mystery,
The vast unknown, and the secrets waiting to be revealed for our transformation.
Mary Skelly
Below: Let us open the gate of Stability,
That which endures and forms a firm foundation for our purpose and vision.
Connie
Within: Let us open the gate of Divine Light,
The radiance within each person, the light that guides, consoles, and sustains.
Dennis: Timeless One, your eternal love wraps courage around us as we enter into your invitation to further our spiritual transformation. Your ageless presence draws us to you as we step forward, ready to embrace where you lead us. Your sustaining peace rests within our every heartbeat and accompanies us into the unknown future. We gather in confidence and with gratitude for the unending love with which you surround us. Amen.
Anointing of the Table of Friendship and Peace
Denise & Mary Theresa:
There is story in the wood of this table. Story of water, soil, and sun. Story of forest, story of stream.
There is story in the making of this table. Story of man, saw and blade. Story of building, story of shaping, story of sanding and smoothing.
Today, in this room, the stories living in the wood of this table meet the future. New stories await. Our stories, circling this, our table of friendship.
Please raise your hands in blessing: May this table, made holy by its own nature and by the love of the Creator, bless us with its story. And may we, made holy by our own nature and by the love of the Creator, bless this table with our continuing story. Amen.
Advent Candle Lighting Blessing Prayer
Suzanne: Like our ancestors, we honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever-changing flow of life. Ritual acts give life meaning—they honor and acknowledge the unseen web of Life that connects us all.
Week 1 –Eleanor lights the candle as Dotty prays:
We light this first candle and remember the Holy One who created light and life out of darkness by loving. The dark shadow of space leans over us and we are mindful that the darkness of greed, exploitation, and hatred also lengthens its shadow over our small planet Earth.
And so we respond: Let us kindle the light of hope!
Suzanne concludes: Indeed, let us welcome the light within each other!
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Jean Albert
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians
May Christ increase to overflowing your love for one another and for all people, even as our love does for you; may Christ strengthen your hearts, making them blameless and holy before the Holy One at the coming of Jesus with all the holy ones.
Now my sisters and brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in Jesus, to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live – the life that the Holy One wants, as you learned from us, and as you are already living it.
These are the inspired words from 1 Thessalonians, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Psalm: Kathy Worotny
A reading from Psalm 43:3-4 adapted by Nan Merrill
Oh my Beloved,
send your light and your truth;
let them guide me,
let them lead me to your holy table,
to the inner home of integrity!
Then will I know you, Heart of my heart,
my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with song,
O my Beloved.
Alleluia: Bridget Ball Shaw
Gospel: Sandi Dietlein
A reading from the Gospel writer known as John
This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And you are my friends, if you do what I command you. I no longer speak of you as servants, because a servant doesn’t know a superior’s business. Instead I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learned from Amma God.
It was not you who chose me; it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that whatever you ask of Amma God in my name She will give you.
This command I give you: that you love one another.
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as John and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
(Pause)
Homily Starter and Shared Reflections - Dennis
Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things,
And our thoughts always center around those we love.
And I think about those people who mean so much to me,
And for so many years have made me so very happy.
And I count the times I have forgotten to say, thank you,
And just how much I love them.
In the past month, since the death of my brother, I have done a lot of reflecting on the love we hold for others and how we express and live that love. As the song, Sometimes by the Carpenters, indicates, too often it is something we take for granted. Of course, someone knows I love them, and I know they love me. But what goes unspoken or expressed may one day no longer be possible to say or show directly.
Our readings today urge us to take to heart the sharing of our love for one another, which flows from Divine Love. Paul expresses his love for the people of Thessalonica, and praises them forthe love they show to each other. But at the same time, he encourages them to do more, to reach more deeply into the Love that is within them, to bring that love more fully into their everyday life for those closest to them, but also to those who desire and deserve the deep love that can be provided because of their relationship with Jesus. This is reinforced in the Psalm with the request of the writer to send light and truth which will lead one to the holy table, the home of integrity.
The Eucharistic table we anointed today is for us that Holy Table. It is the table at which we recall Jesus explaining through simple items, bread and wine, that he was giving his body and blood to show his love for all people. He was the personification of Love, the fullness of integrity, standing with those who were voiceless, who were rejected, who faced injustice. And in that moment he also said, do this in memory of me. It was a call for his followers, for us, to follow his path, what his early followers called The Way.
The Way is Jesus’ call to love one another as he loved/loves us. And in so doing we become more intimately connected to him and to the Divine One. Out of this relationship we are strengthened by the love we share with each other, and hopefully, by the love we express to each other in words, in action, in connection. The love that our readings today speak of, is a love that moves us to deeper communion with those family members and friends we love, but perhaps more importantly in the Spirit of Jesus, brings us into communion and solidarity with those on the fringes of society, and difficult as it may be, even those with whom we disagree. This level of love then bears fruit in the spreading of the Good News, that all are worthy, that all are an original blessing, that all are loved. It’s a pretty tall order. Are we up to the task?
What did you hear? Where are you when it comes to responding to Jesus’ command to love one another as I have love you?
Statement of Faith: Margaret & Ed
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
Suzanne: As we prepare for this sacred meal we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns.
Lynn: We pray that the grace of the Holy One fill our Upper Room community with love, compassion, and a hunger for justice.
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare around the world.
We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our brothers and sisters throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future.
Marjorie: We pray for all nations, that they may live in unity, peace, and concord; and that all people may know justice and enjoy the perfect freedom that only God can give.
We pray that the Holy Spirit may embrace the most vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive for economic justice.
Phillis: We pray for all immigrants, refugees, and pilgrims from around the world, that they may be welcomed in our midst and be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, sexism, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our society, and our laws.
Rosie: We pray for all children and families, and particularly for the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or disease; that they may be relieved and protected.
We pray for a reverence of creation; that we will have the tools and the will to conserve it; that we will use its bountiful resources in the service of others; and that we will become better stewards of all that has been entrusted to us.
We pray for these our blessings, cares, and concerns and bring them to our table of friendship and love. Amen.
Preparation of the Table Friendship and Peace
We Come to Your Feast by Michael Joncas
(during song, cloth is laid on table, bread is brought to the table, cup of blessing is brought to the table, our gifts are brought to the table)
Dennis: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:
(written by Jay Murnane)
Source of All That Is, we seek you in this season, when the earth is resting and preparing for new life. Like the earth, we long for new life and hopeful beginnings. This is the time of the pregnant woman, filled with life and hope powerful enough to topple structures of oppression. This is the time of her song of fidelity and celebration.
During this gentle season of Advent, we recognize that you have made us capable of bringing forth justice, like a rising sun. One with all who have gone before us, we sing a song of praise:
Holy, Holy "Here In This Place" By Christopher Grundy
Suzanne: We thank you for those in times past who believed the good news, and lived what they believed.
Blessed is Isaiah and every visionary who insisted on a better future that would break through the deception, disaster, and broken promises of the age in which they lived.
Blessed is John, in the stark desert of careful focus, inviting the people to be born again in your love.
Blessed is Miriam, who believed the words of Isaiah and opened herself up to the unbelievable.
And blessed is her child Jesus, who felt the sorrows of humankind in his soul, and responded with deep and tender compassion.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
Dennis: We are grateful for your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and cup of blessing which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at 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.
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)
Suzanne: Then he took the cup of blessing, 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. Please receive Eucharist with the words, “We are the beloved of the Divine”.
All consume their bread and wine at this time
Communion Meditation/Song: Hope Transforms by Jan Phillips (adapted)
Dennis: Holy One, we are grateful for the gift of Your Spirit, always drawing beauty and balance out of chaos. And like Jesus…
Standing where he stood,
and for what he stood,
and with whom he stood,
we are united in your Spirit,
and worship you with our lives,
All: Amen.
Susan Himmel: 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
BLESSING
Blessing and Commissioning of Community Chaplains – (Chaplains stand)
Kim:
Please raise your hands in blessing over our Community Chaplains
May God’s grace be with you on this journey into a world needing healing.
May your divine presence bring peace to those you serve.
May you listen to the Holy One in each aspect of your life, especially in those places that seem least likely to reveal divinity.
May your daily prayer lead you in ministry with enthusiasm and dedication.
May you recognize the pastoral fruits of your service and not be discouraged when they are unclear.
Kathie
May your practice of compassion be a source of spiritual transformation for you and for our world.
May the burdens and difficult things of your ministry be eased as you lean on the heart of the Divine Beloved.
May you give generously of your time, energy, and talents, and graciously receive the assistance others offer to you.
May you walk faith-filled and confident through the many adventures of your life and ministry.
Jean Talbot
May thanksgiving overflow in your heart and be frequently proclaimed in your life.
May you be clothed in the calmness of the Life-Giver’s peace and the strength of the Life-Giver’s kindness.
May you long for the Holy One in every cell of your being so that you might bear the power of this Love.
May your heart be centered on the Holy One who is the ultimate source of spiritual guidance.
Community Chaplains:
As we embark upon our chaplaincy journey, may we be a source of strength, knowledge, compassion, and care for those to whom we minister. May God's love guide us and show us the way to serve justly.
May all that we say and do reflect the Holy One.
May we listen with a loving heart,
May Holy Wisdom guide our ministry.
May we possess a spirit of service and lead by example.
May we be a blessing in all that we do.
Suzanne: We bless and commission you and send you forth today, no matter how small your travels, with grace and passion, as a follower of Jesus, to touch the heart and souls of others bringing healing, compassion, dignity, and love. All this we bring before the Upper Room Community who affirms your ministry, and asks the Holy One’s blessings upon you. Amen.
Dennis: Please extend your hands and pray our blessing together.
May we remember that we are all called to continue God's redemptive work of love and healing in God's place, in and through God's name, in God's Spirit, continually creating and breathing new life and grace into everything and everyone we touch.
