Upper Room Liturgy - Saturday February 26, 2022 – Presider: Lynn Kinlan

Please join us between 4:30 and 4:55 pm 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

Co-creating the Kin-dom of God as Little Children Do

Welcome: Welcome everyone to our Saturday evening liturgy. This evening we will be imagining together what the kin-dom of God is like and our role in co-creating it here on earth. Our readings and music ask us to see with new eyes and welcome the heavenly kin-dom as little children do.  

Opening Prayer:  We are filled with gratitude to share our faith as community. We search together for the sacred and yearn for what is holy. As we consider Your Presence with us in all the moments of daily life, we savor being aware of heaven in the here and now. In your Spirit we are fully alive and deeply graced.  Amen. 

Opening Song: “I am the One within You” by Karen Drucker

https://youtu.be/wXZ6Je4xeRU

  LITURGY OF THE WORD

 

First Reading: “The Kingdom of God: A Domination Free Order” by G. Richard Wheatcroft  

In The Gospel according to Mark, the first words Jesus spoke when he began his ministry in Galilee were, the time has come: the Kin-dom of God is upon you; repent and believe the Gospel. 

Jesus proclaimed the Kin-dom of God is at hand to a society in which most of the land and wealth lay in the hands of ten percent of the population. Jesus offered a bold and hopeful vision for the financially exploited and socially oppressed people of his time.

The Methodist theologian, Walter Wink, uses the term “domination society” to describe the powerlessness of living under political occupation, financial exploitation and unjust patriarchal gender relations all of which were maintained by the use of violence. 

  Wink asks, somewhat rhetorically, “Where is God’s reign?” His answer: wherever domination is overcome, people freed, the soul fed, God’s reality is known. “When is God’s reign?” Whenever people turn from the idols of power and wealth to the governance of God in a society of equals. “What is God’s reign?” It is the transformation of the Domination System into a non-violent, humane, ecologically sustainable, livable environment fashioned to enable people to grow well.” 

The heavenly kin-dom is upon us whenever justice is served and compassion practiced. 

These are the inspired words of G. Richard Wheatcroft, writing for Progressive Christianity.org and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Lynn: Alleluia Acclamation

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing their children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples scolded them for this. When Jesus overheard this, he was indignant and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me, do not stop them. It is to just such as these the kin-dom of God Belongs. The truth is, whoever doesn’t welcome the kind-dom of God like a child will not enter it”. 

And Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

These are the inspired words of the gospel writer known to us as Mark and we affirm them by saying, Amen. 

Homily and Shared Reflections

Traversing the gulf between the traditional church and the progressive theology of original blessing can be a shock to one’s system. Sometimes it may feel like exiting a canoe on choppy water, straddling with one foot on solid land and one trembling  as the canoe pulls away from land. There is however, one progressive idea, that feels natural; understanding the kin-dom of God as existing not in some celestial heavenly sphere but as accessible to us in the here and now. Jesus says in the three synoptic gospels that the kin-dom is “in our midst” (Luke), “at hand” (Mathew) or “upon you” (Mark). 

Every person harbors a spark of the Divine essential to melding the kin-dom to earth, to making the kin-dom become real and visible for oneself and others. We are co-creators with the Divine.  Jesus wants all of us to welcome the kin-dom like a child. Let’s think about what childlike qualities he may be honoring…the smile of a baby, the awe of a toddler as she sees her birthday candles all lit up on a big cake, the forgiveness of young children who minutes before were fighting over the same toy or the innocence of a twin boy learning about racoons and bats and asking if he and his twin are identical or nocturnal.

And what qualities would impel someone to not welcome the kin-dom so that he or she “will not” enter it? (note the choice implied here, not a severe Holy One looking for a hall pass to allow someone in). Skepticism, bitterness, judgement, jealousy — among others — our all too familiar human flaws keep us from working toward the realization of the kin-dom.  

What did you hear in the readings? What will taking them to heart cost us?

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

Presider: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we are thankful to be created in the likeness of the Holy One and anointed just as Jesus is. We bring our blessings, cares and concerns to our celebration, beginning with the words, “I bring to the table…” 

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

Let us join with open hands and raised hearts to pray our Eucharistic prayer together:

All: 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 to You 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 struggle and beauty, moving into 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 compassion and in truth. 

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

Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

All: We gather as community in the power of your Spirit, refreshing wind, purifying fire and living breath, for the variety and diversity of life. We seek to live as Jesus taught us, wise and holy as Spirit-filled people, courageous and prophetic, ever attuned to your call.

Please extend your hands in blessing.

We are grateful for Your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us to love gently, and walk lightly among the gifts of Creation. We call on Your Spirit to embrace us once more as co-creators with Jesus toward a bold and new vision for gentle justice and peace the world over. 

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. 

 

All present lift the plate as we pray the following:

When he returned to the table, Jesus lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to all saying, 

 Take and eat, this is my very self. 

(pause) 

 

All present lift the cup as we pray the following:

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.

(pause) 

Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice, using the words, I will build the Kin-dom and spread its joy.

Communion Song/Meditation:

Behold the Kingdom by Michael Talbot   https://youtu.be/TWd0OE5jaoA 

A multitude followed a man, a prophet 

who spoke words of wisdom

and they listened, trying to understand 

the paradox of his great truth.

He said, blessed be those who are poor

For you shall inherit the kingdom.

Blessed be those who are weak

For you shall inherit great strength.

Blessed be those who are children 

For you shall be counted as wise.

Blessed be the blind man

For you shall see with new eyes.

Behold now the Kingdom (3x)

See with new eyes.

Blessed be those of compassion

for you shall inherit compassion.

Blessed be those who forgive

For you shall be forgiven.

You shall receive consolation

only in reaching to give

and only in dying for others

can you be reborn to live. 

Behold now the Kingdom (3x)

See with new eyes.

So, a multitude followed a man, a prophet

who spoke words of wisdom

and they listened

yet could not understand

the paradox of his great truth.

Communion Prayer - All: As we remember you in the sharing of bread and wine, we are nourished by your love. We pray to be enabled by your guidance to remain open-hearted and welcoming to the glory and giftedness of our lives. We resolve to live justly, love tenderly and walk with integrity in your Always- Presence. Amen. 

 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 

Presider: Please extend your hands and pray our closing blessing together.

With souls filled with gratitude and awe, we remain a hopeful people. With joy and compassion, we resolve to be inclusive of everyone and respectful of our many differences. May we be as trusting and as gentle as children as we try to live and serve as Jesus does. Amen. 

Closing Song: “Turning of the World” by Sara Thomsen

https://youtu.be/empGgV8Usvk

Let us sing this song for the turning of the world

That we may turn as one.

With every voice, with every song

we will move this world along

and our lives will be the echo of our turning. 

And our lives will be the echo of our loving.

Let us sing this song for the loving of the world

That we may turn as one.

With every voice, with every song

we will move this world along

And our lives will be the echo of our loving.

And our lives will be the echo of our healing.

Let us sing this song for the healing of the world

That we may turn as one.

With every voice, with every song

we will move this world along

And our lives will be the echo of our dreaming

And our lives will be the echo of our loving.

Let us sing this song for the dreaming of the world

That we may turn as one.

With every voice, with every song

we will move this world along

And our lives will be the echo of our dreaming.