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
Signs and Wonders
Announcements Kathie
Welcome and Theme Julie: Good morning. Welcome. However you are joining us today, we are so very happy to have you with us as we celebrate the second Sunday of Easter. This is a joyful time as we marvel at the signs and wonders that surround us to this day.
Opening Prayer: Ann
Divine Love, awaken us to the sacred dreams and imaginations that are stirring within our hearts. Protect us from fear as we pursue our cherished hopes of what is yet to be. Wrap us in courage as we enter into your invitation to spiritual Transformation during this Easter Season. AMEN
Inspired by Alexander John Scott.
Julie: Jesus reminds us that one of the surest ways to know peace is to let go of fear. Please take a moment and rest as our opening song washes over you.
Opening Song: Be Not Afraid
https://youtu.be/RF0DIpFOoBg
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
First Reading Dave Debonis:
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (5:12a, 14, 16; 9:1-9)
At the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were taking place among the people... More than ever, believers in the Christ, multitudes of men and women, people of all genders, were constantly added to their number.
A large number people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits. They were all being healed. ...
Saul continued to breathe murderous threats against disciples of Jesus. He had gone up to the high priest and asked for letters, addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorize him to arrest, and take to Jerusalem in chains, any men or women, all people regardless of gender, who belonged to the Way.
On his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed about him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
"Sir, who are you?" Saul asked.
The voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up and go into the city. There, you will be told what to do." Those traveling with Saul were speechless. They heard the voice, but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. For three days, he was unable to see, and he ate and drank nothing.
These are the inspired words of the anonymous storyteller we call Luke and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Responsorial Psalm Diane Geary:
(Psalm 118:2-4; 5-7a+15; 22-24)
The psalm response is: God's love endures forever.
[R] God's love endures forever.
Let the House of Israel proclaim: God’s Love endures forever!
Let the House of Miriam and Aaron sing: God’s Love endures forever!
Let all those who call upon God know: God is Love and endures forever.
[R] God's love endures forever.
When hard pressed, I cried out to God
who brought me into a spacious place.
God is with me.
I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
[R] God's love endures forever.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
God has done this.
It is marvelous in our eyes!
This is the day that God has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
[R] God's love endures forever.
Second Reading: Mary Brandon
A Reading from the Book of Revelation (1:9-11a, 12-19)
I, John, am your companion in the faith, in the suffering, in the kin-dom, and in the patient endurance that are ours in Jesus. I was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On Sunday, I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches.”
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking. When I turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. Among the lamp stands was someone like a human, dressed in a full-length robe, a gold sash across the chest, with hair white like wool, white as snow, and eyes ablaze like fire. The human figure had feet like bronze glowing in a furnace and a voice like the sound of rushing water. The figure held seven stars in hand. A sharp, double-edged sword came out of its mouth. Its face was shone like the brightest sun.
When I saw the sight, I fell at the figure's feet as though I were dead. The human one placed a hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead, and now, look! I am alive forever and ever! I hold the keys of death and of Hades. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will take place afterwards.”
This is the vision of a late first century writer known as John and the community affirms it by saying AMEN.
Alleluia: Dennis McDonald
Gospel: Judy Stamp
John 20:19-31
A reading from the gospel attributed to John.
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Temple authorities.
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, the savior showed them the marks of crucifixion.
The disciples were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me, so I’m sending you.”
After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas, nicknamed Didymus, or “Twin,” was absent when Jesus came. The other disciples kept telling him, “We’ve seen Jesus!”
Thomas’ answer was, “I’ll never believe it without putting my finger in the nail marks and my hand into the spear wound.”
On the eighth day, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors, Jesus came and stood before them saying, “Peace be with you.”
Then to Thomas, Jesus said, “Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t persist in your unbelief, but believe!”
Thomas said in response, “My Savior and my God!”
Jesus then said, “You’ve become a believer because you saw me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus performed many other signs as well, signs not recorded here, in the presence of his disciples. But these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Only Begotten, so that by believing you may have life in Jesus’ name.
These are the inspired words of the anonymous storyteller we call John, and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.
Homily Starter: Julie
There’s a whole lot going on in today’s readings. First, Saul sees God, gets knocked off his horse, and stands up transformed into Paul. Then Jesus is transformed into a figure with a sword in his mouth, reminding us that his words and teachings of love can overpower hate. And in the gospel, there is the foundational transformation as Jesus not only overcomes death but does it while rejecting vengeance and fear and embracing love and reconciliation.
With all that going on, is it any wonder that Thomas reacts with a yeah, right, Jesus stopped by while I was out? He simply couldn’t imagine someone returning from the dead. Alexander John Scott taught that imagination was key to dreaming our way forward, bringing everything back into interrelationship again. Given that Scott also taught that being true to this sacred interrelationship was how “we experience heaven within us and between us,” you can see how imagining that the previously impossible was possible was how the followers of Jesus kept moving forward even after his death. Not moving forward in vengeance or fear but moving forward together, retaining each other. In Abiding Word, Barbara Reid points out that in the word sins isn’t used in the Greek text. Rather, whomever you hold fast are held fast, reminding us to hold onto each other, especially the most vulnerable, that we may all walk the Way of Jesus together.
Walking the Way of Jesus today probably seems a little bit crazy. We’re destroying the planet. There’s a war in Ukraine. What difference does it make if we love each other? Which brings us to the Book of Revelation. In the chapter on Revelation in his book We Make the Road by Walking, Brian McLaren writes about how Revelation is not a prediction of the future but the literature of the oppressed. There was no open criticism of Rome. That’s what got Jesus killed. So instead we have this highly imaginative story with a fantastic figure with a sword in his mouth, representing the words and teachings of Jesus. And while it may be harder for us to see the symbolism two thousand years later, it’s just as relevant. McLaren reminds us, “Whatever madman is in power, whatever chaos is breaking out, whatever danger threatens, the river of life is flowing now.” Now. We can be part of that flow of life, of love, if we only use our imaginations and hold onto each other for dear life.
What did you hear? What will you do? What will it cost you? We would love to hear your insights on the readings. For those of you online, please remember to remute yourself when you are finished sharing.
Shared Reflections
Statement of Faith: Ginny and Mike O’Brien
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
Julie: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”
We pray for these and all unspoken concerns. Amen.
Ann: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer in one voice:
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us as we set our hearts on belonging to you. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all creation.
You know our limitations and our essential goodness and you love us as we are. You beckon us to your compassionate heart and inspire us to see the good in others and forgive their limitations. Acknowledging your presence in each other and in all of creation, we sing:
Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
Julie: Guiding Spirit, when opposing forces in us tug and pull and we are caught in the tension of choices, inspire us to make wise decisions toward what is good.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus, and for all our sisters and brothers who have modeled for us a way to live and love in challenging times. Inspired by them, we choose life over death, we choose to be light in dark times.
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 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 lift their plates 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 their cups and pray:
Ann: 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)
We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity.
Please receive communion saying: I am / You are the Face of the Holy One.
Communion Song: Imagine by Julian Lennon
Prayer after Communion:
Julie: Holy One, your transforming energy is within us and we join our hearts with all who are working for a just world. We pray for wise leaders in our religious communities. We pray for courageous and compassionate leaders in our world communities.
We pray for all of us gathered here and like Jesus, we open ourselves up to your Spirit, for it is through living as he lived that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, at this time and all ways.
AMEN.
Margaret: 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
Ann: Please extend your hands and pray our blessing:
May we be blessed with hearts open to Spirit’s transforming power in our lives.
May we be a blessing of love, compassion, and peace in our families, our communities, and our world.
AMEN.
Closing Song: Beyond Belief by The Many
Beyond Belief
When all the answers we’ve been given
Have all turned into questions,
When all the hurt that we’ve been feeling
Leaves us breathless, leaves us reeling
When it seems everything we’ve
been holding onto no longer holds true,
We can let go, and we can hold on to this
Your love is
Beyond belief
Stronger than the strongest tree.
Deeper than the deepest sea
Wilder than our wildest dreams
We don’t have to be afraid anymore
Cuz your love is sure,
God, your love is sure.
When nothing makes any sense here.
Hard to find a way through the fear.
Looks like survival depends on our silence
And everyone says, just keep smiling
When it seems everything we’ve
been holding onto no longer holds true,
We can let go, and we can hold on to this
Your love is
Beyond belief
Stronger than the strongest tree.
Deeper than the deepest sea
Wilder than our wildest dreams
We don’t have to be afraid anymore
Cuz your love is sure,
God, your love is sure.
No matter what we think
No matter how I look
Whatever skin we’re in
No matter who you love
No matter what they say
If we believe or not…
Your heart is wide enough
God’s heart is wide enough
Your love is
Beyond belief
Stronger than the strongest tree.
Deeper than the deepest sea
Wilder than our wildest dreams
We don’t have to be afraid anymore
Cuz your love is sure,
God, your love is sure.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.