phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Welcome: One of these things is not like the other. Each of us is unique and not like the other. All of creation proves this to be so!
Opening Prayer: Holy One, you made each of us for a specific purpose. Sometimes our purpose gets lost in our worries and fears. We count on You to help us grow in our life purpose. Help us never give up on ourselves. Help us to love ourselves and all of creation.
Opening Song: Find Your Happiness by Fearless Soul https://youtu.be/u1txfknKibs?si=c3CMep_c-x2eAGC_
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A Reading from A Hasidic story from The Amen Effect - Rabbi Sharon Brous
Zusya, a Hasidic rabbi living in Poland in the eighteenth century, was afraid to die. He confided to his students that he feared standing before God in judgment. His students were stunned. “But you are pious, humble and wise,” they said. “You have lived a meaningful and righteous life. What do you have to worry about?”
Zusya shared that he had had a vision. On the day of judgment, he was not asked, “Why weren’t you Moses, leading your people out of slavery?” or “Why weren’t you Joshua leading your people to the Promised Land?” Instead, he was asked, “Zusya, why weren’t you Zusya?” And that he could not answer.
The community affirms these words with AMEN!
Second Reading: A reading from Bare Essentials by Denise Hackert- Stoner
Thomas Merton said in “New Seeds of Contemplation” that “a tree gives glory to God by being a tree.” What I am looking at now is a tree being a tree: simply trunk, branch and twig, in an amazing array of length, width and angle.
There is a lot to learn from these great beings. Who are we, in our bones, at our core, except who we are? And being who we are, expressing that deep inner self, allowing that being to shine in thought and deed, gives glory to the One who created us to be part of this magnificent whole. I am who I am. You are who you are. The tree is what the tree is. Every rock and bird, every fern and mammal, every turtle, every slug, is what it is. And every single one; me, you, rock, bird, fern, mammal, turtle, slug; every single part of creation is necessary. Necessary just as we are. In that sense we, like the tree, are perfect. No need to embellish. No need to distract. It is the self as created that gives glory to God. Just that.
The community affirms these words with AMEN!
Alleluia: More Light by Christopher Gundy
A Reading from the Gospel of Luke (18:9-14)
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
We affirm these words with AMEN
Shared Homily
When I first read this gospel in preparation for todays’ sharing, I thought which one am I, the Pharisee, or the tax collector? Neither? Both? Sometimes I am self-righteous, and other times I feel I am not remotely good or enough. We carry many, many conflicting ideas about ourselves. Maybe the issue here is really comparisons. When I like the Pharisee compare myself to others, I feel like a rock star, and when I compare myself to a kind, loving person I feel less than, not up to the task. My knowledge and understanding about myself has to do with whom I am comparing myself to.
When we reflect deeply on the first and second readings, we discover the key. Let go of the comparisons. Most likely none of us will be another Mother Theresa or do something so amazing we have our own Wikipedia page. Fortunately for us our life’s journey is to become who God created us to be. There is only one of you, and you were “fearfully and wonderfully made.” We are on a journey of becoming.
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.
Prayers of the Community
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions:
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
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
https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk?si=dw60LjgS7xNgYI7V
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.
(Lift plate)
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, go, share and love one another.
(Lift cup)
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.
We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. Please receive this bread with the words: Every day I am becoming who I am created to be.
As we watch and listen to our communion song please remember you too are of this creation.
Communion Meditation: All Things Bright and Beautiful by John Rutter and Sung by the Tabernacle Choir
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.
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
Loving source of our being, you call us to live the gospel of peace and justice. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity in your presence.
BLESSING
Please extend your hands in our final blessing.
ALL: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate light through us. May we know and experience our reason for becoming. May we walk together as we support and tend to one another. May we know we are uniquely loved.
AMEN.
Closing Song: What a Wonderful World by Playing for Change
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