Moment of Oneness: May 1st 2024 -Prepared by Sharon Beneteau, Suzanne De Froy and Kathy Worotny

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81507551772
Meeting ID: 815 0755 1772
To connect by phone dial: +1 646 558 8656

‘Prayerful Presence’

“I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” Psalm 143:5

First Reading:  Suzanne

Adapted from the writing of Gilles Donada ‘Finding God in the Present Moment’

Being present to God and others involves a ‘true art of living’. It is a personal experience based on asceticism, deep listening to oneself and others, and an act of faith towards the Creator who is always present to us.  Believers, therapists, artists, and philosophers testify to this.

To connect to the present moment, creative writer Éric de Rus engages in a form of asceticism that applies to his thoughts.  It involves acceptance, to ‘strip bare the bark’ of one's judgments, one's ready-made ‘representations’, acknowledging one's ‘limits’ and making an act of faith to lay down arms to enter ‘friendship with life’. 

The present moment is the narrow gate into the realm of Divine possibilities … The song of a bird or the fluttering of a leaf are enough to touch harmony that resists chaos and the cacophony of life … For Éric de Rus it is Christ who holds the keys to the present moment: "Because Jesus precedes me and is my light, I can dare, following Him to enter into the thickness of the naked present and open myself up."

Volunteer Reader:

The word ‘present’ has multiple meanings signifying both a gift and being attentive to others by making oneself present.  Staying anchored in the present is not natural and Father Philippe Kearney, a native of Ireland living in the French Diocese of Beauvais, speaks of this as a ‘battle’.  He sums up his personal spiritual challenge by saying, "I often found myself caught up in worries of the past or projecting into the future.  I struggled to be fully attentive to myself, others, and God.” Father Kearney aspires to experience an authentic encounter with others and God by “Being present to God, present in the present moment.”  This is the motto that he chose for his ordination when he was 29 years old that continues to this day.  

Father Kearney sets aside daily practice as a time of prayer.  It has become a journey of learning and growth.  To open the ‘gates’ of his five senses he especially pays attention to the earth.  He said, “When we embrace these moments of prayerful presence, we can see Heaven open up … This is the Gospel of Creation that Pope Francis talks about.”  Over time Father Kearney has found authentic encounters are possible, when being “fully attentive to myself, others, and all of God’s creation.” 

Song:  Be Still And Know - Song by Shaina Knoll

https://youtu.be/CCGsExqtYKo

Second Reading: ‘Prayerful Silence’ Reflection by Sharon Beneteau

While sitting in my backyard resting my arms on my chair, closing my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face I become aware of something moving on the upper part of my hand. Looking down, I noticed a monarch butterfly slowly walking along. 

In wonderment I thought to myself:  You came so silently, no loud announcement, no clapping or cheering, just gentleness and calm.  You landed so softly, no pain, no anxiety, no judgment, no guilt, no embarrassment.

What gratitude grew in my heart as I experienced your gentleness, your tenderness, your beauty, and your fearlessness. 

Without a sound you flew off leaving my heart filled with the satisfaction that I have experienced love and compassion.  

Third Reading: ‘Prayerful Action’ Reflection by Kathy Worotny

When life gets difficult, a hopeful way to look at my limitations helps me draw on the God given gift of inner resilience that we are all born with.  Pausing to go inward, I can find the healing energy of Christ’s light to see beyond barriers that exist in the darkness of my own fears.  

As a brain injury survivor, I need to quiet my misgivings and give an honest effort in everything I do.  

Art classes help me to be present so I can tap into my inner creativity.  It is energizing and lifts me up, so I never want to miss it.  One day we were asked to cut coloured paper into small pieces to create a mosaic picture and I had a hard time with eye-hand coordination.  Frustrating hopelessness and anxiety started to overwhelm me.  When I was just about to quit, the art teacher came over with a suggestion to fill in the outline with crayons and markers.  

A simple adjustment came my way that at the time I never would have considered.  I listened … and when I was done, I felt a sense of joy as I looked down at my unique mosaic.  Each time I am successful, I am even more hopeful things will get better.  If I fail, I know that there will be another way to get things done.  Leaning into this prayerful moment calmed the turbulence and helped build up my faith, compassion, and empathy for myself so I can carry on.

Pause: ‘Silent Intentions’

Closing:  Group Sharing – Scripture is filled with examples of Jesus’ prayerful presence.  As the modern readings suggest, ‘prayerful presence’ takes on many forms.  Please consider sharing a time when you experienced Christ’s light shining through.

Resources:

This year, one of the themes for the month of May is Mental Health Awareness:

Teachers College, Columbia University. (2023, Apr 3). Spirituality and Mental Health

https://www.tc.columbia.edu/deanhope/blog/content/2023/mental-health-awareness-month-spirituality-and-mental-health.php

Donata, G. (n.d.) Finding God in the Present Moment.  https://international.la-croix.com/pray/finding-god-in-the-present-moment

McDonnell, C. (2021, Jul 2). Beads of Prayer. LaCroix International.  https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/beads-of-prayer/14582

 

Worotny, K. & De Froy, S. (2023).  Just Watch Me.  Windsor, ON: Walkerville Publishing. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/192759135X

Song:  Be Still And Know - by Shaina Knoll and video by MT Streck

https://youtu.be/CCGsExqtYKo

Note – Gilles Donada’s article was previously shared in the ARCWP chat by: 

JENNIFER MARCUS <jennifermarcus4904@comcast.net>
Date: Sat, Apr 20, 2024 at 7:40 PM
Subject: [ARCWPChat] Finding God in the present moment

Upper Room Weekend Liturgy, April 27 and 28, 2024 - Presiders: Denise Hackert-Stoner and Mary Theresa Streck

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155 
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155

 Fifth Sunday of Easter

Welcome 

Mary Theresa: Welcome to the Upper Room’s Liturgy for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.  Did you know that Easter is an entire season of fifty days ending with Pentecost? The themes of the Easter season focus on new life, love, connection, and community. Today we will hear readings and songs on these themes. After liturgy, Mary Giordano will share about Family Promise, love at work in our community.

Opening Prayer 

Denise: Holy One, in a world divided we ask for strength as we commit to unity.  For we are your people the world over.  We live, grow, and have our very being in you alone, and we long to break down the barriers of division among us.  Amen.

Opening Song: I am the Vine – John Michael Talbot

https://youtu.be/rm3zHKYwG9A?si=beEdsDLQudk01aZm

First Reading: A reading from the first letter of John

1 Jn 3:18-24

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living the life of the Holy One. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For the Holy One is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

 And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free in the presence of our Beloved!  We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what pleases our Beloved. Again, this is what the Holy One wants us to do: to believe in Jesus, who told us to love each other.  As we do the will of the Holy One, we live deeply and surely in the Holy One, and the Holy One lives in us. And how do we experience this deep and abiding presence in us?  By the Spirit bestowed on us by the Beloved who loves us.

These are the inspired words of the disciple known as John, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Second Reading: The Center of Your Being by Lao Tzu

Always we hope that someone else has the answer,
some other place will be better,
some other time it will all turn out.
This is it.
No one else has the answer.

No other place will be better.
And it has already turned out.

At the center of your being you have the answers.
And you know what you want.

There is no need to run outside for better seeing,
nor to peer from the window.

Rather abide at the center of your being.
For the more you leave it,
the less you know.
Search your heart and see that
the way to do is to be.

These are the inspired words of mystic, Lao Tzu, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Alleluia:

https://youtu.be/4cs8NDVM3Vk 

Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of John

John 15: 1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Abba, the vine grower, takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does is pruned so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is the Holy One glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as John, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Shared Homily: Mary Theresa

Our sharing today will begin with the inspired words of Ilia Delio: It Is Love that Matters 

https://youtu.be/DG_CIHDM4SY?si=0sGPRifnahqaIdd3

The first reading today is from the first of three epistles attributed to the Gospel writer known as John. They follow on the purpose of the Gospel of John which is written to introduce its readers to the story of Jesus so that through the story they can come to believe in him as the Messiah. Unlike the Gospel of John, the epistles, are addressed to readers who already believe that Jesus is the Son of God and focus on the correct 

expressions of faith, in word and deed. All three share a common theme: vital community occurs where believers live their faith in action and make God’s love visible in their hospitality toward others.

We invite your thoughts on the readings and the theme of new life, love, connection, and community.

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, starting with the words I bring to the table.  

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. 

Everyone and everything is born of You. We carry within us your light and life.

In the mystery of matter and deep in the cells of our souls are your longings for oneness: the oneness of the universe vast and vibrating with the sound of its beginning, the oneness of the human soul, a sacred countenance in infinite form. All that we are and all that we do flows from our deep connection with you and we sing our song of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk?si=lF8UEluHJgyAuxbZ

Guiding Spirit, open us to visions we have never known, delight us with a oneness we could never have imagined, that we may truly be born of You, makers of peace.

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, 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, This is my very self.

  

(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: We are One.

Communion song: Follow Your Heart’s Desire by Jan Phillips, Photos by Dennis McDonald

https://youtu.be/qinan3FNZBc?si=20XQz450LRSZ-QSE 

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 

BLESSING

Denise: Please extend your hands and pray our blessing.

May the one river that flows through all, fill us with life and sustain us on the journey.  May the one Spirit that dwells in all, unite us as one people the world over.  May we walk in dignity and recognize that same dignity in every brother and sister we meet along the way, for we are yours.  Amen.

Closing Song: River Jordan by Peter Paul and Mary

https://youtu.be/ziy668lQ1eo

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