Upper Room Saturday Liturgy, January 11, 2025 - Presider: Julie Corron

Paul and Thecla teaching together

You Are Mine

Welcome: Welcome to you all! I’m so happy to be here with you today.

Opening Prayer: Let us pray. Holy One, guide us in our daily lives so that every day we may feel that you are well pleased with us. AMEN.  

Opening Song: Courageous Women by Jan Novotka, Video by MT Streck
https://youtu.be/x8YdXUl4ZsQ

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING

A Reading from the Book of Judith 8:2-5; 7-17

Judith’s husband, Manasseh, came from her own tribe and

family. Manasseh died during the barley harvest while

supervising workers who were binding sheaves in the field.

Judith remained in bereavement for three years and four months.

She built a small tent on the roof of her house and lived there.

She wore sackcloth.

Judith was very beautiful. Manasseh left her an estate of silver

and gold, attendants, livestock, and fields. She ran the entire

estate. No one ever spoke a harsh word about her because she

was very devout.

Judith heard the harsh words that the people, out of their 

weakness for lack of water, were speaking against their leaders.

And she heard all that Uzziah, one of the leaders, said to the

people; how he promised them under oath to surrender their

town to the Assyrians after five days if God did not save them

by then. Judith sent her attendant, who managed affairs of her

estate, to invite the village elders to her home. Their names

were Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis.

When they arrived, she said to them, “Listen. You are supposed

to be the leaders of the people here in Bethulia. But what you

said to the people today was wrong. You should never have

sworn before God that you would surrender the village to our

enemies if God did not come to our aid in five days.

“What gives you the right to put God to the test as you have

done today? Who do you think you are to put yourself in God’s

place in dealing with human affairs? It is the all-powerful God

of the powerless that you are putting to the test! Will you never

learn? No one can ever fathom the depths of the human heart or

know what anyone is thinking. Yet you dare to read God’s mind

and interpret divine matters?!

“No, my friends, you must not goad the anger of God. Even if

we are not rescued in five days, God still has power to protect us

at will, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies*.

Do not try to force God’s hand or demand guarantees in this

matter! God cannot be threatened like humans can be. God

cannot be won over by pleading as humans can be. So, while

we wait for deliverance, we must continue to call upon God to

help us. May our voices be heard.”

These are the inspired words of a Hellenistic Jewish writer and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.

* This is a concept of God prevalent throughout biblical times. It is challenged by the Book of Job written centuries before Judith and is incompatible with the modern experience of life and God for many people.

PSALM

Psalm 78:12-20 (Nan Merrill, with significant adaptations)

The Psalm response is: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

R: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

God performed miracles for your Hebrew ancestors

when they were held captive, under the yoke of slavery.

Remember how the sea was parted

and the people passed through?

How the water stood up like a corridor?

Remember how in daytime, they were led with a cloud,

and through the night with a fiery light?

R: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

Recall how the rocks in the desert cracked open,

that the people might drink their fill

from waters as abundant as the seas,

as unfathomable as the deep.

God brought streams out of a rocky crag,

and made water flow down like rivers.

R: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

And yet the people continued to close their hearts,

rebelling in the desert against God.

Over and over, they put God to the test,

demanding the food they craved.

They spoke against God:

“Can God really spread a table before us in the desert?”

R: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

“True, God struck the rock, and water gushed out.

True, streams overflowed.

But can God also give us bread?

Can meat be provided for us?”

R: You lead us to waters. You prepare for us a table.

SECOND READING

A Reading from the Book of Acts 2:14a, 17a, 27a, 28, 41

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up to speak to all who had

gathered in Jerusalem. He repeated the words of the prophet

Joel:

“In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh…”†

Peter spoke of Jesus’ many wonders and signs performed during

his life, and of his unjust death. Of Jesus’ resurrection, Peter

quoted the Psalms:

“You, O God, do not abandon my soul to the netherworld.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

You fill me with joy in Your presence.”‡

Upon hearing this word, many believed Jesus was the Anointed

of God, the Christ, the Messiah, and they were baptized. About

three thousand people were added to their number that day.

These are the inspired words of the apostle Paul and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.

† Joel 2:28

‡ Psalm 16:10-11

ALLELUIA  Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker – MT Video
https://youtu.be/4cs8NDVM3Vk 

GOSPEL

A Reading from the Good News attributed to Luke 3:15-23 (with

abbreviated mention of Lukan genealogy)

All the people were filled with expectation. All were wondering

in their hearts if John might be the Messiah. John answered

them, “I baptize you with water. One who is more powerful

than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the thong of his

sandals. That one will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with

fire, with winnowing-fork in hand. The threshing floor will be

cleared. The wheat will be gathered into the barn; but the chaff

will be burned in unquenchable fire.” John proclaimed the good

news to the people with other exhortations too.

John had rebuked Herod, the ruler. John had spoken out against

Herod because of his marriage to his brother's wife, Herodias.

John also called out other evil things Herod had done. Herod

added a further crime to them all: he threw John in prison.

Before all this, when all the people were being baptized by John,

Jesus was baptized too. As Jesus was praying, the skies opened,

and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a

dove. A voice came from the heavens, "You are Mine, whom I

love. In you I delight."

When Jesus began his work, he was about thirty years old. He

was the child, as was thought, of Joseph. Joseph was of the

lineage of David and Bathsheba, of Ruth and Boaz, of Seth, and

of Adam and Eve.

These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as Luke and the community affirms them by saying AMEN.

Homily Starter—Julie: I was in seminary when I first learned of Thecla. Thecla was a young woman in first century Turkey when she first heard Paul teaching nearby. She sat transfixed at her window for three days listening to Paul teaching about Jesus. She was on fire with inspiration. All she wanted to do was join Paul in teaching about Jesus and healing the sick. And to be baptized. Thecla wanted to be baptized. But Paul, for reasons lost to time or maybe cowardice, put her off. She visited him in prison, she followed him as he taught, and still he wouldn’t baptize her. Even worse, when she needed help, he said he didn’t even know her. Pfft. So Thecla took things into her own hands. When the local officials, and a rejected suitor, were trying to martyr her with wild animals of various types, she jumped into the pool of wild seals and baptized herself. Thecla baptized herself. Even Jesus didn’t do that. As we just heard in today’s gospel, John baptized his cousin Jesus. But Thecla, Thecla got sick of waiting for Paul and did it herself. And for that I absolutely adore her! 

Think about all the times someone told you to wait. Think about all the things that you thought someone else needed to do for you. Think about all the things that you thought you needed permission to do. Is any of that really true? I may not have ordained myself, but if I had waited for permission from the Vatican, I’d still be waiting, and I wouldn’t be the only one. 

So today I’m going to ask you slightly different questions. We’ll start with the usual. What did you hear? Now, with Thecla in mind, what will you stop waiting for and do for yourself, in your faith journey or life in general? What, if anything, will it cost you? My friends, what would you like to share about today’s readings?

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

Julie: As we prepare for the sacred meal, 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 the unspoken concerns held in the silence of our hearts. AMEN

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

O Holy One, you have birthed us in goodness, gifted us with life and cherished us in love. In the heart of our being, your Spirit dwells; a Spirit of courage and vision, a Spirit of wisdom and truth. 

In the power of that same Spirit, we lift our hearts in prayer, invoking anew the gift of wisdom and enlightenment, that we may continue to praise and thank you, in union with all who sing the ancient hymn of praise: 

 

Holy, Holy, Holy:  Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk

Holy One, we see around us the work of your hands, the fruit of your wisdom and love. The unfolding story of creation witnesses unceasingly to your creative power.  We, your creatures, often deviate from that wisdom, thus hindering your creative presence in our midst. 
 
Sending among us Jesus, our brother, you birth afresh in our world the power of Sophia-Wisdom, and in the gift of Your Spirit, your creative goodness blooms anew, amid the variety and wonder of life. 
 

(Extend hands in blessing.)  

 
We invoke Your Spirit upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, that they may become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world. 

On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.

(Lift the bread)

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 and love one another.

(Lift the cup)

He then raised high 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.

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives,
As we share communion, we will become communion
Both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.

In faith and hope we are sustained; in grace and dignity reclaimed. In praise, we thank you. 
 
Please receive communion with the words: I am filled with joy.

Communion Meditation Come to the Water
https://youtu.be/_FMuokL8tZc

Prayer after communion: Let us pray. Like Jesus, we will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and we will live compassionate lives, for it is through living as Jesus lived, that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, O Holy One, 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

Please raise your hands as we bless each other:

May we love and care for each other always. May we know heaven every day. May our name be a blessing in our time. AMEN.

Closing Song: Go Make a Difference
https://youtu.be/Q2vYFN1YNIk