Please join us between 9:30 and 9:55 am 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
Welcome: Speaking truth to power, standing alone or with others we are never alone. We are One.
Opening Prayer: “And the greatest of all commandments is this: To love God with your whole mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself”.
Opening Song: God Beyond all Names by Bernadette Farrell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Htrmq0g_Nk
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A Reading from Etty Hillesum a survivor.
Tonight, for the first time I lay in the dark with burning eyes as scene after scene of human suffering passed before me. I shall promise You one thing, God, just one very small thing: I shall never burden my today with cares about tomorrow. Each day is sufficient unto itself. One thing is sufficiently clear to me: You cannot help us, that we help You to help ourselves, that we safeguard the little of YOU, God in ourselves. And perhaps in others as well. Alas, there doesn’t’ seem to be much You Yourself can do about our circumstances, about our lives. Neither do I hold You responsible. You cannot help us, but we must help YOU defend Your welling place inside us to the last.
These are the words of Etty Hillesum, and our community affirms them with AMEN
Second Reading (Audio): A letter from Malala
"https://www.youtube.com/embed/UAylZOIALFg?si=QW3PW1aJ47eJa58R"
These are the inspired words of Malala and her community. We affirm them with AMEN!
Gospel Acclamation: More Light by Christopher Gundy video by MTStreck
Third Reading: A sermon from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde
The foundations we need for unity must be sturdy enough to withstand the many storms that threaten it. Drawing from our sacred traditions and texts, let me suggest that there are at least three foundations of unity.
The first foundation for unity is honoring the inherent dignity of every human being, the birthright of all people as children of our one God.
The second foundation for unity is honesty, in both private conversation and public discourse, If we are not willing to be honest, there is no use in praying for unity because our actions work against the prayers themselves.
The third foundation for unity is humility, which we all need, because we are all fallible human beings. We make mistakes. We say and do things we later regret. We have our blind spots and our biases. And perhaps we are most dangerous to ourselves and others when we are persuaded without a doubt that we are absolutely right someone else is absolutely wrong. We are all capable of good and bad. We are more like one another than we realize, and we need each other.
These are the words of Bishop Budde, and our community affirms them with AMEN.
Shared Homily
Many of you will notice I did not include an “official” gospel for today’s liturgy. We frequently have many readings that are filled with wonderful spirit filled messages. These readings are filled with the gospel of “good news”.
Today our “other” scripture readings are from Etty, who suffered and died in Auschwitz, teaches us that we must help God help us. Malala, who we support with donations, suffered physical harm as she raised her for voice for girls’ education and continues to ask us to stand with her and all girls. Bishop Budde spoke her truth to power in a kind, loving and direct way. Since then, she has received many death threats. Can you and I speak our truth to power?
All three women are courageous and models for us all.
I believe all these women are not just preaching the gospel but are living the gospel and have offered us today’s “Good News”
Please share the “Good News” that resonated for you as you heard their words.
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 prayers of our hearts. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hands and hearts let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer together:
All: O Holy One you have sent prophets and messengers to show us the way-Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Moses and Jesus, Buddha and Mohammad, Hildegard and Teresa, Oscar and Dorothy, and all of us here and now who celebrate this liturgy today.
Everything we do, we do together with You. We cannot be without You. We cannot be without each other. You are made visible in this world with our acts of love and kindness. With grateful hearts we raise our voices and sing
Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
All: Holy One, slowly this world is moving toward oneness. Your pattern of Love is in everything and there are messages of Love in every pattern. Help us to stand with each other in love and suffering. The pain of one, is the pain of all. May we co-create with You and restore balance and harmony in our world.
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 died Jesus did more than ask us to remember him. He showed us how to live when he washed the feet of his friends.
lift the bread
All: At the table, he took the Bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat of the Bread of Life
Given to strengthen you
Whenever you remember me like this
Go and share your love with one another. (pause)
lift the cup
ALL: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
Made new again through my life in you.
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: God and I are one.
Communion Song: I Will Sing of Your Love, Love, Love by Christopher Grundy
ALL: Holy One we know you as the voice of kindness within us and the constant hope that lives in our hearts. We are grateful for the gift of your Spirit, always drawing beauty and balance out of chaos. And like Jesus,
Standing where he stood,
and for what he stood,
and with whom he stood,
we are united in your Spirit
now and forever. Amen.
Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus:
Adapted from Miriam Therese Winter
O Holy One who is 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.
All: Loving Source of our being, we are called to live the gospel of peace and love. This is our faith, to embrace life, to increase love, to have courage to be and walk into the mystery of your presence.
BLESSING
Please extend your hands and pray our blessing together.
May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. The good of all people in the nation and the world. Amen (Bishop Budde)
Closing Song: Dance Then Wherever You May Be by John Ogrodowczyk
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.