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
Tonight, we explore how we as humans are connected and interconnected to each other and all of creation.
Opening Prayer: Let us pray that we may all be one. May we strive to see the Holy One in everyone we meet. May we strive to see the Holy One in everyone we do not like or believe we cannot love. May we forgive ourselves and each other when we fail in the striving. May we never give up. Amen.
Opening Song: All Things Bright and Beautiful by John Rutter and Sung by the Tabernacle Choir
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reading 1: A reading from The Monastic Way by Joan Chittister
It is the spirituality of creation—our affinity, our care, for the rest of creation—that really stretches us to the wholeness of ourselves and to the wholeness of God, as well.
Only when we see ourselves, humans, as part of creation, rather than as the crown of creation, will we ever be able to come anywhere close to really grasping the greatness of God and God’s gifts to us.
Only then will we begin to see the glowing face of God everywhere.
Only then will we begin to understand that we are all meant to come to fullness of life together—plants, animals, planet, and humans in one great reciprocal circle of a common creation.
Until we do, all of us will go on living life with spiritual blinders.
These are the inspired words of Joan Chittister, a daughter of the Holy One. The community affirms these words by saying, AMEN.
Reading 2: A reading adapted from Integral Ecology by Ilia Delio
In 1972, the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess proposed a new paradigm based on the holistic view of interconnected nature. He coined the term “deep ecology” to challenge humanity to ask fundamental questions about our place in nature. Rejecting anthropocentrism (human-centeredness) in favor of ecocentrism, Naess argued that all living beings have inherent value regardless of their utility to humans.
At its philosophical core, deep ecology asserts that boundaries between self and other do not exist; all living things are interrelated parts of a larger whole. Deep ecology maintains that humans are part of nature rather than superior to or separate from it. Protecting nature becomes equivalent to protecting ourselves.
The concept of integral ecology emerged later with a renewed awakening of our place in the biosphere. Like deep ecology, integral ecology advocates for a holistic approach to humanity’s place in the biosphere but specifically addresses political, social, economic, and environmental problems facing our world. It connects “the cry of the Earth” with “the cry of the poor.”
The ideals of deep ecology and integral ecology deserve our attention. They challenge us to move beyond the unhealthy anthropocentrism that defines our age and invite us to embed ourselves within the relationships of nature and culture.
These are the inspired words of Ilia Delio. The community affirms them by saying, AMEN.
Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker
Third Reading: A reading from the Qur’an (17)
It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful and has provided for your sustenance.
These are inspired words from the Qur’an. The community affirms them by saying, AMEN.
Shared homily and reflections
Four or five times a week I walk a couple miles with my neighbor Carmen. We have been walking together for more than 9 years. Carmen is a 7th Day Adventist; she believes strongly in the literal translation of the bible. She believes humans are complete just as we are. She emphatically states that when we die we remain asleep, totally unaware, until Jesus comes again on the last day. As you might imagine discussing the bible and interpreting passages is not one of our easy-going conversations. They rarely happen.
Many of us of a certain age remember that we were taught that the Roman Catholic Church was the “One True Church”. There are many who still believe this doctrine. Recently someone asked me if I/we in the Upper Room believe that the bread and wine are truly the body and blood of Jesus. If we do not all agree on how to answer are we still one community?
Today’s readings are not about doctrine, or belief systems, but more about exploring who we are. How do we live our lives in relationship to all creation. I am happy I don’t have to believe the bible is literal, or that the Roman Catholic Church is the one true church. Or that the bread and wine are the body and blood. These examples of doctrine and beliefs divide us, they do not unite.
I love how Joan Chittister says, “we are all meant to come to fullness of life together—plants, animals, planet, and humans in one great reciprocal circle of a common creation.”
I love how deep ecology and integral ecology advocates for a holistic approach to humanity’s place in the biosphere but specifically addresses political, social, economic, and environmental problems facing our world. It connects “the cry of the Earth” with “the cry of the poor.”
I love how the Qur’an verses reminds of who created everyone and everything around us and beyond.
I don’t think we need doctrines, or literal translations of the bible to help us love, embrace and accept each other and all of creation. We humans are not meant to dominate creation, but grow as one creation.
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
Presider: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we voice our intentions beginning with the words, “We 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. 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
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 the plate 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, go and share your love one another.
(pause)
All lift the cup and pray:
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 an integral part of creation.
Communion Song: Creation Calls – Are You Listening by Brian Doerksen
Prayer after Communion
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
Please extend your hands and pray our blessing:
ALL: May the Fire of Love ignite our hearts and radiate through us.
May the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us.
May we always strive to live a life of connection to each other and all creation.
May we be a blessing in our time.
AMEN.
Closing Song: The title to this song is not expansive enough, but the video is! America is not just the United States.
America the Beautiful
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.