Opening Prayer:Beloved, we thank you for safe passage through the darkness of winter. We thank you for the rain that fell this spring. And we thank you for the coming season of blossom and fruit, of warmth and growth. May we turn to you as flowers turn to the sun, in love and gratitude. Amen.
Reading:From: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Our family spent summers canoe camping in the Adirondacks and every day began this way. I can picture my father, in his red-checked wool shirt, standing atop the rocks above the lake. When he lifts the coffeepot from the stove the morning bustle stops; we know without being told that it’s time to pay attention. He stands at the edge of camp with the coffeepot in his hands, holding the top in place with a folded pot holder. He pours coffee out on the ground in a thick brown stream. The sunlight catches the flow, striping it amber and brown and black as it falls to the earth and steams in the cool morning air. With his face to the morning sun, he pours and speaks into the stillness, “Here’s to the gods of Tahawus.” The stream runs down over smooth granite to merge with the lake water, as clear and brown as the coffee. I watch it trickle, picking up bits of pale lichen and soaking a tiny clump of moss as it follows a crack to the water’s edge. The moss swells with the liquid and unfurls its leaves to the sun. Then and only then does he pour out steaming cups of coffee for himself and my mother, who stands at the stove making pancakes. So begins each morning in the north woods: the words that come before all else. I was pretty sure that no other family I knew began their day like this, but I never questioned the source of those words and my father never explained. They were just part of our life among the lakes. But their rhythm made me feel at home and the ceremony drew a circle around our family. By those words we said “Here we are,” and I imagined that the land heard us—murmured to itself, “Ohh, here are the ones who know how to say thank you.”
Prayer of Gratitude
For the sights of summer: bright flowers, colorful birds and butterflies, green fields, hopscotch grids on city sidewalks, strutting pigeons, flickering fireflies, mischievous squirrels, children splashing in pools, or running through sprinklers, quiet lakes reflecting moonlight, and all of the sights we contemplate now…….
For all of these, we thank you.
For the sounds of summer: singing birds, chattering squirrels and chipmunks, music of the ice cream truck, crashing ocean waves, whine of cicadas, rhythmic thumping of basketballs on pavement, rainfall, laughter of children set free from school, music of outdoor concerts, and all of the sounds we contemplate now…..
For all of these, we thank you
For the smells of summer: fragrance of roses and honeysuckle, fresh, sun-warmed mint, basil, and all fresh herbs, barbeques, the ocean, freshly-mowed grass, the garden after a rain, and all the aromas we contemplate now…..
For all of these, we thank you
For the sensations of summer: sun on bare skin, sand under bare feet, immersion into cool water on a hot day, ice cream on the tongue, the warmth of a bonfire as the day cools into night, and all the sensations we contemplate now…..
For all of these, we thank you
For the flavors of summer: sweet corn, fresh herbs, young lettuce, ice cream eaten outdoors, barbequed hamburgers, marshmallows toasted over open flame, and all the flavors we contemplate now…..
For all of these, we thank you
Closing Prayer:Holy One, we thank you for the gift of our senses. May we not forget, as this blessed season unfolds, to notice its many facets as they glitter through our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin; for the gifts of summer are fleeting. We thank you for every season of our lives, and particularly now, as we stand at its doorway, we thank you for summer. Amen.
Saying the Holy Rosary is a special focus of prayer and meditation that provides for each of us a state of contemplation and mystical connection.
When aligning to the Grace of Mary, we can have a sense of purpose in praying for others and ourselves. It can be a singular and private prayer or a community endeavor.
For those of us who are becoming steeped in Original Blessing Theology, the traditional prayers of the Holy Rosary can be daunting. When changing the wording to better reflect the concepts of Blessing Theology, it seems important to keep a sense of the timing and inflection of the prayers as we have learned them.
The Companions' Rosary is an attempt to combine the prayers of the rosary within present-day theology of original blessing.
To all whom feel called to pray in this way, prayers and blessings to you. May we all continue to connect, in whatever way we can, to the Holy One, to Mary and to each other.
And so it is.
The Sign of the “Cross”. A Shield of Protection and Love.
The sign of the cross can impress on us the concept of a theology of sacrifice and atonement. The sign of the “cross”, here, building on the trinity and St. Paul's greetings, can also be a Shield of Protection and Love.
In the name of Peace (hand at the forehead)
And Love (hand at the heart)
And Grace (The Infinity sign across from one shoulder to the other, and back to the heart.)
AMEN.
Rose Aglow,
DETrees, 2017
THE COMPANIONS’ ROSARY
Praying the Holy Rosary
In Original Blessing Theology
The Sign of Protection and Love
In the name of Peace and Love and Grace. Amen.
A Simple Companions’ Creed
I believe in the Holy One, Lover, Creator, Enhancer, WHO IS Infinite and Present all at the same time.
Our Field of PEACE in all things.
I believe in Jesus, Friend and Companion, who shows us the Face of God in our human form.
Our Sign of LOVE in all things.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, Our Heart and Soul, moving within and among us.
Our Show of GRACE in all things.
I believe in this, our creed, in our communion of angels and saints and in life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayer of Jesus
(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.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, Full of grace, Our God is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother and Friend,
Be with us now, at our hour, and beyond. Amen.
The Glory Be
Glory and Joy Be to Peace and Love and Grace.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without End. Amen.
Hail Holy Mary
Hail Holy Mary, Mother and Leader, Our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope. You show us how to live with Courage in our convictions. You teach us to stand by each other with unending support and love.
Thank you for being with us now. Walk this path with us as you did with your son, Jesus. May we follow his example of inclusive love, as you taught him.
O Clement, O Loving, Sweet Mary of Nazareth. Be with us as we look to you.
Praying the Companions’ Rosary
1.Make the Sign of the Protection and Love.
2.Say the Simple Companions’ Creed.
3.On the first bead, say The Prayer of Jesus.
4.Say The Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
5.Say TheGlory Be on the fifth bead.
6.For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery or a special intention then say The Prayer of Jesus
7.While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery or Intention. Then say a Glory Be.
8.After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Mary.
Diagram from USCCB, Accessed 9-29-19
A PRAYER FOR YOU
For all who say the Companions’ Rosary, a special Blessing from our Lady and Above. The Angels watch over you in Peace, Grace and Love.
Welcome to the Upper Room on Trinity Sunday. As we explore the great mystery of the Trinity may we be inspired to live in the flow of the fullness of life, love and generativity. Please hear our opening song as a love song to us from the Trinity.
First Reading:Excerpts from Divine Dance by Richard Rohr
The authentic Christian life and living inside the flow of Trinity are the same thing—and this flow will always be characterized by two seemingly contradictory things. First, you’re going to be constantly yearning and longing for more, the way the Three endlessly desire to give themselves and flow outward. It’s a kind of sacred discontent, a holy dissatisfaction, and a holy desire for more life, love, and generativity. This does not arrive, however, out of a sense of emptiness or scarcity, but precisely because you have touched upon deep contentment and abundance. There’s always still more I can do, more I can include and experience; there are more people I can serve. There is more that God wants to give me, and more God wants to ask of me. Any of these will show themselves at different times in the life of a mature Christian. Never “I am fully there, and I have it all.” A person who is smug is not inside the Trinitarian flow. How can fullness and still yearning for more so beautifully coexist? I have no answer to that, but I know it to be true.
These are the inspired words of Richard Rohr and the community affirms them by saying: Amen
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia Misa Delgado Book1 by Lester Delgado
Gospel:A reading from the anonymous writer known as John (Jn 3:16-18)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God
Shared Homily
Light, Love, Life Homily by Donna Panaro
On this Trinity Sunday we will explore a complicated concept of the Trinity that came to us from Theophilus of Antioch in 180 A.D.: Three persons one God. How can that be? The concept of Trinity points to a great mystery that theologians have been describing in many ways for centuries. Richard Rohr says, “Metaphor is the only possible language available to us when we speak of God, and surely when we dare to speak of the mystery of the Trinity.” Therefore, we have a plethora of metaphors to draw on as we think about the Trinity. I like what Rohr says at the end of the first reading. He says even though this mystery seems hard to understand he “knows it to be true.” I think that is something we can all relate to. Even though we have trouble explaining a mystery like the Trinity we often come to know that the Trinity truly is real.
The sign of the cross is what many people who are Catholic grew up with that teaches the Trinity is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Other words for the Trinity are Creator, Redeemer and Advocate. Hildegard of Bingen had a vision of a mandala-like image of the Trinity. In her image of God is an outer ring of light, the incarnate Jesus is a sapphire blue human, and the Holy Spirit is a gentle glowing fire that connects the Father and the Son. Julian of Norwich described the Trinity as Creator, Companion/Redeemer and Indwelling Love. To guide our discussion today I would like to offer three L’s as a way to think about the Trinity: Light, Love and Life.
When we apply the three L’s to the gospel reading it is described like this: God is light who sent Jesus who is Love into the world so that we could know and experience the Spirit of abundant or eternal Life. In his book, The Divine Dance, Richard Rohr speaks of the Trinity as the abundant flow of love between the three aspects of the Trinity that we have been created to join or continue. This brings me to the homily helper that I have sitting on the friendship table.
Our first reading speaks of being in the flow of life-giving love. This fountain helps us see the flow. Each bowl is emptying itself into another bowl and then becomes filled again. The water in the fountain could represent love that flows in the Trinity. We are invited to stay connected to this flow so that we can live a life full of meaning and purpose. Rohr points out that once we are part of the flow we experience a deep contentment that motivates us to want more opportunities to give of ourselves. We seek to empty ourselves which can ironically fill us. Love begets Love.
In closing I would like to say one more thing about the gospel reading that seems connected to an understanding of the Trinity. The word believe is in the reading three times. The Greek word for believe is Pisteuo which means trust and reliance. Unlike the modern English concept of belief as intellectual agreement, Pisteuo implies a wholehearted allegiance and surrender. A truer understanding of John 3:16 is that whoever relies on or surrenders to the abundant love of God will have eternal life. I would elaborate by saying eternal life could more accurately mean a full life with loving relationships connected to the outpouring love of the Trinity. This is a life described in the first reading as one that flows from abundant love into a holy desire for more life, love, and generativity.
I believe the gospel reading teaches that because God loves the world so much, if we rely on and surrender to the mystical love of the Trinity, we can have the kind of life God wishes us to have, one that is in the Trinitarian flow where “fullness and yearning for more beautifully coexist.”
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…..”
Presider: We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
Presider 1:Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together:
All: 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:
ALL: 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.
Presider 2: Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: 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 the Seder 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.
All lift their plate and pray the following:
When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is my very self.
All lift their cup and pray the following:
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.
Please receive communion with the words: Rise up and live.
Communion Song: Mystery by Jeremy Geffen and Jim Scott, sung by Susan Osborne
In faith and hope we are sustained; in grace and dignity reclaimed. In praise, we thank you.
In union with all peoples living and dead, we unite our thoughts and prayers, asking wisdom and courage: - to discern more wisely your call to us in the circumstances of our daily lives; - to act justly and courageously in confronting the pain and suffering that desecrates the Earth and its peoples; - to take risks in being creative and proactive on behalf of the poor and marginalized; - and to love all people with generosity of heart, beyond the labels of race, creed and color.
And may we ever be aware and alert to the new things Your Spirit makes possible in us, as our world unfolds amid pain and beauty, into the fullness of life to which all are called, participating in the wise and wonderful work of co-creation.
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.
Presider 1: Let us pray the prayer Jesus:
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 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
Presider: Let us pray together our blessing:
May Light embrace you and inspire you to create beauty and know great Love.
May Love flow out from you and fill you.
May you experience the Spirit of abundant, eternal Life.
