Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy, Saturday, April 18, 2026 Third Weekend in Easter Presider: Denise Hackert-Stoner

 

                                               

Welcome:  Welcome, friends, as we continue our celebration of new life in the Easter season.

Opening Prayer: Holy One, as we gather in turbulent times, open our hearts to recognize our own power to bring the endangered safely ashore.

Opening Song:  Be Still by John McCutcheon – video by DHS 

https://youtu.be/ic3LlVs0bjY?si=OsLBOKBA9dyC3axE

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

 

First Reading: Good Bones, by Maggie Smith

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.

Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine

in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,

a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways

I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least

fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative

estimate, though I keep this from my children.

For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.

For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,

sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world

is at least half terrible, and for every kind

stranger, there is one who would break you,

though I keep this from my children. I am trying

to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,

walking you through a real shithole, chirps on

about good bones: This place could be beautiful,

right? You could make this place beautiful.

These are the words of poet Maggie Smith.  We affirm them with Amen.

Gospel Acclamation: Bernadette’s Alleluia by Joseph Moorman

https://youtu.be/TgzsYa6A2wY?si=CvTNvGSxI_GS0QsU

Gospel:  John 6:6-21

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.  A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

These are the words of the gospel writer we know as John.  We affirm these words with Amen.

Homily Starter:

There are storms; at sea, on land, far away, and dangerously close by.  In today’s gospel, the mystic/author we have come to know as John describes one particular patch of rough water.  But really, the storm he describes could happen on any sea, lake, river.  The people in the boat, in the dark, four miles away from land, are described as disciples of Jesus.  But really, they could be anyone, in any boat, anywhere. 

In the story told by John, these disciples are fearful.  Who wouldn’t be?  And in their fear, Jesus comes, walking to their boat upon the water.  And once Jesus climbs in, through another wondrous sign, the boat is miraculously and safely upon the shore.

I think it’s interesting that John offers two signs in one story.  As if walking on the water weren’t enough, Jesus also defies space-time by delivering the boat to shore over 4 miles of stormy water in an instant. 

The people hearing this gospel in the latter part of the first century may not have been knowledgeable about the laws of physics.  But many of them were fishermen, so they did know water.  And they did know boats.  And they knew the power of story.  I think that maybe if we consider what this particular story meant to these first listeners, we might get some clue about what it means for us, as we flounder on our own rough seas.

John’s was the last of the four canonical gospels to be written, probably somewhere from 70-100 CE.  By then the Romans had destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.  And around this same time, the followers of Jesus were beginning to be seen by their fellow Jews as a radical group still clinging to the teachings of a failed Messiah.  So, they were being ostracized by all parties.  Jesus was long dead, and more recently, both Peter and Paul had been executed by the emperor Nero.  Rough seas, indeed.  So, John offered reassurance, that even in those dark and frothy waters the power and truth, and yes life, of Jesus still survived.  And that power, that truth, that life, would survive even the death of any leaders of the movement because they lived within the movement itself.  The Way.  And those living The Way of Jesus could, like the speaker in the first reading, despite the wretched condition of a falling-down house, “make this place beautiful.”

Is it any different for us?  We see our neighbors suffering.  We see cities being bombed.  We see babies in detention.  We might as well be in the dark, in a small boat, far out in the stormy sea.  These are scary times.  And what we do to calm the sea is what we can.  I do what I can.  You do what you can.  We continue even when all seems lost.  We rely on the stories of our ancestors and the stories of our times to remind us of our power.  Together we step into the deep water of fear and confusion and step into one another’s boats.  And do what we can to bring them safely to shore.  We remember that this place could be beautiful.  We can make this place beautiful.

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 this sacred meal, let us bring to this table our prayers for the community.

We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen. 

 

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together.  

O Holy One, you are always with us. We celebrate your gift of life renewed! We stand in the beauty, abundance and variety of creation in awe and wonder.

We remember Jesus, our teacher and brother, who took children in his arms and blessed them, who cared for those who were poor, who cured sick people and wept with those who were sad. He taught us how to forgive and live as one with you and all creation.

In this glorious season, when Earth is blessed with greening, we hear once again the account our ancestors passed down to us; that like new grass in spring, Jesus rose from the tomb of darkness and death. We remember those first witnesses: the women who went to bless and anoint his body, and then courageously told the others what they had experienced.  

You invite us to be “resurrected people” who participate and co-create in making all things new in our world. Guide us to see what is new and what needs renewal in ourselves and in our world.

We stand in the presence of both ancestors and companions in faith. Together with all of creation, we sing:

Holy, Holy, Holy by Peter Mayer shortened

https://youtu.be/A4kiEGVb3E8

 

We are ever aware of your Spirit with us. The bread and wine we share tonight is a blessing of Spirit and hard work from seed to farm laborers, from vintners to bakers. We are honored by their gifts. May this bread and wine nudge us forward to use our God-given gifts to be the Christ presence rising in our world.

On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with the people closest to him. Jesus did more than ask us to remember him. He shared his gracious love and showed us how to live when he washed the feet of his companions.  

When he returned to his place at the table, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and offered it to everyone present saying: 

Take and eat, this is my very self.

At the end of the meal, Jesus 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.

Please share the Bread with the words, We can make this place beautiful. 

Communion Meditation/Song: Be More Kind, Frank Turner

https://youtu.be/VwtAjv04pt8?si=dohrd9FRpUTA-Tfn

 

Prayer after communion:  

God of Love, you gift us with new life, just as we witness the miraculous rebirth of spring.  We thank you for the marvelous gift of earth; of life; of love.  We commit to the preservation and restoration of this, our home, and all those who dwell here.  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 in Blessing: 

We are a holy people, and we navigate a path of love trodden by many who came before us.  May our feet make the path smoother for those who will follow.  And may we, at the end of this path, rest knowing that we have made this place more beautiful. Amen. 

Closing Song:  Bridge Over Troubled Water, Kings Return

https://youtu.be/uYT-eDMZI9w?si=wb7pZjxKNLJhu2hI