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Welcome: To all online coming from your own sacred spaces and to those here in the sacred Upper Room we share. It is so good to be together to share the Word and Eucharist and our reflections on the theme of God’s grace revealed to us through gratitude.
Opening Prayer: Great God of All, we acknowledge the Divine fire that you have ignited in our deepest hearts. We are thankful for moments of serenity you weave in the tapestry of our souls. We gather today to cherish and celebrate the day that you have made. Amen
Opening Song: By the Stream by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/0Od7hFFfGZI?si=zCKjZfH0sO_EHxCH
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reading 1: An excerpt from Henry Nouwen on Gratitude
Gratitude goes beyond “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift.
Gratitude is a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received. But it can also be threaded through our days as a discipline or conscious choice. can be lived as a discipline, a conscious choice to acknowledge that all I am and all I have is given to me as a gift of love to be celebrated with love. With this effort, gratitude acknowledges that all I am and all I have is given to me as a gift of love to be celebrated.
I can choose to be grateful even when my feelings are steeped in hurt and resentment. It’s amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. Each time I make this choice, the next such choice is a little easier, a little freer and a little less self-conscious.
Acts of gratitude make us grateful because they reveal that all is grace.
These are inspired words from Henri Nouwen and we affirm them with, Amen.
From Spiritual Formation by Henri Nouwen Harper Collins 2010.
Reading 2: An Excerpt from Gregory Boyle from Tattoos on the Heart
Jesus says. “You are the light of the world.” I like even more what Jesus doesn’t say. He does not say, “One day if you are more perfect, and try really hard, you’ll be light.” He doesn’t say, “If you play by the rules, cross your T’s and dot your I’s, then maybe you’ll become light.” No. He says, straight out. “You are light.” It is the truth of who you are, waiting only for you to discover it. So, for God’s sake, don’t move. No need to contort yourself to be anything other than who you are.”
These are inspired words from Gregory Boyle and we affirm them with, Amen.
From Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Free Press (A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.)2010.
Gospel Acclamation: Bernadette’s Alleluia by Joseph Moorman
https://youtu.be/TgzsYa6A2wY?si=CvTNvGSxI_GSOQsU
Gospel Reading: John 14: 1-2, 10-12, 14, 19-20
Jesus said to the disciples: Let not your hearts be troubled
for you have faith in God; have faith in me as well.
In God’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told
you that I was going to prepare a place for you?
Don’t you believe that I am in Abba God and God is in me?
The words I speak are not spoken about myself; it is Abba God, living in me,
who is accomplishing the works of God.
The truth of the matter is, anyone who has faith in me will do the works I do—
And greater works besides.
Why? Because I go to Abba God and whatever you ask in my name I will do.
I won’t leave you orphaned; I will come back to you;
A little while and the world will see me no more;
but you’ll see me because I live, and you’ll live as well.
On that day you’ll know That I am
in God, and you are in me, and I am in you.
These are the words of the Gospel writer knows as John and we affirm them. Amen
Starter Homily and Shared Reflections of the Community
Nouwen establishes that all of life is a pure gift. Whether we want to call creation the gift of the Holy One or of some universal force, whether we prefer to say that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh” or rather, that the Big Bang caused awesome repercussions, we acknowledge that life is an unsolicited gift.
This is a singular reason for living a life of constant, powerful gratitude. If we go a step further and acknowledge the graciousness of the Giver or Creator force, then we adopt grace into our lives. We live thankful, gracious days.
And as Nouwen says, “all is grace. “
A shorthand definition for grace is “unearned favor.” Unconditional love, which is the greatest favor in the world, is certainly unearned at times. I know I can exasperate my Husband of 43 years, and it seems he still loves me.
Grace intertwined with gratitude is more than a big surprise or favor…Holy grace is the road to serenity. It allows us to let go of resentments and anger and see the bigger picture. It allows us to feel hopeful even in dire circumstances, survive unexpected setbacks and love with all our hearts even given the hurdles of everyday life.
The grace of God is without judgement and without end. It is full of second chances and benefits of the doubt. What a gift to receive and to pass on to others!
We won’t ever be invulnerable to our human shortcomings. We haven’t been created perfect and we live in a fractured country and a world of troubles. But if Nouwen is right and all is grace, then we start where we can and support the work for peace and justice as much or as little as we can. Living hopefully, prayerfully, thankfully and graciously will lead us where the Holy One intends.
As Boyle says in the second reading, we are designed in Creation to “discover the truth of who we are” and live that way. And oh boy, this gets us to the remarkable line in John’s gospel: anyone who has faith in me will do the works I do—and greater works besides.”
Jesus is saying that God living in him is how he accomplishes his works. Then he takes the next leap – we are in Jesus and he is in us. Now, I never took a course in logic, so stay with me here…If God is in Jesus and we are in Jesus then we are in God and God is in us. The Divine is within us; maybe by just a spark. A mustard seed. A shining essence.
Bruce Epperly, a United Church of Christ theologian in a reflection on this gospel imagines what John means by “greater works.” Perhaps, “we will radiate with spiritual energy” because of our connection to God or “we will push our own limits individually and as a community.” It may take some spiritual evolution but who knows what the future holds?
What we do know is that by God’s grace we are designed for this world and this world is designed for us.
What are your thoughts on the readings?
Source: Bruce Epperly. The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 3.
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 are thankful to be created in the likeness of the Holy One and anointed as Jesus is. We share our blessings and concerns beginning with the words, I bring to the table…
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions in our hearts. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hands and open hearts, we pray together:
Holy Creator, we see you as the source of all that we are, all that we love and all that you have designed for us to be in the world. Your plan for us is a glorious mystery. The blessings we count are too many to number; abundant wonders and beauty shine from every corner of the earth; from coral reefs to fertile prairies, from speedy cheetahs to the loping of huge elephants; from the embrace of a toddler’s hand to the need of the elderly for a helping hand.
Sadly, cruelty, poverty and multiple wars around the globe despoil the human and animal family. Climate change threatens our trees, plants and food supply. We yearn for your guidance in our lives to address these evils. We resolve to follow the footsteps of Jesus in healing the brokenness. We are thankful for our sparkling connection to your divinity, the gift of free will that allows us to act with good judgement
Our Holy One is described as “Merciful, gracious, abounding in steadfast love and slow to anger” (Exodus and Psalm 103). In joy and gratitude for such a God and for Jesus, we sing,
Holy Holy Holy by Peter Mayer
God’s Grace rises early with each dawn. We awaken in Covenant with our Creator. We grasp the daily chance to live and love and heal. In the mold of our brother Jesus, we reach out to help and accept help, to give and receive the benefit of the doubt, to share the risk and reward of being alive with the abundant grace of a love that is Divine and unending.
We count our blessings. At times we feel unable to make the most of them. At times we feel unworthy of our own talents. Then we recall the antidote to these human shortcomings— that we are enough merely as we are today; living in light, taking another breath and hoping that whatever comes we will meet it together with God and each other with faith and grace.
Jesus shows us the way to serve others, to savor relationships over material goods, to thirst and partake of the living water that is our birthright. May we live with the wisdom, courage and visionary faith of Jesus today and always.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
We acknowledge the Spirit of God present with us at this holy friendship table. We recognize the bread and wine as sacred gifts to feed a hungry and thirsty world.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus shared supper with his companions and loved ones many of whom had been with him for years of his public ministry. He reminded them of all that he taught them and to fix that memory clearly in their hearts, he washed their feet.
Raise the plate
When he returned to the table, Jesus lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to all saying,
Take and eat this bread for the life of all Creation
Raise the cup
Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the blessing and offered it to them saying,
Take and drink. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you
Pause
Let us pass the bread to share using the words, May you be always aware of the Grace of God.
Please also feel welcome at the table to share the wine.
Communion Song: Blessings by Hollow Coves
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5M3JL9sHS5Q&feature=shared
Post Communion Prayer
We are nourished by the love of Jesus in so many ways and emboldened by his wisdom and courage that come from the Holy One. May we grow to live as Jesus did; with open and willing hearts, without measure or exception of our kindness, and thankful for the glory of God’s Grace. Amen.
Let us pray the Aramaic version of the Jesus prayer:
O Breathing Source of Life
Your name shines everywhere!
Hollow out a space to plant your Presence here.
Come, really come and guide us to the good place where your vision is fulfilled.
May your delight be woven in each life as it is in the shining realm of your Presence.
Illuminate our circle of life with the wisdom and nurturing we need now
for body, mind and spirit.
Empower us to stop crossing the boundaries of others; allow us to let go
of the tangled threads of others’ faults we hold in our hands;
Release the knots of sin in our lives.
Help us to be neither too outer nor too inner, lest we bear unripe or rotten fruit. Amen
Translation by Neil Douglas-Klotz
Closing Blessing:
May we discover the beauty of our own souls and have courage to reveal it to others.
May the sun shine upon us with rays of Grace from God. May we see all people as a sacred part of the Creator’s design.
May we remain aware that God’s love, like all love, is not earned but given freely. Amen
Closing Song: East Bay Choir Performing We Shall be Known by MaMuse at Bioneers
https://youtu.be/aKhjaN72dRQ?si=k_1mGw9r24p81Dhs
