1 Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2018 Co-Presiders: Kathryn Shea, ARCWP and Lee Breyer Music Minister: Mindy Lou Simmons Theme: Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad Welcome Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic community where all are welcome to share the Eucharist. We use inclusive language in our scripture readings and prayers. You will be invited to gather around the Table to pray the Eucharist Prayer. We warmly welcome our newcomers to our liturgy and invite you to introduce yourself at the announcement time after Communion. All are invited to join us for supper after the liturgy. Advent Candle Lighting and Blessing Prayer Presider: Like our ancestors, we honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever-changing flow of life of which we are a part. Ritual acts give life meaning they honor and acknowledge the unseen web of Life that connects us all. ALL: We light this third candle and remember that in the heart of every person on this earth and in all of creation, there burns the spark of luminous goodness the presence of the Divine. Let us kindle the light of joy! Amen. Gathering Hymn: You Come, You Come, Emmanuel (to the tune of Oh Come, Oh Come, etc.) words on back page Opening Prayer (Pause briefly and reflect on the need to grow more in love with others and with creation.) Presider: We give you thanks most loving and compassionate God, for this time of waiting when we search to find you present in our midst. Open our hearts to finding you in new and unimaginable ways during this time of waiting. Plant the seed of your presence deeper in us and help us to nourish it into new life.
2 Liturgy of The Word First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18 Psalm 122. Responsorial: Let us go rejoicing to the house of our God. #827 Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel Acclamation: Caribbean ALLELUIA! (Alle-alle-alleluia) Gospel Reading: A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18 Shared Homily/Community Reflection Profession of Faith ALL: 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 vehicles of God s divine love, as spreaders of Jesus wisdom and truth, and an instruments of their 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: We are people of faith. We believe in the power of prayer. We believe that we send blessings to those who are struggling and who need to experience hope; to those who are grieving and need to be comforted in their loss, to those who are facing medical challenges that they be granted hope and healing. We bring the needs of people throughout our world to our gracious and comforting God. ALL: We are filled with joy as we awaken to your call. Presider: For what else do we pray? Presider: Joyful God, we know you attend to our prayers and respond with your wisdom and love. In you, we place our faith. ALL: Amen.
3 Preparation of the Gifts Offertory Song: Offertory Procession and Song: Holy Darkness #458, all verses Presider: Blessed are you, Jesus of Nazareth, through your goodness we have this bread and this wine and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we remember how to live the new story. All: Blessed be God forever. Presider: Divine Presence, we believe that you are always with us, loving in each of us and healing others through us. All: Namaste (with a nod 3x) Presider: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up in tender love, open to serve. Presider: Let us give thanks for all that we have. All: It is our joy to be grateful for our many blessings as we gather at our family table. (let us gather at our family table Liturgy of the Eucharist Presider: Source of light and joy, we seek you in this season of winter, when the days are short and we lift up our hearts and ease our souls into that quiet place which is your presence among us. Presider: Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer. (written by Jay Murnane) All: Source of All That Is, we seek you in this season, when the earth is resting and preparing for new life. Like the earth, we long for new life and hopeful beginnings. This is the time of the pregnant woman, filled with life and hope powerful enough to topple structures of oppression. This is the time of her song of fidelity and celebration. During this gentle season of Advent, we recognize that you have made us capable of bringing forth justice, like a rising sun. One with all who have gone before us, we sing this song of praise: Voice 1: Blessed be our God! Blessed be our God! Joy of our hearts, source of all life and love! God of Heaven and Earth! God of Heaven and Earth! Dwelling within, calling us all by name! Alleluia, sing! We thank you for those in times past who believed the good news, and lived what they believed.
4 Voice 2: Blessed is Isaiah and every visionary who insisted on a better future that would break through the deception, disaster and broken promises of the age in which they lived. Blessed is John, in the stark desert of careful focus, inviting the people to be born again in your love. Blessed is Miriam, who believed the words of Isaiah and opened herself up to the unbelievable. And blessed is her child Jesus, who felt the sorrows of humankind in his soul, and responded with deep and tender compassion. ALL: On the night before he faced his own death, 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 with them, he bent down and washed their feet. (Presider lifts plate) 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 of the Bread of Life Given to strengthen you Whenever you remember me like this I am among you (pause) (Presider lifts cup) 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. Let us share this bread and cup as we proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace (pause) Voice 3: We give thanks for our tradition, which is a living history of your love for all creation. We join ourselves with that tradition, as the visionaries and healers and peacemakers of our own time in history.
5 We celebrate the many creative traditions which guide and form us and we are grateful that there are many paths to wisdom and life. ALL: Each Advent we make a place in our prayer for all those who are oppressed and marginalized in so many places throughout this earth, and right here among us. Let us remember them now. (pause) 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, and worship you with our lives, All: Amen. Presider: Let us pray as Jesus taught us: (Sing, Our Father and Mother, etc.) Presider: Please join in our prayer for the breaking of the bread: Presider: Loving God, ALL: You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly. Presider: Loving God, You call us to be Your presence in the world. We will love tenderly. Presider: Loving God, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence. (Presiders hold up bread and wine) Presider: This is the bread of life. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other. All: 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. Presider: Our Eucharistic celebration is all-inclusive. We are a spark of the Divine and nothing can separate us from God s love. All are welcome to receive at this table. As you pass the bread and cup please say You are a bearer of Light, Hope, and Joy. Communion Music: Instrumental Post-Communion Meditation and Reflection: Kumbaya African Children s Choir
6 Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion Presider: We REJOICE in all that you are and all of the Divine Interventions you bring into our lives. Out of our joy, we express our gratitude, as we leave this holy place. Nudge us to be challenged, encouraged, insightful, and empowered, so that we may continue to live as joyous partners in creating a world filled with love and ruled by justice. ALL: Amen. Introductions/Gratitudes/Announcements Closing Prayer ALL: Christmas Eve Prayer Frank Borman, Apollo 8 space mission, 1968 "Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace." Commissioning Presiders: May we all go in the peace that Jesus gave us, caring for one another. May joy abound as we walk with our brother, Jesus, on our journey of compassion. Let our service continue! All: Thanks be to God; let it be so. Closing Song: Woman s Spirit Karen Drucker