Labor Day 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Announcements Opening song: If I Had A Hammer Call to Worship: Called to be branches in Christ s body, WE YEARN TO BE CONNECTED TO THE VINE. Called to be mustard bushes offering shade to God s creatures, WE SEARCH FOR PLACES TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF FAITH. Called to be growing with God in the midst of this world s painful questions, WE SEEK GOD S NURTURING PRESENCE AS WE PRAY TOGETHER. MAY THE OFFERINGS BROUGHT THIS DAY BE USED AS SEEDS, PLANTED FAITHFULLY AND NURTURED LOVINGLY SO THAT GOD S WAY MAY BE REALIZED ANEW IN THIS WORLD. GRANT US THE HUMILITY WE NEED TO PLANT AND TEND YOUR PRECIOUS GARDEN. Opening prayer: Let us begin by recalling the words of Cesar Chavez: Every time we sit at a table at night or in the morning to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations Almighty God, too often we don t pay attention, we don t stop to think that, even in this day and age; injustice remains an invisible ingredient in much of the food that we eat. Shake us awake, O God, open our eyes to see our power and obligation as consumers to help put things right. Justice demands it. Love demands it. National Farm Worker Ministry First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9 "So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked ones, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, that wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways; the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Responsorial psalm: based on Psalm 146 Praise be to God. I will praise God all my life; Praise be to God, O my soul. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. God tells us not to put our trust in princes, in mortal men or women, who cannot save. Because when their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is the one whose help is the God of Jacob and Rachel, whose hope is in the Creator God, The Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them the Almighty, who remains faithful forever. This Labor Day weekend, we are reminded that God upholds the cause of the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free. So how can we, as God s hands on earth, uphold the cause of the oppressed, give food to the hungry, set prisoners free? Our God gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, and loves the righteous. How too can we give sight to the blind, lift up those bowed down and love the righteous? Our God watches over the immigrant. We too will treat immigrants with justice and compassion. Our God sustains the orphan and the widow. We too will help children and seniors without family or support. Our God frustrates the ways of the wicked. We too will stand up against those who would harm God s people, whether it is within a home, in the community or in the workplace. Our God reigns forever, for all generations. Praise be to God. Second reading: FDR s Economic Bill of Rights Excerpt from President Roosevelt s January 11, 1944 message to the Congress of the United States on the State of the Union: It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth is ill-fed, illclothed, ill-housed, and insecure.
This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty. As our nation has grown in size and stature, however as our industrial economy expanded these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness. We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. Necessitous men are not free men. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race, or creed. Among these are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living; The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; The right of every family to a decent home; The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; And finally, the right to a good education. All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and wellbeing. America s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens. For unless there is security here at home, there cannot be lasting peace in the world. Gospel acclamation (sung) Gospel reading: Matthew 18: 15-20 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault, when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Mother in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Silent reflection & Discussion Intercessions: For the reconciliation of all people through the revolution of non-violent love. For churches and synagogues, that they may be humbled, reformed, united. For all poor and hungry, migrant workers, outcast and unemployed For victims of discrimination, harassment and brutality That farmworkers may someday win the justice they seek That with compassion and fidelity we may work for a better world Community Intentions For the labors of those whose backs are sore from bending, whose lungs cry for air free of dust and poisonous fumes, whose labors enable us to eat Bread breaking prayer: God of the rough-worn hands, as we honor workers this day, let us not forget those whose work is without honor: those homemakers who watch over children and homes but are not recognized as workers because they are not paid; those who are forced out of jobs by corporate changes, those forced into early retirement, those who are denied employment because of their age; those who live far from home, struggling to save a bit of money to sent to their loved ones; those who must work illegally in order to survive; those who lose jobs because employers use undocumented labor. Christ of the aching back, you worked the rough wood,
you walked the long and dusty roads, you know the bitter thirst of the poor. Let our thirst become a passion for justice. Help us to work toward transformation of economic policies that allow only a few nations to hoard the world's wealth, policies that pay women as only half a person or less, policies that do not recognize the worth of labor exactly without pay Spirit of creative power, move among us this day. Heal the wounds we carry because of jobs we hate but must do, jobs we want but cannot have. Heal all those who labor to survive. Renew in us our sense of vocation. Help us discern your Presence in even the lowliest tasks we face. Amen (Chalice Worship, Colbert Cartwright & O.I. Harrison, eds, Chalice Press, 1997, p. 176) O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere! Release a space to plant your Presence here. Imagine your possibilities now. Embody your desire in every light and form. Grow through us this moment's bread and wisdom. Untie the knots of failure binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' faults. Help us not forget our Source, Yet free us from not being in the Present. From you arises every Vision, Power and Song from gathering to gathering. Amen - May our future actions grow from here! Sharing of bread Bread breaking song: De Colores De Colores, De Colores se visten los campos en la primavera De Colores, De Colores son los pajarillos que vienen de afuera De Colores, De Colores es el arco iris que vemos lucir Y por eso los grandes amores Y por eso los grandes amores Canta el gallo Canta el gallo con el quiri quiri quiri quiri quiri La gallina La gallina con el cara cara cara cara cara Los polluelos Los polluelos con el pio pio pio pio pi Y por eso los grandes amores De Colores Y por eso los grandes amores
Silent reflection Closing prayer: Blessing May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. A Franciscan Benediction From Tearfund May God bless us and keep us, may God s face shine upon us and grant to us and to all our broken world, peace. May the blessing of Almighty God the Creator, the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, come upon us and remain with us forever. Amen Closing song: We Shall Not Be Moved (Pete Seeger) CHORUS: We shall not, we shall not be moved, (2x) Just like a tree that's standing by the water We shall not be moved. The Union is behind us. CHORUS We will stand and fight together.. CHORUS We're black and white together we shall not be moved, (2x) Just like a tree that's standing by the water We shall not be moved