Saturday, February 21, 2026: Join the Emmaus Community for our celebration tomorrow – Sunday, The 22nd of February, 2026

Everyone is welcome to our table. Please join us in person at Christ Church United Methodist, Classroom 8 in Santa Rosa. We begin our celebration at 1:45 with a welcoming and then liturgy (the work of the people) – Steve Lyman, Pat O’Connor and all of us at 2:00. 

Join Zoom Meeting using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=82705164138

Passcode: 1234

Or open Zoom on your browser and use this Meeting ID: 519 315 8573

Passcode: 1234

Join us by Phone: 

Dial 

+1(669) 900 6833,,5193158573# US (San Jose)

+1(669) 444 9171,,5193158573# US

Emmaus Liturgy February 22nd, 2026 The First Sunday of Lent:  

THE NATURE OF GOD IS LOVE 

Pat: Ring the Singing Bell:  Moment of Silence for us to Arrive

WELCOME/INTRODUCTION: 

Pat: Creating a Lenten Sacred Space: 

Steve: Introduction to Today’s Liturgy 

OPENING SONG: 

HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS by RAFFI 

David: https://youtu.be/xiaaYKRMaCY 

Opening Prayer: 

Gracious and loving God, we join our hearts and minds in this meeting place in expectation that you will meet us here. Enrich us with your grace in such a way that we experience again our connection to you, with each other, with all of life: plants, trees, birds, animals, fish, insects, rivers, lakes, ocean, rocks and with ourselves.  

From this deep well of belonging may we then welcome all the dimensions of life and meet whatever comes with courage and grace on our road to Emmaus and eventually home to you. Grant us wisdom and inspiration in this day and for this time. 

ALL: Amen 

Steve: Just as Anne Hillman calls us to look deep into ourselves and into another, so too Teilhard de Chardin in his Prologue to The Human Phen titled, Seeing, calls us to See into ourselves and into the Heart of the Cosmos. 

1ST READING: 

“Seeing. One could say that the whole of life lies in seeing—if not ultimately, at least essentially. To be more is to be more united—and this sums up and is the very conclusion of the work to follow. 

But unity grows, and we will affirm this again, only if it is supported by an increase of consciousness, of vision. That is probably why the history of the living world can be reduced to the elaboration of ever more perfect eyes at the heart of a cosmos where it is always possible to discern more. 

Are not the perfection of an animal and the supremacy of the thinking being measured by the penetration and power of synthesis of their glance? To try to see more and to see better is not, therefore, just a fantasy, curiosity, or a luxury. 

See or perish. This is the situation imposed on every element of the universe by the mysterious gift of existence. And thus, to a higher degree, this is the human condition.”  

All: Let us hear what the spirit is saying. 

RESPONSORIAL:   from Brother Toby 

Pat: 

We have fallen short of what we are not meant to be. 

All: Forgive us. 

For the hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class. 

All: Forgive us. 

For covetous desires of people and nations that possess what is not their own. All: Forgive us. 

For the concern about our own benefit and not considering others or the common good. 

All: Forgive us. 

For the greed which exploits the work of human hands and bodies, and lays waste to the earth. 

All: Forgive us. 

For neglecting the care of our common home and the well-being of future generations. 

All: Forgive us. 

For our envy and welfare and happiness of others. All: Forgive us. 

For our indifference to the plight of the poor, the elderly, the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee and the immigrant. 

All: Forgive us. 

For our lack of respect which dishonors the bodies of women, men and children, and treats others as objects. 

All: Forgive us. 

For the pride which leads to trust in ourselves alone and not in the sacred spirit. 

All: Forgive us.  

All: And let us be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as we have been forgiven and loved. 

All: Amen 

SECOND READING: ALICE’S BEATITUDES 

We Stand with You, the humble in spirit who practice kindness. You will break open our hearts. 

We Stand with You, the poor and oppressed, with people of color and immigrants facing brutality, detention and prison. Your fearlessness will stir us to action as we seek to become fearless like you. 

We Stand with You those on long waiting lists for affordable housing. 

We Stand with You, Women, Gay Men, Lesbians, Transgender Individuals, Queer and Questioning and all who live lives of authenticity. Your struggles help us recognize the Divine in every person. 

We Stand with You who mourn the world; You will find comforting your chosen families and communities and build bridges of hope. 

We Stand with You who hunger for justice; for you will create a new world in which all of us share in the banquet of peace. 

We Stand with You who show loving mercy; for you will empower us to be non-violent and merciful to all. 

We Stand with You who listen to your conscience and speak out your truth; you challenge the status quo and move us to act. 

We Stand with You peacemakers and those who teach non-violence. You will liberate us from the madness of war, prison and hate. 

All: Let us hear what the spirit is saying. 

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 4: 1-11 

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness  to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 

The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, 

command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: 

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” 

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. 

For it is written:  He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, 

and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 

and he said to him, ""All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! 

It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”  Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him. 

May the Words of the Gospel be made flesh in us. 

All: Praise to you, Christ Jesus. 

SHARED HOMILY: Steve will introduce the shared homily. 

Steve: 

Share a Lenten Practice that you have done or plan to do this year?  

What are we becoming together? 

What are we hoping for our planet? How do we imagine our planet in the future? 

In light of the fact that throughout cosmic history there have been cataclysmic events and extinctions and suffering, why does life keep moving towards more life? 

How can Love be the Prime Energy in the universe when we have so much evil, violence and decay around us? 

If we are truly the Body of Christ, what does that mean, what does that look like? 

What is our responsibility in “Building the Earth?”

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PRAY FOR?   

OFFERTORY SONG: DWELLING PLACE  JOHN FOLEY/ST. LOUIS JESUITS 

David: https://youtu.be/7f9bzXG2BF0 

PASS THE COLLECTION BASKET BRING UP OUR OFFERTORY GIFTS: 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:  In the Spirit of Teilhard de Chardin’s Mass on the World 

Steve:  

Christ, make us one. Let this bread that we offer tonight…represent all of our worlds efforts, to advance your mystical body towards total wholeness and unity with all of the Cosmos. All the good works that take place in our hospitals, classrooms, factory’s, laboratories and shelters we offer to You this night. 

 Pat: 

In the same way, let our cup filled with wine…represent all the hardship and suffering that the world experiences this day. In this cup we put the 

Palestinian people, the Ukrainian people, those refugees fleeing due to climate change looking for a better life. The immigrants and all holy subjects of the 

Earth that suffer because of our narrow insight and greed. The creatures that face extinction, the dying rivers, the polluted oceans, and the depleted forests. 

We offer all of this to You this night. 

Steve: 

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:  

All: ’This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember and complete me.’ 

Pat: 

In the same way after supper, he took the cup, blessed it saying: 

All: ‘This cup is the new covenant transformed with my blood. Take and drink. Do this to remember and complete me.’ 

Pat: 

Let us proclaim the Mystery of Our Faith: 

All: Dying you destroyed illusion 

Rising you restored our union

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus  Alpha and Omega. 

Through Christ and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours almighty Creator forever and ever. Amen 

Pat:  Now together, as one community, we offer to you O Creator, our prayer, received from our brother Jesus: 

 All:   

Our Mother, Our Father, holy and blessed is your true name. We pray for your reign of peace to come. We pray that your good will be done. Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need, give it to those who have none. Let forgiveness flow like a river between us, from each one. Lead us to holy innocence beyond innocence beyond the trials of our days. 

Come swiftly Mother, Father, come. 

For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy: Forever your Name is All in One. 

Steve: The Gesture of Peace:  

Deep Peace of the Running Wave to You Deep Peace of the Flowing Air to You 

Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth to You Deep Peace of the Shining Stars to You 

Deep Peace of the Gentle Night to You Moon and Stars pour their Healing Light on You, Deep Peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the World to You. 

Deep Peace of You to Christ.  Deep Peace of Christ to You. 

Now offer a gesture of Peace to your neighbors and to those on Zoom.  

Invitation to Eucharist:  

Pat: So through this Eucharist, and in the spirit of our Beloved Community, we extend the invitation of Jesus to each and everyone of you to take and eat this bread, and drink from this cup. Let us come to this table, this is the table of the Risen Christ, where all are welcome. 

COMMUNION: 

COMMUNION SONG:  I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE   JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT 

David:   

https://youtu.be/vrCN2sJpfvY 

Steve: 

SEE WHO YOU ARE, BECOME WHO YOU SEE 

Pat: 

POST COMMUNION REFLECTION 

CLOSING PRAYER: by JULIA BUTTERFLY HILL 

All:   May we love evermore. May we motivate ourselves to committed love and action. May we motivate ourselves to live the life we wish to see in the world. From the inside out from the roots branching upward…From the heart, to thought, to word, to action.Through life’s trials and hardships we can arise beautiful and free. 

All:  AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS BELOVED EMMAUS COMMUNITY SAY—AMEN 

CLOSING SONG:    LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED      Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, and Eric Clapton 

David:   https://youtu.be/_OuYLGHkrBk 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

NOTE: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE ALL VIEW THE ILIA DELIO VIDEO TITLED, MSIR  GOD, EVOLUTION AND THE POWER OF LOVE. YOU CAN FIND IT ON YOU.TUBE. 

THE ENCYLOPEDIA OF LIFE 

30 Volumes 

Each Volume is 450 pages 

Each page = 1 million years 

Volume 1:    Big Bang 

Volume 21:  Earth 

Volume 22:  Life 

Volume 29:  Cambrian Period 

Volume 30:  Dinosaurs go extinct on page 385 

Volume 30:  Mammals on page 390 

Volume 30:  Humans on page 450-the last line