Liturgy (the work of the people) by Denise and Patti
We start at 3:45 with a joyful community greeting followed by liturgy at 4:00
Yummy Potluck following the liturgy
Join us In person at Christ Church United Methodist in Classroom 8
1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95403
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Meeting ID: 519 315 8573
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Theme: Witness Presence
Denise: It has been almost 2 months since Pentecost. I’d like us to check in whether the Spirit is still with us. So many of our religious upbringing entailed talking about dogma and rituals but little about experiencing our connection to God. So today, let’s start our service with a bit of an experiential exercise. Many of you may be familiar with the “Be Still and Know I am God” meditation.
Deal with thoughts like boats on a river.
Music: Enya May it be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3Ggo1CE3g
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
Patti : “Ultimately your heart is the inner temenos and sanctuary space. It is where the ancient mystics tell us the spark of the divine dwells. It is where we can retreat to and savor the experience of being, of being held, of being met exactly as we are.”
—Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal
Second Reading Victoria:
Only the present moment is real and available to us. The peace we desire is not in some distant future, but it is something we can realize in the present moment. … every time we see a red light, we are not very happy. The red light is a kind of enemy that
prevents us from attaining our goal. But we can also see the red light as a bell of mindfulness, reminding us to return to the present moment.
-Thich Nhat Hahn, Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism
Third Reading Dan:
The voice of freedom or justice,
the song of beauty or healing,
the call of the Beloved, is not a shout.
It's merely the hum of life
that begs your harmony.
You're going about your life, plain as always,
when something ineffable, moving
in a different direction, tugs at you,
like the aroma of bread baking:
an urge, a subtle leaning, an invitation.
Your presence is requested.
Learn to stop and attend.
Perhaps in a moment of stillness,
maybe in a rush of trying so hard—
a compass needle wobbles.
Stop and attend.
You are not especially wise or gifted;
your faith is no stronger than anyone else's.
Don't question why you are chosen;
the only way to know is to follow.
It may be a life-changing endeavor,
or a moment's simple act of love.
Follow.
Never stop listening.
Follow by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Homily
Denise: How have you experience God in your life? Or where? It may be in nature or dreams or other encounters.
Discussion
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BWKmahZgLM
What do we bring to the table?
Basket
Prayer of the Faithful
Liturgy of the Eucharist: Meal of Thanksgiving
Denise: By each of us preforming our own consecration, we can witness our call to Christ to join us in this ritual.
All: On the night before he died, Jesus was at table with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his friends saying This is my body, broken for you.
As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again, he gave thanks to you, gave it to his friends and said, this cup is the new covenant of my lifeblood shed for you and as often as you do this, you do this in memory of me.Acclamation
Denise: If we believe what we just did, we can acclaim not that he is gone and will come again someday but that he is here now with us. So we say:
All: Christ is here
God is with us
His Spirit will never leave.
Patti: Now, gathered at your table, we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice. Pour out your Spirit upon all these gifts that they, and we, may be the Body and Blood of Christ. Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation.
All: (Holding up the bread and wine)
For it is through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, O Gracious God, now and forever.
All:
Our Benefactor, who art in everything
Blessed be Thy presence.
Thy self come, Thy love abound,
In me as well as in all others.
Give us this day awareness of You.
And forgive us our shirking,
As we forgive the shirking of others.
Dissuade us from temporary distractions,
But guide us to oneness with you.
Denise: Let us offer to one another a sign of our peace and love.
Invitation to Communion
Patti: Our God, whom created the universe, has joined us now in the presence of this bread.
Our God, who redeems us and calls us by name, now meets us in this cup.
So come, Beloved Friends, and take this bread, drink this wine. In them, God comes to us, so that we may recognize we are part of Him, as He is part of us.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DHKLt4Mdvk
Closing
Denise: This part of our service is done. Though I’d like to end as Fr Angelito from Our Lady of Guadalupe used to.
He would say (we would all say underlined parts)
This mass is never ending. We take the fruits of it with us to influence our thoughts and behaviors throughout the 2 weeks until we come again. And then, we said Thanks be to God for the blessings it has bestowed on us. Amen
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