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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

LITURGY CELEBRATING MARY OF MAGDALA for 2017: Her Spirit Rises Up for Justice in Us



GATHERING SONG AND GREETING

Woman’s Spirit
words and music: Marvella McPartland & Lynn Fugua
sung by: Karen Drucker




Woman’s Spirit is beauty
Woman’s Spirit runs deep
Woman loves with compassion
Our perfection is complete…

Woman’s Spirit is graceful
Woman’s Spirit is wise
Woman’s Spirit is moving
Bringing love into our lives...

Woman’s Spirit is passion
Woman’s Spirit is birth
Woman’s power unfolding
To honor life on earth.




Presider 1: We gather joyfully and begin in the name of the Holy One, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Opening Prayer

Presider 2: O Holy One, You moved through Mary of Magdala and through us.
ALL: As we work for justice, partnership and equality.

Presider 1:  We see Your feminine face in our ancestors and in all women.
ALL:  May we open our hearts, to Your mothering love.  

Presider 2: Jesus, our brother, taught us to see Your divine reality in women, especially in women who have been abused and exploited. 
ALL:  May we stand with our sisters who are abused and exploited.  

Presider 1:  We see You in men and women who have been caring partners and companions. 
ALL:  May we, live a connectedness and friendship with others.  

Presider 2: May Your love heal and empower us.  
ALL:  Amen.

Gloria

ALL:  Glory to You, O Holy One, in the highest, and peace, justice and equality to all people on earth.  We give You thanks, and praise You for Your glory. You are all goodness and light, and You hold us in Your heart forever. Amen.



LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: The Gospel of Mary
  "Go then, preach the good news about the Realm. Do not lay down any rule beyond what I determined for you, nor promulgate law like the lawgiver, or else you might be dominated by it."
After the Risen One had said these things, he departed from them.
     But they were distressed and wept greatly. "How are we going to go out to the rest of the world to announce the good news about the Realm of the child of true Humanity?" they said. "If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?"
     Then Mary stood up. She greeted them all, addressing her brothers and sisters, "Do not weep and be distressed nor let your hearts be irresolute. For his grace will be with you all and will shelter you. Rather we should praise his greatness, for he has prepared us and made us true human beings."
      When Mary had said these things, she turned their heart toward the Good, and they began to debate about the words of the Teacher.
     Peter said to Mary, "Sister, we know that Jesus loved you more than all other women. Tell us the words of the Teacher that you remember, the things which you know that we don't because we haven't heard them." 
     Mary responded, "I will teach you about what is hidden from you." And she began to speak these words to them.
     She said, "I saw the Teacher in a vision and I said to him, 'Teacher, I saw you today in a vision.'
He answered me, 'How wonderful you are for not wavering at seeing me! For where the mind is, there is the treasure.'
     These are the inspired words of Mary of Magdala


All: Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: “Ube Caritas” (Taize)

Ubi caritas et amour,
Ubi caritas Deus ibi est.


Gospel Acclamation:  Celtic ALLELUIA!    (sung)

Reader:  A reading from  the  Gospel John 20;13-18

“Meanwhile, Mary stood weeping beside the tomb. Even as she wept, she stooped to peer inside, and there she saw two angels in dazzling robes. One was seated at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesus’ body had lain.

“They asked her, ‘Why are you weeping?’

“She answered them, ‘Because they have taken away my Rabbi, and I don’t know where they have put him.’

“No sooner had she said this, than she turned around and caught sight of Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. He asked her ‘why are you weeping! For whom are you looking?’

“She supposed it was the gardener, so she said, ‘Please, if you’re the one who carried him away, tell me where you’ve laid him and I will take him away.’

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

“She turned to him and said, ‘Rabboni!’—which means ‘Teacher.’

“Jesus then said, ‘Don’t hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to Abba God. Rather, go to the sisters and brothers and tell them ‘I’m ascending to my Abba and to your Abba, my God and your God!’

“Then Mary went to the disciples. ‘I have seen the Teacher!’ she announced. Then she reported what he had said to her” (Jn 20:13–18)


HOMILY Starter:

The good news is that like Mary of Magdala, we are not afraid! The spirit of Wisdom Sophia is moving through us as we live the Gospel of justice, partnership and equality in our inclusive communities and ministries. We are in the process of healing a centuries old misogyny as we ordain women to minister in inclusive communities in the Roman Catholic Church today!



Profession of Faith   

ALL:  We believe in the Holy One who loves passionately, embraces all and forgives everything.
We believe in Jesus who accompanies us on our journey and shows the way to the fullness of life.
We believe in the  Divine Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia, who energizes us as co-creators  of caring communities that challenge oppression, exploitation and injustice.
We believe that we are radiant images of God called to live fully, love tenderly, and serve generously.  
We believe in the communion of saints, our heavenly friends, who support us on life’s journey.  
We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our church and world.  
We believe that we are one in the Heart of God.
 
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

Presider 1:  Aware that the Holy One, like a fierce mother bear, who protects her Young, is a defender of the oppressed and pursuer of justice, we now bring the women and men in our lives, in our church and world, before You.

Response: Holy One, You hear our prayer.

Presider 2:  For those who have been abused, we pray for empowerment.  R.   
Presider 1:  For those who have confronted their abusers, we pray for courage.  R.
Presider 2:  For those who have been sexually exploited, we pray for healing.  R.  
Presider 1:  For the men and women who have been caring friends and partners, we pray for their continued growth and well being.  R. 
Presider 2:  For all those who need our prayers. Please share your intentions now.

Presider 1:  In Your name we can do all things by the power of Your Spirit working in us.  
ALL: Amen

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

Presider 2:  Blessed are You, O Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this bread to offer, it will become for us the Bread of Life. 
ALL: Blessed are You forever.   

Presider 1:  Blessed are You, O Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this wine to offer, it will become our spiritual drink. 
ALL: Blessed are You  forever.

Presider 2:  Nurturing One, we are united in this sacrament by the love of Jesus in communion with all who proclaim the liberating power of Woman-Spirit in our midst.
ALL:  Amen.

Presider 1:  O Heart of Love, You dwell in us,
ALL: And we dwell in You.

Presider 2:  O Pursuer of Justice, we life up our hearts,
ALL: In service to our sisters and brothers.

Presider 1:  We thank You, Source of All,
All: All the days of our lives.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Voice 1: O Holy One, You love through us as we reach out to our sisters and brothers who are abused and exploited. Your Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, is rising up in our work for justice. With thankful hearts in the company of the angels and saints, we praise You, Spirit of Healing and Wholeness.

ALL:  Holy, Holy, Holy Source of strength and light. All creation is full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed are all who come in Your name.  Hosanna in the highest.

Voice 2:  You are holy indeed, O Nurturing One. You are the Heart of Love. You affirm our  bodies as holy and our stories as sacred.

Presider 2:  Please extend Your hands in blessing.

ALL:  You pour out Your spirit anew upon this bread and wine and upon us as we become more deeply the Christ Presence in our world

On the night before he died, Jesus came to table with the women and men he loved.  Jesus took bread blessed and broke it, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body. Do this in memory of me.”

(pause)

After supper, Jesus poured a cup of wine and shared it with his friends, saying, “This is the cup of the covenant of my love. As often as You drink of it, remember me.”

Presider 1:  Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

ALL: Christ has died in all those abused and exploited.
Christ is rising in all those working for justice, equality and partnership.
Christ comes each day in our work for a renewed humanity.

Voice 3: In memory of Jesus, who showed us the path to empowerment, we give thanks for the loving relationships that helped us grow more aware of our goodness, strength, and passion. We give thanks for Your Enfolding Presence as we advocate for survivors of violence and abuse and  accompany them on their journey to healing and wholeness.  Sharing this sacred banquet of love, we are filled with courage to live compassionate lives in our communities.

Voice 4:  Holy One, we remember all people throughout the world, as we grow in love, together with Francis our pope and our community leaders.  We remember our brothers and sisters who have suffered abuse and rejection by our church. We hold them in our hearts.

Voice 5: We remember all the companions who have gone before us:  Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala, Junia and Andronicus, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Bishop Oscar Romero, Ita Ford, and all holy women and men who have witnessed for justice throughout the ages. Like Jesus, their courage inspires us to confront all forms of discrimination and work for equality. For it is…

ALL: through living as Jesus lived,
and loving as he loved,
that we awaken to Your Spirit
empowering us to work for justice.  AMEN

COMMUNION RITE

The Prayer of Jesus

Presider 2:  Let us pray as Jesus taught us.

All:  O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,
We celebrate Your many names.
Your Wisdom come.
Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us,
Each day You give us all we need;
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
            For You are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, now and forever.  Amen 
(Prayer of Jesus by  Miriam Therese Winter)  


Sign of Peace

Presider 1:  Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave You.  My peace I give You.” 
The peace of the Holy One is also with You.  
Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Song for Peace

May the Christ Light Shine in You
By Kathy Sherman

May the Christ light shine in you.
​May the Christ light shine in me.
Then together we will shine with
God's love to the world.

Litany for the Breaking of the Bread

ALL:  Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of  healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.

Presider 2:  This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to the table.
ALL:  We are the Body of Christ.

Communion

Communion Meditation Song: Beauty of the Dancer
By Sara Thomsen


You see the beauty of the dancer
You hear the beauty of the song
You feel the beauty all around you
You wonder whether you belong.
You are where you belong!

You are the beauty of the dancer
You are the beauty of the song
You are the beauty all around you
You’re standing right where you belong
You’re standing right where you belong!

all above you
all below you
all around you
all within you

Beauty all above you
Beauty all below you
Beauty all around you
Beauty all within you
(Repeat)

You see the beauty of the dancer
You hear the beauty of the song
You feel the beauty all around you
You wonder whether you belong

You are the beauty of the dancer
You are the beauty of the song
You are the beauty all around you
You’re standing right where you belong!
(Repeat)

You are beauty
You are beauty
All above you
All below you
All around you
All within you

You are beauty
You are beauty

Beauty all above you
Beauty all below you
Beauty all around you
Beauty all within you
(Repeat)



CONCLUDING RITE

Presider 1:   The Holy One is with You. 
ALL:  and also with You.

Blessing

Presider 2: Please extend You hands as we pray our final blessing:
ALL: The encompassing of the Holy One is on us,
The encompassing of the Divine Presence,
The encompassing of the Christ of love,
The encompassing of the Spirit of Grace,
let us go forth from this Banquet, aware always that human rights are equal rights and that we are all the beloved of God. ALL:  Amen.
  (Adapted from Alexander Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica)

Dismissal

Presider 1:   We go forth with the energy of Christ to heal and transform our church and world.  Let the service for justice and equality continue! 
ALL:   We give grateful thanks and may we be a blessing in our time.

CONCLUDING HYMN

Woman’s Spirit
words and music: Marvella McPartland & Lynn Fugua
sung by: Karen Drucker



Woman’s Spirit is beauty
Woman’s Spirit runs deep
Woman loves with compassion
Our perfection is complete…

Woman’s Spirit is graceful
Woman’s Spirit is wise
Woman’s Spirit is moving
Bringing love into our lives...

Woman’s Spirit is passion
Woman’s Spirit is birth
Woman’s power unfolding
To honor life on earth.



Liturgy by Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan and Dr. Mary Theresa Streck
Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priests



Contact Information:

Bridget Mary Meehan, sofiabmm@aol.com
Text: 1-703-505-0004

Bridget Mary’s Blog


Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests



People’s Catholic Seminary










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