Day 1133: Sunday, April 23, 2023 Let's get ready to celebrate our road to Emmaus Today! Sunday, April 23rd at 3:45 (The ZOOM will start at 3:00 for anyone who wants to join and help us test)

Emmaus Celebration for Sunday, April 23, 2023

Join us in Person at Knox Presbyterian/Thanksgiving Churches

(with whom we share)

1650 W. Third St.

Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Or join us on ZOOM with this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573

Passcode: 1234

Or use the Meeting ID after you open ZOOM: 519 315 8573

Passcode: 1234

Or call in by phone: One tap mobile

+16699006833,,5193158573# US (San Jose)

+16694449171,,5193158573# US

The Liturgy in WORD and PDF formats for downloading

The Journey of Emmaus

Reflections: Pat O’Conner

Gathering Song: For the Beauty of The Earth

1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.

Ref: LORD OF ALL TO THEE WE RAISE THIS OUR HYMN OF GRATEFUL PRAISE.

2. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,

hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light. REF:

3. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child.

friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild. REF:

4. For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given,

for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven. REF:

Greeting: A Call for being together in the Spirit And The Risen Jesus

Jim: This is our sacred time to connect with each other in the presence of the Divine.

All: We come together in unity, trusting that we are truly one in the Spirit and the Risen Jesus.

Jim: Let us open our hearts to receive grace anew as we share in these holy moments.

All: With open hearts we sense a deeper connection with the Spirit of God/ the Risen Jesus and each other.

Jim: May the Spirit of God and the Risen Christ be vitally present in our midst.

All: Even as we bring forth the best that is within us.

Jim: We are blessed to be together for this time.

All: Let the blessing flow.

Opening Prayer: JoAnn

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 with 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

LITURGY OF THE WORD

1st Reading: An Earth Day Video

For The Beauty of the Earth

Gospel Proclaimed: Jim Keck Luke 24: 13-35

(Printed Gospel is available to take home with you)

On the Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Dialogue Homily

Some questions for reflection

1-What does our Emmaus Community offer you that warms your heart?

2-Yesterday, we spent some solid hours together, sitting, sharing and breaking bread. What did our time together as the Community of Emmaus mean to you as you have had time to ponder?

Prayer of the Faithful- Spoken with usual hand gestures

John: Offering of our hands, toil and the sweat of our brows. (Basket)

OFFERTORY Song: My Peace

My peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Trouble not your hearts. My peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Be not afraid. (Taize)

Liturgy of the Eucharist

JoAnn: 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

All: This is my body, broken for you.

Jim: As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again, he gave thanks to you, gave it to his friends and said,

All: This cup is the new covenant of my lifeblood shed for you and for all

And as often as you do this, you do this in memory of me.

Acclamation: (Sung)

All: We remember how you loved us all your life.

And now we celebrate for you are with us here.

And we believe that we will see you when you come, when you come again. We remember! We celebrate! We believe!

JoAnn: 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.

Jim: In the fullness of time bring us with all your saints from every tribe and language, from

every people and nation to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world.

Jim and JoAnn: (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: Amen Siakudumisa 2x

Amen Bawo 2x

Amen Siakudumisa.

JoAnn: Now together, as one community, we offer to you O God, our prayer, in the name of

your beloved son and our brother, Jesus:

Our Mother, Our Father, Giver of Life, holy and sacred is your name.

Let your kinship with us on earth strive to be as it was created to be:

that we all would live as one.

We are grateful that we have you as our life-giving sustenance of body and spirit.

We are humbled by your unfailing forgiveness no matter our faults and failings.

Teach us to offer unconditional kindness and love to others.

You do not leave us comfortless and wandering in the desert. You guide us down the paths away from harm and folly, knowing you lift us up when we falter.

We long to be in faithful communion with you. We long to feel the presence of your Holy Spirit moving and working in us in all we do. We long to have your light shining through us in the world.

Amen.

JoAnn: Let us offer to one another a sign of our peace and love.

Invitation to Communion: JoAnn:

Everyone is welcome to this table.

Our God, whom the universe cannot contain, is present to us in 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 come to God.

Jim: We invite everyone now to partake of this communion we share.

(As the cup is passed, if you choose, please only dip the bread into the cup)

Communion Song: I Am the Bread of Life Suzanne Toolan, SM

1. I am the Bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger and who believes in me shall not thirst. No one can come to me unless the father beckons.

Refrain: And I will raise you up, and I will raise you up, and I will raise you up on the last day.

2. The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world, and if you eat of this bread, you shall live forever, you shall live forever. REF:

3. Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of his blood, and drink of his blood, you shall not have life within you. REF:

4. I am the Resurrection, I am the life, if you believe in me, even though you die, you shall live forever. REF:

5. Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who have come into the world. REF:

GIA Publications. All rights reserved.

Blessing: Victoria:

Come Christ Jesus, lover of the earth, lead us as we walk with you on the road that the earth may be healed.

Come, Holy Spirit hovering over the water and guide us as we sail to you, that the waters may flow with life.

Come, you angels of the fire and light and show us how to dance with you, that in the light may be born the flame of love.

Come, you breath of the air, and inspire us with the breath of you, that the air may reverberate with the sound of the word.

Come, Lady Mary and the saints of heaven and help us to pray with you, that the earth may be redeemed through the love of Christ.

And the good people of Emmaus say Amen, Alleluia, Alleluia

By Brendanus Scotus, found in Lord of Creation

CLOSING Song: Stay with Us

Stay with us, O Lord Jesus Christ. Night will soon fall. Then stay with us O Lord Jesus Christ, light in our darkness. (Taize)