Let us gather. Let us speak

Make sure to join our ZOOM celebration through this link at 4:45 on Sunday:

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Let us begin our liturgy.

Victoria rings singing bowl three times

Victoria: Welcome and Introduction of any new people, and brief explanation of our theme this evening.

Dan: Opening Prayer: (by Richard Doiron from Prayers for a Thousand Years, pg. 143)

Come, friends. Let us gather.

Let us assemble, and speak.

We have here the Talking Circle. Great are its mysteries.

Come, then, let us be seated.

Let us see what comes of it.

Do you hear the silence?

The silence is the secret.

The secret is sacred.

Because of the Circle we have words.

With our words we break the silence.

Breaking the silence releases

The secrets.

This is how the mysteries

Are revealed.

Mysteries are forever.

Come, then. Let us gather.

Let us assemble, and speak

Kay: First Reading (from the Book of Nehemiah)

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,

which consisted of men, women,

and those children old enough to understand.

Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,

he read out of the book from daybreak till midday…

Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform

that had been made for the occasion.

He opened the scroll

so that all the people might see it.

Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,

interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.

Then Nehemiah, …

said to all the people:

“Today is holy to the LORD your God.

Do not be sad, and do not weep”—

for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,

and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;

for today is holy to our LORD.

Do not be saddened this day,

for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

Song on Video: Responsorial Psalm: (Word of God Speak - MercyMe)

https://youtu.be/4JK_6osCH74

Linda: Second Reading: from Gospel Medicine (Barbara Brown Taylor)

[The Gospel writer] Luke was, according to tradition, a physician. We remember Luke as a physician but the plain fact is that once he had been baptized—like us—into the body of Christ, he assumed a new identity.

I like to think that Luke never resigned his job as a healer. He just changed medicines. Instead of prescribing herbs and spices, hot compresses and bed rest, he told stories with power to mend broken lives and revive faint hearts. Instead of pills and potions, he carried words in his black bag, words like “Weep no more,” “Do not be afraid,” “Your sins are forgiven you,” Stand up and walk.” His medicine was gospel medicine, which was Jesus’ medicine—medicine that works strangely enough, through words.

Steve : Gospel Reading: (Luke 1:1-4, 4: 14-21)

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,

and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to

captives and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Shared Homily:

• How has our Emmaus assembling (even over Zoom) to gather, listen to, and share our words together, been significant, healing, even liberating for you?

• What does knowing that you are “beloved” spark in you? What might be your own inaugural address?

Dan: What is it that we bring to the table tonight:

Eucharistic Prayer:

Presider (D):

We pause, first, upon the liturgical frame in which we celebrate and give meaning to the events of our lives. We are not born rugged individualists, alone and self-sufficient, but we are always involved in a celebration of life that surpasses, connects, and exults our singularities in a chorus of different bodies.

Isn’t it interesting that from the very beginning—from the big bang of Genesis—God slowly gathers the assembly of life from light, stars, earth, to humankind, creating a cosmic liturgy of interconnected diversities? And the last book of the Bible, Revelation, envisions at the end of time another assembly of all creation, where the glory of God is the light, and mourning, crying, and pain will be no more.

Presider (V):

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.

Presider (D):

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of 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 the Christ.

Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation.

All: This is the cup of my love, poured out for all of you so you may know the Spirit. Do this in memory of me.

All: (spoken)

We Remember

We remember how you loved us all your life.

And still 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!

Presider (V):

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.

Presider (D):

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.

Both Presiders D & V (holding up the bread and wine):

For, it is “Through Him, With Him, In Him,

In the Unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory and honor is yours

Forever and Ever.

Dan: Now together, as one community, we offer to you O God,

our prayer, in the name of your beloved son and 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 to each one.

Lead us to holy innocence beyond the evil 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.

Offering Our Gift of Peace:

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

Victoria: Invitation to Communion:

Everyone is welcome to this table.

The Spirit, whom the Universe cannot contain

is present to us in this bread.

She who redeems us and calls us by name

Now meets us in this cup.

So, come, take this bread,

Drink this wine,

In them, the Spirit comes to us,

So that we may become one with the Spirit.

We invite everyone to partake in communion now.

Song: Here I Am Lord (hopefully from Dana and Doug library)

Victoria: Closing Blessing: (written by Jan Richardson)

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon You

This blessing

finds its way

behind the bars.

This blessing

works its way

beneath the chains.

This blessing

knows its way

through a broken heart.

This blessing

makes a way

where there is none.

Where there is

no light,

this blessing.

Where there is

no hope,

this blessing.

Where there is

no peace,

this blessing.

Where there is

nothing left,

this blessing.

In the presence

of hate.

In the absence

of love.

In the torment

of pain.

In the grip

of fear.

To the one

in need.

To the one

in the cell.

To the one

in the dark.

To the one

in despair.

Let this blessing come

As bread.

Let this blessing come as

release.

Let this blessing come

As sight.

Let this blessing… come.

As freedom.

Let this blessing come.

And the good people of this, our beloved Emmaus Community, say: Amen!

Amen!

David: Announcements: