Day 895 Sunday, August 28, 2022

The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God's eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.

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Emmaus Celebration for Sunday, August 28, 2022

The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God's eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love. Meister Eckhart

The liturgy is attached for downloading in WORD and PDF formats:

(Image: Bright Wings)

Opening Song Spirit of God in the Clear Running Water

(Lyrics)

Spirit of God in the clear running water

Blowing to greatness the trees on the hill;

Spirit of God in the finger of morning, fill the earth, bring it to birth

And blow where You will.

Refrain:

Blow, blow, blow till I be but the breath of the

Spirit blowing in me.

Dawn in the meadows the willows are moaning,

Sheep in the pastureland cannot lie still.

Spirit of God, creation is groaning; fill the earth, bring it to birth.

And blow where You will.

Spirit of God, ev'ry man's heart is lonely,

Watching and waiting and hungry until,

Spirit of God, man longs that You only fill the earth, bring it to birth

And blow where You will.

Liturgy of The Word

Greeting

A Call for being together in the Spirit

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.

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 God and each other.

Jim: May the Spirit of God 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, 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. Grant us wisdom and inspiration in this day and for this time. All: Amen

Scripture Lessons

Romans 8:22-27

Jim Keck: We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to daughtership and sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit herself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And the One who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

Psalm Response

Take, O Take Me, by John Bell

Take, O take me as I am. Summon out what I shall be.

Set your seal upon my heart and live in me.

Matthew 18:30

Jim Jepson: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

(Image: Behold)

Shared Homily: JoAnn

The art and music that we are sharing with you today is about Community and prayer. How do we pray for each other? How do we connect in prayer? When someone asks us to pray for them or for an intention what is that for us. For me personally community has been at the heart of my life from a very young age and throughout my years.

Today, I'd like us to spend some time reflecting on connection in Community through prayer. Each time I sit, walk or lie in prayer I bring with me all those I love and for whom I have great concern. And I suspect that may be true for you. In Romans, "the whole of creation groans in labor pains" - pains we have literally experienced in the fires, the pandemic, floods, war, mental and physical illnesses, family and friends close to dying or who have died. In the last month, JIm and I have lost 3 long time friends. For Jim, one since first grade through Seminary.

And I know it is the same for some of you. And again in Romans, "and when we do not know how we ought to pray, the Spirit pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express". And again in Romans, "the spirit comes to help us and God who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of Her people, on behalf of us", on behalf of me.

A book and practice that Luis shared with us some years back is the Power of Eight. In it, Lynn Mc Taggart who is an expert on the science of spirituality reveals her remarkable findings from 10 years of experiments about how group intentions can heal our lives and change the world for the better.

When individuals in a group focus their intention on a single target, a powerful collective dynamic emerges that can heal longstanding conditions, mend fractured relationships, lower violence and even rekindle life purpose. The greatest untold truth of all is that group intention has a mirror effect, not only affecting the recipient but also reflecting back on the senders. Is this not what we call prayer? Over the many years I have found much consolation and joy in Jesus' words found in Matthew that Jim Jepson read for us, "where two or three are gathered in my name [Jesus said] there am I among you".

As I go about my day there will be frequent times when I think of those who are hurting in some way: Palestinian families, the young children who have been killed, the people from the Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and, Iran, our good friend, Jenny with alzeheimer's and Luis, Beth who is going through Cancer treatment - and the list goes on. In our Small Christian Community, Patti and Jim had talked about how in prayer they speak of the Spirit within them and the spirit in the person for whom they are praying.

It is the same Spirit who knows our heart. And I would say all parts of creation, animals, trees, mountains, streams, insects, butterflies, the soil, people- all are connected by the Spirit, the Divine. So, now in our shared homily, how do you pray? How do you go about praying for others? How do you connect with our community in prayer, aside from when we come together for Liturgy. What is on your mind and in your heart?

Prayers of the Faithful: What do we bring to the table...

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory Song Veni Sancte Spiritus Taizé

-Come Holy Spirit from heaven shine forth with your glorious light.

Veni Sancte Spiritus

-Come from the four winds, O Spirit, come breath of God, dispense the shadows over us, renew and strengthen your people.

Holy Spirit come to us.

Pat: Everyone is welcome at our table.

It is a circle that goes out from here and welcomes every person.

Our spirit, whom the universe cannot contain

Is present to us in this bread.

Our spirit who calls us by name

Now meets us in this cup.

So, come, take the bread,

Drink this wine,

In them, God comes to us,

So that we may come to God.

Marcie: 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.

Pat: 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: (spoken, not sung)

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

And we still celebrate for you are with us here.

And we believe that we will see you when you come again.

We remember! We celebrate! We believe!

Marcie: 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.

Pat: In the fullness of time bring us with all you saints from every tribe and language, from every people and nation to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world.’

Pat & Marcie: (Holding up the bread and wine)

For it is through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, that all glory and honor is yours, O Gracious God, now and forever.

All: Amen

(Cosmic Dance)

Marcie: 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

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

Invitation to Communion

Marcie:

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.

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

Communion Song

Jesus Christ Inner Light Taize

Jesus Christ, inner light, let not our own darkness conquer us. Jesus Christ, inner light, enable us to welcome your love.

Jesus Christ, source of light, in whom we discover our radiance. To whom shall we go, to whom shall we go to see the face of God?

Risen Christ, you go down to the depths, to the depths of our human condition. You burden yourself with what burdens us. You take on our darkness.

Jesus Christ, in our search for you bring us into the warmth of your life. Jesus Christ, embrace us with your love.

Jesus Christ, help us to face our darkness. Help us to find its hidden treasure.

Blessing: Jim

May we go from here strengthened with stories, songs and kinship to spread the good news that we are one, one people in one spirit, No one left out, No one alone. Let us whisper throughout our days: "tell everyone that I love them". Emmaus is not the place we've come to, it's the place we go from, to create a community of kinship where God can be recognized.

Closing Song

Jesus Christ Yesterday Today and Forever by Sister Suzanne

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Yesterday, Today and Forever,

Image of light sublime that fills the heavenly dwelling place!

You are Alpha and Omega. You are savior and friend.

O radiant light, O Sun Divine of our God's deathless face.

Cristo nos da la libertad. Cristo nos da la salvacíon.

Son of God, source of light.

At the light of eventide, we joy in your presence.

You are our way and our truth. You are our life.

Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever.

Please note: Images 2, 3 and 4 are from the Ministry of the Arts