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Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Opening song We are Many Parts - Marty Haugen
Reading from Henri Nouwen's Can You Drink the Cup?, p.58
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Community is like a large mosaic. Each little piece seems so insignificant. One piece is bright red, another cold blue or dull green, another warm purple, another sharp yellow, another shining gold. Some look precious, others ordinary. Some look valuable, others worthless. Some look gaudy, others delicate. As individual stones, we can do little with them except compare them and judge their beauty and value. When, however, all these little stones are brought together in one big mosaic portraying the face of Christ, who would ever question the importance of any one of them? If one of them, even the least spectacular one, is missing, the face is incomplete. Together in the one mosaic, each little stone is indispensable and makes a unique contribution to the glory of God. That's community, a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world. |
Our Response: Psalm 27 & Matthew 9:27-31
Behold, our Lord shall come with power to enlighten the eyes of God's servants.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate God's temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.
Glory to You ...
All Behold, our Lord shall come with power to enlighten the eyes of God's servants.
READING Colossians 3: 12-17
Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. Christ's peace must reign in your hearts, since as members of the one body you have been called to that peace.
Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made perfect, instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs. Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.
Intercessions: for whom or for what do we pray?
A LITANY Of The PERSON
we offer our prayers this day for each other that we may be ...
(Response to each is Thanks be to God. )
an image of God
born of God's breath
a vessel of divine Love
after his likeness
a dwelling of God
a capacity for the infinite
eternally known
the chosen of God
a home of Infinite Majesty
abiding in the Son
called from eternity
alive in the Lord
a temple of the Holy Spirit
a branch of Christ
a receptacle of the Most High
a wellspring of Living Water
an heir of the kingdom
the glory of God
an abode of the Trinity.
All: God sings this litany eternally in his Word. This is who we are.
Abbey of Gethsemani ! Trappist, KY 40051
OFFERTORY & COMMUNION
We thank you for the Spirit you breathe into us, a wandering Spirit, for eyes that guide us, for feet that plod the paths, for occasional signposts when we have lost our way.
You bless us with your divine restlessness. You prod us from our complacency. You urge us down roads we do not feel strong enough to travel. You support us with fellow-travellers who bolster us when we despair, who refresh and renew us when we think our last step is just that.
But most of all we thank you for Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He lights our path. He opens our eyes. He does not abandon us in our need. He is the centre of our life here in community.
He strengthened us with a meal, to follow in his footsteps. On the night before he died, Jesus took bread and blessed you, God. He gave it to his friends with these words: Here is food for our life together.
Later he took a cup of wine. Again he blessed you and gave it to his community with these words: Here is drink for the our life together. Take this and share it.
So let us proclaim the mystery of our faith: Dying you destroyed our death, Rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Loving Creator, send us your Spirit, so that we, your community, may become the light of your gifts, strength for your call, and companionship for the sending on mission.
Closing Prayer SET ME FREE
My friend
You who are a part of me
please take away the veil
That covers me - please set me free.
You know that we belong, are deeply one.
I cannot see you clearly
There is the veil
That covers heart, mind and soul.
Did people put it there
Or did I choose this cover
To protect, to hide
My insecurity, my wounded self?
Or is it just the final skin
Of my unfinished birth
To personhood to self,
which you possess already.
Please take it off with tender care.
I am so insecure, so easily hurt.
Your love can set me free.
Your trust will melt my veil.
Then we can fully meet
In giving and receiving
In seeing, understanding.
We will be whole and free and one.
In oneness we will look
Into the world, towards people, God.
Uplifting many veils
And freeing hidden beauty - Life.
Author Unknown