Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles 

June 29, 2024

Responder: Marita

Presider: Nick 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87935930592?pwd=qZlKA506MIS9okXQQxBkaKsyhsZJDV.1

Greeting: Gerry Today, we celebrate the feast day of St.s. Peter and Paul.  These two apostles were very different in temperament and personalities, but both had the same mission of spreading Jesus’ message throughout the world. Peter declares this message in our gospel today, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Song: Table of Plenty: Dan Schutte

https://youtu.be/bS6p-SPmlpo?si=j3spvIt_pRoavLnp

Presider:  Nick

In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Brother and the Holy Spirit. R: Amen.

Presider:  

The grace and peace of our Gentle God, 

and our brother Jesus, the Christ be with you.

R: And also, with you.

Gratitude Rite

Presider:  Jesus, model of love and compassion.
R: Strengthen us to be your Love in the world.

Presider:  Jesus, our refuge and our hope.

R: Strengthen us to be your Peace in the world.

Presider:  Jesus, our truth and our wisdom.
R: Strengthen us to be your Light in the world.

Karla: 
Loving God, we graciously receive the gift of your inner presence.  May your Word take root in our hearts
and bring forth your Life in all our actions. 
R: Amen 

Cathy W:

As we begin the Liturgy of the Word let us open our

hearts to ways scripture might speak to us.

                         

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 12: 1-11

Pat

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the Feast of Unleavened Bread.–
Harod had Peter taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
Harod intended to bring Peter before the people after Passover. Peter was thus being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door, guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly, the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals." He did so.
Then the angel said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." So he followed the angel out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; Peter thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him. 
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
 "Now I know for certain that the Holy One sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod
 and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."

Responsorial Psalm 34 Kathy N.

R: The angel of God will rescue those who fear him.

I will bless the Beloved at all times;
a song of praise will I sing.
Let my soul speak to the Beloved continually;
let all who suffer hear and be glad. 

When I search for Love, the Beloved answers within my heart, and all my fears fly away.
Look to the Beloved, and your emptiness will be filled, your face will radiate Love. 

R: The angel of God will rescue those who fear him.

For when you cry, the Beloved hears and comes to you, your troubles disappear. O taste and see the beloved is within you. 

(Psalms for Praying- Nan C. Merrill)

A Reading from Timothy 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 Judy

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith.
From now on, the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance,  so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Holy One will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia Misa Delgado Book1 by Lester Delgado

https://youtu.be/uilfwfd-U_g

R: Glory to you, O God.

Presider: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

A Reading from the Holy Scripture According to Matthew 16:18 Nick

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked the disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. 
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 

Homily: Nick

Statement of Faith (adapted from the Creed by Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan) Lucia alternate with Gina

We believe in the Holy One, Our God,

Divine Mystery beyond all definition and understanding

God, heart of all that has ever existed, exists, or will exist;

whose divinity infuses the entire cosmos,

making everything in it sacred.

We believe in the Chosen One, Christ of the Cosmos,

God’s Word enfleshed, bringer of healing, of new life and compassion; Christ, who brought us through the consequences of our brokenness to now share life eternal as the Body of Christ.

We believe in the Spirit.

Wisdom, who strengthens us on our journey

to follow Christ as a loving people,

 Spirit, the source of all courage, compassion, and truth

The witness of peace in the world

And, we believe in God’s reign on earth here and now, and forever.

A reign that embraces everyone and reaches all

who have eyes to recognize it

and hearts to share it with everyone. No exceptions.

Amen.

Prayers of the Community:Lucia

As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions, starting with the words, “I bring to the table.”   Answer with Gracious God hear our prayer. 

We pray for these and all the unspoken intentions held in the silence of our hearts. AMEN. 

SIGN OF PEACE: Cathy P. 

Christ Jesus, you said to your friends: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our failings, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kin-dom where you live forever and ever. Amen.

The peace of Christ be always with you.

R:  And also with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of Christ’s peace.

Offering of the Gifts:

Galen: Blessed are you, God of all creation, for through your goodness

We have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, It will become for us the bread of life.

R:  Blessed be God forever.

Presider: By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who shared himself in our humanity.

Janet: Blessed are you God of all creation, through your goodness

We have received this wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.

All: Blessed be God forever.

Penny: With humble spirit and loving hearts may you, O God, accept us and may the offering that we bring to this table be pleasing to you.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

With open hands and hearts let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer together, muted:

 

All: O Holy One, you have sent prophets and messengers to show us the way-Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Jesus, Moses, Peter and Paul, Buddha and Mohammad, Hildegard, Teresa, Mother Teresa, and Dorothy Day, and all of us here and now who celebrate this liturgy today. 

Everything we do, we do together with You. We cannot be without You. We cannot be without each other. You are made visible in this world with our acts of love and kindness. With grateful hearts, we raise our voices and sing

Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ 

Patti: Holy One, slowly this world is moving toward oneness. Your pattern of Love is in everything, and there are messages of Love in every pattern.  Help us to stand with each other in love and suffering.  The pain of one is the pain of all.  May we co-create with You and restore balance and harmony in our world. 

Please extend your hands in blessing over your bread and wine.

Presider: We are ever aware of your Spirit in us and among us at this Eucharistic table, and we are grateful for this bread and wine, which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.

 

On the night before he died, Jesus did more than ask us to remember him.  He showed us how to live when he washed the feet of his friends.

 lift up your bread 

Presider: At the table, Jesus took the Bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread, and offered it to them, saying:

ALL: Take and eat of the Bread of Life

Given to strengthen you.

Whenever you remember me like this

Go and share your love with one another.  (pause)

 lift your cup 

Nick: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace saying:

ALL: Take and drink of the covenant

Made new again through my life in you.

Whenever you remember me like this,

I am among you.

Jay Cee: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

We thank you that we have gathered here as the Body of Christ;

May we be truly Eucharistic to one another.

Together we pray (lifting cup and plate):

Penny: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours,

Almighty God, forever and ever. 

Invitation to Communion:

Juanita: This is Jesus, who loves us as we are. Happy are we who share in this table of love.

Jesus, you make us worthy to receive you, and by your word we are healed.

John: We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.   Please receive this bread with the words: God and I are one.

Communion Song: Ubi Caritas: Bob Hurd

 https://youtu.be/lpRqc2Bp05s?si=xit9IUr9hh0q8F7G

 

Ma Donna: Holy One, your transforming energy is within us, and we join our hearts with all who are working for a just world.  We pray for wise leaders in our religious communities. We pray for courageous and compassionate leaders in our world communities.  

Cathy W: We pray for all of us gathered here, and like Jesus, we open ourselves up to your Spirit, for it is through living as he lived that we awaken to your Spirit within, 

moving us to glorify you, at this time and always. AMEN. 

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: John

Holy One, you are 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 that we need. 
You remind us of our limits, and we let go. 
You support us in our powerlessness, and we act with courage. 
For You are dwelling within us, 
the empowerment around us, 
and the celebration among us,  
now and forever, Amen.  

Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter 

Nick: Loving source of our being, you call us to live the gospel of peace and justice. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity in your presence. 

Final Blessing

Please extend your hands as we bless each other.

Nick:  May we truly be Jesus’s disciples, living in joy and love. May we walk together as we support and tend to one another and all creation. AMEN.

Dismissal: Karla

Closing Song:

Sing a New Song: Dan Schutte

https://youtu.be/fytfYeRvzu0?si=8Dc2FPuahB4HIdKf