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

Responder: Pat 

Presider: Karla 

Opening Prayer:  Penny

In the beginning, O God, your spirit swept over the chaotic deep like a wild wind, and creation was born. In the turbulence of my own life and the unsettled waters of the world today, let there be a new birthing of your Spirit. In the currents of our own hearts and the upheavals of the world today, let there be a new birthing of your mighty Spirit. Amen

-Celtic Benediction, John Philip Newell

Opening Song: More Light by Christopher Grundy

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=aBx5MSmCDk0&si=F728_Os8ei6MoKcl

LITURGY OF THE WORD 

R: Welcome: Our scriptures are about blindness, in all its forms. The Hebrew word for blind is לסמא (pronounced Lsma). Coincidentally or providentially, this Hebrew word also means dazzle. John describes Jesus as the light of the world. He came to eliminate our blindness and even dazzle us!

First Reading: A reading from the book of Samuel  Lucia

Samuel saw Eliab, son of Jesse, and said to himself, “Surely, God’s anointed stands before us. But YHWH said to Samuel, “Pay no attention to appearances and height, I have rejected him. YHWH does not see as mortals see; YHWH sees into the heart.” Seven sons were presented to Samuel by Jesse, who said, “YHWH has not chosen any of these. Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him.”  So, they sent for the boy, a ruddy youth with bright eyes and handsome to behold. YHWH said, “Rise and anoint this one.”  Then Samuel took the oil and anointed the boy in the presence of his brothers, and from that day forward, the Spirit of YHWH came upon David and was with him.

The word of God.  R] Thanks be to God

Second reading from John O’Donohue,  Dave

What is the source of light that banishes our fear? I read a lovely sentence in a Hindu book years ago that said, "Consciousness always shines with the light from beyond itself." One of my images of the divine is that it is light in some form, and that the divine light works very tenderly with human freedom. If you do not believe that the light is there, you will experience darkness. But if you believe the light is there, and if you call the light towards you, and if you call it into whatever you are involved in, the light will never fail you. There is light inside everything that happens to you. 

R: These are the inspired words of John O’Donohue, a disciple of Jesus.  Amen 

Alleluia: Spirit of the Living God (sung by Dennis McDonald) Video by MT Streck

https://youtu.be/dEjJ12BKz7chttps:

Gospel:  Nick

A reading from the Gospel of John

As Jesus passed by, he saw someone who had been born blind. The disciples asked whether the individual’s sin caused blindness, or that of his parents? Jesus answered, “Neither.”  It was not because of anyone’s sin, not this person’s nor the parents. Rather, it was to let God’s works shine forth in this person. We must do the deeds of the One who sent me while it is still day, for night is coming. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. With that, Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" — which means Sent.

So, he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is, " but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am."

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So, then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So, some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath."

But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So, they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." Jesus asked the man, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” “Do you believe in the Son of God?” “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”    “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you. To this day, this formerly blind man has never seen anything. Now he has seen the Son of Man. “He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped him.

The Good News of Salvation!

R. Glory and praise to our Savior Jesus Christ!

Shared Homily

Most of us were raised listening to the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Mathew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels. These three have many of the same stories, similar sequencing, and sometimes identical wording. John, on the other hand, stands alone from the first three. John’s focus is different. He is writing to make the case that Jesus is the light of the world. Remember John’s opening prologue: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and continues to…In the Word was life, and that life was light, a light that shines in the darkness, a light that the darkness has never overcome.”

The Pharisees asked who caused the blindness, the man himself or his parents. Today, we hear televangelists and others declare that illnesses, hurricanes, and other disasters happen because of sinful, immoral living. We are generations away from Jesus, and yet many ask the same question… whose behavior, whose sin, caused this catastrophe?

We know Jesus spent time together at the margins; he ate with so-called sinners and those considered unworthy. He performed miracles, healed many, and even raised people from the dead.

As amazing as each of these events was, Jesus’s life mission was not to dazzle us with miracles and healings but rather to introduce us to a loving, caring God. Jesus came to end our blindness, not just physical blindness, but more importantly, our spiritual blindness.

We often forget that Jesus was remarkably familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus knew he was Jewish, and he belonged to the Chosen people of God. He knew the people of the Torah were not perfect people, but they were chosen, nonetheless. He knew the story of how and why YHWH chose David. He knew that his Abba God sees with the heart.

John wrote this gospel so we would see Jesus as the Light of the world. How was he the light of the world? Jesus’ mission was to end our blindness, our misunderstandings of ourselves, each other, and our God. Jesus wants us to see with our hearts and know that we are, and always have been, chosen and unconditionally loved.

How do you see with your heart?

Statement of Faith:  JayCee and Patti alternate

We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery beyond all definition and rational understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist.

We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word, bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion, bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's prophets, mystics, and saints.

We believe that we are called to follow Jesus as a vehicle of divine love, a source of wisdom and truth, and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy Ones,  the life that is our innermost life, the breath moving in our being, the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now, stretched out all around us for those with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it happen.

Prayer of Intentions, Juanita

As we prepare for the sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares, and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”

We pray for these and all unspoken prayers and concerns. Amen.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Karla: With open hands, let us pray our Eucharistic Prayer together:

Kathy N.   Gracious God, source and sustenance of life, redeeming presence to the pain and brokenness of our world, Holy Spirit, who enlivens and inebriates all that exists, we are grateful for your healing power upon us and all we pray for today.

Down through the ages, you rescue us from darkness. You light up our ways with wise and holy people. You restore our spirits, and you revive our dwindling hope.

Gina:  May the Spirit of life and wholeness transform us that we may be refreshed in our inner being and be empowered to bring compassion, love, and healing to those whose lives we touch.

For all you bring to our lives, and for all we seek amid pain and suffering, we acclaim your love and greatness, and we join with all creation to sing our hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

Karla: Please extend your hands in blessing.

Linda: Source of our health and wholeness, healer of body, mind, and spirit, we bring before you the darkness of our world, and the pain and suffering of your people. We seek to be healed and made whole; we seek to be reconciled and united; we seek peace in our hearts and in our world.

Karla: Awaken anew in our hearts the empowering grace of your abundant Spirit, who infuses these gifts of bread and wine with the transforming energy of life, to nourish and sustain us in our time of need.

Linda: As we gather around this friendship table, we recall God’s blessing and love from ages past, and we celebrate anew the gift of life which we share among us at this Eucharistic feast.

The bread we break and the cup we share are symbols of our world of abundance, where all are invited to partake of the fullness of life.

Karla: All lift your bread:

On the night before he died, he took the Bread, spoke the grace, broke the bread, and offered it to them, saying,

All: Take and eat; this is my very self.

Karla: All lift your cup.

Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them, saying, "Take and drink."

All: Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.

R: We share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. We choose to live justly, love tenderly, and walk with integrity.  Please receive communion saying: Light is within me always.

Communion Song: I am Light. By India.Areie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ism8dBjxKvc     

Prayer After Communion   Karla

May we strive to create a world where suffering and pain are diminished, where justice and peace are restored, and where all people can live in health and wholeness, united in acclaiming the God of life, whose abundance is offered to each and to all, until the Kin-dom arrives in the fullness of time. This prayer we make in the name of our healing and nurturing God through, with, and in whom we offer these gifts, sources of life, love, and goodness, now and forever. Amen.

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Cathy W.

O Holy One, who is within, around, and among us, we celebrate your many names. Your Wisdom comes. Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us, each day you give us all we need; You remind us of our limits, and we let go.  You support us in our power, and we act with courage.

For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us, and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen

(Miriam Therese Winter)

Blessing

Karla:  Let us raise our hands and bless each other.

May your inner eye see through the surfaces and glean the real presence of everything that meets you. May your soul beautify the desire of your eyes that you might glimpse the infinity that hides in the simple sights that seem worn to your usual eyes. May you remember you are walking in the light. Amen. (J. O’Donohue)

Dismissal: Margaret

Closing song: St. Francis Hymn

https://youtu.be/DKvGR-770xg?list=RDDKvGR-770xg