A Eucharistic Service
Setting:
Prepare
the space for this eucharistic service by creating a focus
with a table in the centre decorated with cloths, candles,
fresh flowers if possible, bread and wine, and elements
from nature.
INTRODUCTION:
Each
person attending this service is asked ahead of time to
bring with them some prized object from creation, a shell,
a stone, a pebble, etc that speaks a message to them.
As the leader begins the service he shares his object with
the group, saying in a few short sentences how his 'object'
reminds him of the link between creation and God.
Each one in turn is asked to share similarly with the group
gathered and places his object around the central table, or
on the table.
READINGS:
(The following four
sections are read separately with a pause after each
reading.)
God of
the Universe
Heaven
is
my father and
earth is
my mother and even
such a small creature as I am myself, I find an intimate
place in its midst. That which extends throughout the
universe, I regard as my body, and that which directs the
universe, I regard as my nature. All people are my brothers
and sisters and all things are my
companions.
Chang
Tsai an
eleventh century Chinese official wrote these words on the
west wall of his office to remind him of creation.
The
Eye of God Galaxy
Who Owns the Earth
The Earth
does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth. This we
know. All things are connected like the blood which unites
one family. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the sons and daughters of the Earth. We do not
weave the Web
of life; we are
merely a strand in it.
What
we do to the Web
we do to
ourselves.
The
Earth is precious to God, and to harm the Earth is to heap
contempt upon its Creator.
Our
dead never forget this most beautiful Earth, for it is the
Mother of the Red man. We are part of the Earth and it is
part of us.
Chief Seattle, native
American Indian
in the name of progress, economic development, industrialisation.
|
These images are just a gentle reminder to us of what we do to the earth |
The Rain Forests
The
rain forests are the lungs of the earth. In destroying the
rain forests not only are we endangering the
“cardiovascular” potential of the earth itself,
but we are also destroying, at an accelerated rate, much of
the earth’s bio-diversity. The rain forests are the
richest source of biodiversity on our planet. For each acre
of rain forest destroyed, thousands of unique life species
are brought to extinction. We are on the road to turning
our earth into a stagnant, lifeless,
cesspool.
The
Ecological Age
The ecological age fosters the deep awareness of the sacred
presence within each reality of the universe. There is an
awe and reverence due to the stars in the heavens, the sun,
and all heavenly bodies; to the seas and the continents; to
all living forms of trees and flowers; to the myriad
expressions of life in the sea; to the animals of the
forests and the birds of the air. To wantonly destroy a
living species is to silence forever a divine voice. Our
primary need of the various life forms of the planet is a
psychic, rather than a physical need. The ecological age
seeks to establish and maintain this subjective identity,
this authenticity at the heart of every being. If this is
so of the pre-human phase of life, it is surely true of the
human also.
Thomas
Berry The
Dream of the Earth p.
46
PAUSE
At this
time, the group is asked to spend some quiet time on
reflecting on the readings and the pictures. The
candle is lit - with a short comment on the importance of
fire to mankind in its history and the use of the image of
the lighted candle to symbolize the Alpha and the
Omega. The overhead lights are turned off during this
time and native Indian or aboriginal music is softly
played. If none is available, soft music with nature
sounds may be used. When an appropriate time has
passed you may lead into the next section on
Reconciliation.
Rite of
Reconciliation:
Leader:
Since the
care of the earth is a responsibility for each one of us,
there is an opportunity now to reflect on my personal use
of the earth’s resources.
There
is also an opportunity for me to make a commitment for the
future.
I have
an opportunity to act differently, to change my behaviour
in some simple way that lessens the level of abuse
inflicted on the earth.
(Paper
and pencil/pens are made available. Use pencil and
paper if you wish to write down your response. After
a few moments the slips of paper are passed into a bowl and
placed on the table.)
Offertory
Bread and Wine which Earth has given and human hands have
made.
Leader:
As we gather to celebrate this eucharistic service this
day, we pause to contemplate the fruitfulness of the earth
that has given us bread and wine and many other gifts
essential to our well being. We are invited to be thankful
to God for this bounty.
Each
person is invited to express gratitude to the Creator God
for some gift of creation that he is aware of today.
Pause a moment to reflect on what gift you are aware of
today.
◊◊◊
|
The form of words below is merely a suggestion. You are encouraged to give expression to the words that surface from deep inside yourself where the Creator God continues to live and move and beget new life. |
|
|
|
Creator God, this day I want to thank you very especially for the gift of ______________ with which you have blessed our world and for which I am deeply grateful. |
Eucharistic
Prayer
R/1
We are mindful today that you
feed us all through the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth.
His
body given, his blood poured out, have become our food for
new life.
He
stood up in our midst and declared what his mission was to
be:
the
outpouring of your Spirit and his.
R/2
He stepped beyond the boundary
dividing Jew and Samaritan,
man
and woman slave and free. He broke the taboos of
his
society,
dining with the tax-collectors and
sinners.
He
challenged the keepers of the law, who placed on
others
burdens
they themselves would not carry.
He
touched and soothed lepers and consoled
widows,
and
embraced children.
R/3
And then he sat at the table
one last time with his friends. He was himself about
to be shaped
and
moulded by betrayal and emptiness,
to
discover and reveal the fidelity of you, his
Father,
even
in the ultimate dissolution of death.
After singing his disciples the
songs of their story,
he
rose and did a new thing.
He
took the bread that lay before him, he blessed
it,
he
broke, he gave it to them saying,
“Take
and eat this; it is my body, given for
you.”
Share the
Bread
(The bread
is passed around, broken, and shared by the people
gathered.)
(After
the bread has been eaten, the service
continues.)
R/4
Then he took the cup of wine,
said a prayer of blessing and invited them
to
drink
together saying,
“This
is the cup of my blood, poured out in a new and
irrevocable
covenant
with you and with all.
When
you gather, you do these things. Feed one
another
And
so remember me.”
Share the
Wine
(The
wine is passed around, and shared by the people
gathered.)
(After
the wine has been consumed, the service
continues.)
R/5
In the power of his offering,
of his unending life, death, and
resurrection,
we
come before you as a single people as a single
cosmos,
in
blessing and in adoration.
We
join in a special way with all those we call
"church",
and
pray that we all may become better gatherers and
nurturers;
that
his freedom to die may enable us to let go of our
tendency
to
build our lives at the expense of
others.
All
Together
Show us how to feed and how to
allow ourselves to be fed;
to
clothe and shelter, and allow ourselves to be clothed and
sheltered.
Show
us how to reverence all that you have
created,
and
how to use your gifts generously and
wisely,
mindful
of all those living beings who share the planet with
us
and
who are profoundly affected by the way in which we
reverence
or
fail to reference your bounty.
Amen.
Closing
Song:
Suggested
song is 'Mother
Earth' by Monica Brown. If that
is not available any other suitable song that focuses on
creation as God's gift to us will do.
Closing:
Recite
together the Our Father and then a Kiss of
Peace.
Br Mark Mc Donnell (