M3M: August 7, 2008 Theme: DO NOT BE AFRAID
Opening #52 One in Whom We Live
Prayer #47 My Spirit Rests in You Alone
Table #24 Fill Me With Bread
Sanctus #31 Holy, Holy, Holy One 1
Closing Dance and Sing
A Reading from the Christian Gospel: Mark 6: 45-52 The Message, paraphrase
As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead across to Bethsaida while he dismissed the congregation. After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray. Late at night the boat was far out at sea, Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared out of their wits. Jesus was quick to comfort them, “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated into their hearts.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
A Reading from the Oral Tradition of Africa: Anonymous: Teaching Eagles to Fly in The Witness 04/1997
Perched by a great king’s throne was an eagle. Each day she would soar through the clouds. The people would look up with pride. But one year the kingdom was overthrown. The people were enslaved and the eagle captured. Before her death, she laid three eggs which were placed in a chicken yard. When they hatched, all the chickens laughed. “Oh my! Big old heads! Stubby little necks! What ugly chickens!” The eagles began to droop. A year passed. Then a captured eagle was tossed into the barnyard. He was hurt but flapped his wings incessantly. The chickens laughed. “What are you doing, you dumb, ugly chicken? Chickens can’t fly.” “I am not dumb or ugly and I am not a chicken,” responded the eagle. “Eagles were born to soar.” A few roosters were incensed by this chicken’s bad attitude, and pecked at the eagle until he was bloodied. But one morning the chickens found the great eagle perched atop the barnyard fence. A young eagle who believed himself a chicken said quietly, “Please come down from there or you’ll get us all in trouble.” “My brothers, come with me,” said the great eagle with power and authority. Two of the young eagles rose to the air. The last young eagle, however, still hugged his big wings close to his sides. The great eagle knew that this brother’s young spirit had been corrupted before it could grow strong. “I will pray for you, my brother,” the great eagle said. “Your real destiny is in the skies.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
A Reading from the Continuing Revelation of God to People of Faith: Julian of Norwich quoted in Matthew Fox, Original Blessing, P. 82
Often our trust is not full. We are not certain that God hears us because we consider ourselves worthless and as nothing. This is ridiculous and the very cause of our weakness. I have felt this way myself.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
