WOMEN LED Prayer
January 20, 2007
St Cronan Parish
Sponsored by Justice for Women in the Catholic Church

The work of a woman visionary
Is to know the past
Dream the future
And to act in the present.
- Shiloh Sophia McCloud

Chairs are arranged in a circle, with a barren branch in the middle. The branch is surrounded by grey fabric on which rest white paper cranes. Two pitchers overflowing with white roses tinged in pink rest on either side of the branch.

Introductions

Opening Song
All The Weary Mothers Of the Earth

All the weary mothers of the earth will finally rest
We will take their babies in our arms and do our best
When the sun is low upon the field
To love and music they will yield
And the weary mothers of the earth shall rest
And the farmer on his tractor and beside his plow
Will stand there in confusion as we wet his brow
With the tears of all the businessmen
Who see what they have done to him
And the weary farmers of the earth shall rest
And the aching workers of the world again shall sing
These words in mighty choruses to all will bring
"We shall no longer be the poor
For no one owns us anymore"
And the workers of the world again shall sing
And when the soldiers burn their uniforms in every land
The foxholes at the borders will be left unmanned
General, when you come for the review
The troops will have forgotten you
And the men and women of the earth shall rest
Joan Baez© 1971, 1972 Chandos Music (ASCAP)

Opening prayer

Creative Darkness
You have sent to us the Sun of Justice
Who reveals your truth to all your people.
Liberating Strength
You have made known
Through your messengers and prophets
Through out the ages
That you are
The God of Life and not of death
The God of freedom and not of bondage
The God of love and not of domination
The God of creativity and not of division.
Strengthen your people
Holy Sustainer
That we might struggle
Against exploitation and for happiness
Against injustice and for liberation
Against every deprivation of body and soul.
And always may we know
Your Strength
And your Love.
Nurture us,
Gentle Wisdom
Now and in the times
Of our despair. Amen.
-Elissabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Discipleship of Equals

Isaiah 32:15-20
Psalm response: PS 121
RS- A light in the darkness, a light for the upright.
They are lights in the darkness for the upright;
They are generous, merciful and just.
Good people take pity and lend,
they conduct their affairs with honor.
RS-The just will never waver, they will be remembered forever.
They have no fear of evil news;
with firm hearts they trust in the Lord.
RS-With steadfast hearts they will not fear.
Openhanded they give to the poor.
Their justice stands firm forever.
Their hands will be raised in glory.
RS-
ICEL

A reading from our sister Maya Angelou

Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced
With courage, need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.
-Maya Angelou, Inaugural Poem

Sharing the Word
Preaching: Marie Andrews

Sign of Peace

Closing Prayer
Presider: Now is the time
To climb up the mountain
And to reason against habit.
ALL: Now is the time.
Presider: Now is the time
To renew the barren soil of nature
Ruined by the wind of tyranny.
ALL: Now is the time.
Presider: Now is the time
To commence the litany of hope.
ALL: Now is the time.
Presider: Now is the time
To give me roses, not to keep them
For my grave to come.
Give them to me while my heart beats,
Give them today
While my heart yearns for jubilee.
ALL: Now is the time…
(All are invited to take some roses as we leave.)
Closing song
Circle Round for Freedom Linda Hirchorn & Bob
Glover
Refrain: Circle round for freedom, circle round for peace.
For all of us imprisoned, circle for release.
Circle for the planet, for the children of our children,
Keep the circle whole.
Freedom for foe and family. Freedom for every race and
creed. Freedom, freedom.
Refrain
Peace in our homes and cities. Peace with all lands and
nations. Peace in home.
Refrain
Circle our lives with freedom. Circle our world with blessed
peace. Circle freedom.
Refrain.

Please join us for refreshments.
Join us again for prayer on the third Saturdays.
February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19.

Thanks to all who helped prepare this liturgy many of who are
unable to be with us.