A Celebration of our
Common Journey
on our precious Earth
Women Led Prayer
August 25th, 2007
Sponsored by
Justice for Women in the
Catholic Church
Catholic Action Network
“You are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one is called to become
Who you are called to be.”
- Edwina Gately
Welcome and Introductions
Opening Song: O Beautiful Gaia by Carolyn McDade
O East you are freshness, Virgin light of each new day
O Gaia calling us home, Calling us on.
Refrain: O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia, Calling us on.
O South we bring praises, Strong source of our sun’s-heat
O Gaia calling us home, Calling us on.
O West vast horizon, Holding our dreams and our dying
O Gaia calling us home, Calling us on.
O North, great preserver, Cool breezes and crisp frost
O Gaia calling us home, Calling us on.
O Sacred Center, We live in you always
O Center calling us home, Calling us on.
Opening Prayer:
You are bountiful, O God, all your desires for us are good
Within you, within me, lies a godling seed,
Fed by our love toward its birthing.
And in that emerging will be great gentleness and grace- -
Pleasure and yearning delight
And Creator/ Creation in full-filling embrace!
Readings :
Jeremiah 29: 11-12
Every part of this earth is sacred,
Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore,
Every mist in the dark woods,
Every clearing and humming insect is holy.
The rocky crest, the juices of the meadow, the beasts and all the people,
All belong to the same family.
Teach your children that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the eath befalls the children of the earth.
The water’s murmur is the voice of our father’s father.
We are part of the earth and the earth is part of us.
The rivers are our brothers; the quench our thirst.
The perfumed flowers are our sisters.
The air is precious,
For all of us share the same breath.
The wind that gave our grandparents breath also receives their last sigh.
The wind gave our children the spirit of life.
This we know, the earth does not belong to us;
We belong to the earth.
This we know, all things connected,
Like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.
Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.
For we did not weave the web of life;
We are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web
We do to ourselves.
Let us give thanks for the web in the circle that connects us,
Thanks be to God, the God of all.
Called to Become
by Edwina Gateley V.M.M. Psalms of a Laywoman
You are called to become
A perfect creation
No one is called to become
Who you are called to be.
It does not matter
How short or tall
Or thick-set or slow
You may be.
It does not matter
Whether you sparkle with life
Or are silent as a still pool,
Whether you sing your song aloud
Or weep alone in darkness.
It does not matter
Whether you feel loved and admired
Or unloved and alone
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
No one’s shadow
Should cloud your becoming,
No one’s light
Should dispel your spark.
For the Lord delights in you,
Jealously looks upon you
And encourages with gentle joy
Every movement of the Spirit
Within you.
Unique and loved you stand,
Beautiful or stunted in you growth
But never without hope and life.
For you are called to become
A perfect creation.
This becoming may be
Gentle or harsh,
Subtle or violent, But it never ceases,
Never pauses or hesitates,
Only is-
Creative force-
Calling you
Calling you to become
A perfect creation.
Sharing: I am a perfect creation because....
Crowning with Baby’s Breath: (Name), You are created in God’s image in her own image she has created you.
Sign of Peace
Closing Prayer:
Oh God I thank you for having created me as I am, I thank you for the sense of fulfillment I sometimes have. That fulfillment is after all nothing but being filled with YOU. I promise you to strive my whole life long for beauty and harmony and also humility and true love, whispers of what I hear inside me during my best moments.
Closing Song: Oh Beautiful Gaia
O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia, Calling us on.
Please join us for coffee and tea.
A short meeting will follow fellowship for those interested.
Women who are called to ordination are welcome to preside and give the homily. If you are interested please contact Megan Heeney at 314-721-2977.
If you are interested in helping to prepare the liturgy or share any talent you might have please let Megan know. We always need signers and musicians,
All men and women are invited to join us in prayer.
In August we will begin meeting on the fourth Saturday of the month at 10 am.
That will be August 25, September 22, October 27, November 24, and December 22. The October 27th liturgy will be held in the evening at 6:00 at the Stone Shelter in Tower Grove Park. This liturgy will be followed by a potluck.
Hope you will join us.