Sunday 3-30-08

A Reading from Genesis 1:1-5, Tanakh

When God began to create heaven and earth--the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind (spirit) from God sweeping over the water--God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. god called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day

.CALL TO SILENCE AND OPENING MEDITATION
A Reading from the Gospel of Philip 53:14-23, NHL

Light and darkness, life and death, right and left, are brothers of one another. They are inseparable.Because of this neither are the good good, nor the evil evil; nor is life life, nor death death.For this reason each will dissolve into its original nature. But those who are exalted above the world are indissoluble, eternal.
(from An Uncommon Lectionary by John B. Butcher, pg 81, 2002)

Ode 8: 1-12 (read responsively)
Open your hearts to the exultation of the Lord And flow your love from your heart to your lips in a holy life. Carry fruit to the Lord. Talk and look in his light.Stand up with your shoulders back, You who sank low.Your who were silent, speak, Your mouth has been opened.You were despised. Now feel uplifted. Your goodness is high.The right hand of the Lord is with you. The Lord will help you.[Christ begins speaking ]"Hear the Word of truth Drink knowledge I offer from the Most High. Your flesh cannot know what I say to you, Nor your garments what I show you.Keep my Mystery. It keeps you. Keep my faith. It keeps you.Know my knowledge, you who know me in truth. Love me tenderly, you who love.I do not turn my face from my own.. I know them."
(from An Uncommon Lectionary by John B. Butcher, pg 81-2, 2002)

A Reading from Julian of Norwich

All shall be well, And all shall be well, And all manner of things Shall be well.

(as quoted in The Seeker's Guide, by Elizabeth Lesser, pg. 387, 1999)

A Reading from the Gospel of Mary, pages VIII (11-24) and IX (1-20)

...The Blessed One ... greeted them all saying, 'Peace be with you-- may my Peace arise and be fulfilled within you! "Be vigilant, and allow no one to mislead you by saying, 'Here it is!' or "There it is!'"For it is within you that the Son of Man dwells. Go to him, for those who seek him, will find him.""Walk forth, and announce the gospel of the Kingdom. Impose no law other than that which I have witnessed."Do not add more laws to those given in the Torah, lest you become bound by them."Having said all this, he departed.The disciples were in sorrow, shedding many tears, and saying: "How are we going to go among the unbelievers and announce the gospel of the Kingdom of the Son of Man?"They did not spare his life, so why should they spare ours?" Then Mary arose, embraced them all and began to speak to her brothers:. "Do not remain in sorrow and doubt, for his Grace will guide you and comfort you. Instead let us praise his greatness, for he has prepared us for this. He is calling upon us to become fully human." Thus Mary turned their hearts toward the Good, and they began to discuss the meaning of the Teacher's words.
(from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves Leloup, pg. 27-9, 2002)

CALL TO CONVERSATION

CLOSING PRAYER AND MEDITATION (in unison)

Dear Divine One:May there come over the earth a great and glorious light. May we remember Heaven.May all who suffer feel pain no more.May sorrow depart, may disease end, may war stop, may doubts cease, and all hearts gladden.May we remember Heaven.May every child and every man and every woman now, this instant, feel sure release from the bondage of their past. Amen

(Adapted from Illuminated Prayers by Marianne Williamson, 1997)