Celebration of the Magdalene Community at Grace Episcopal Church

July 10, 2016

Opening Meditation:

“I open myself to the divine guidance,  I surrender myself to become as a channel for grace, healing and service as God directs my life.”      Caroline Myss, Entering the Castle—an Inner Path to God and Your Soul,  pg. 98

Opening Readings

Excerpt from Psalms 23 @ Madeleine W. Manning

“…You prepare a table before me and invite all my enemies!

And they – they become oil, they anoint my head!

My cup overflows with the gifts they become for me!

I can walk even now with a sure foot,

For goodness and mercy     Follow me

All the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of Lovingkindness

My whole life long.”

A Reading from Circle of Stones by Judith Duerk @ New World Library, 1989

     “How might it have been different for you, if, early in your life, the first time you as a tiny child felt your anger coming together inside yourself, someone, a parent or grandparent, or older sister or brother had said “Bravo! Yes, that’s it!  You’re feeling it!”

     If, the first time you had experienced that sharp awareness of ego, of “me, I’m me, not you” – you had been received and hugged and affirmed, instead of shamed and isolated?

     If someone had been able to see that you were taking the first tiny baby step towards feeling your own feelings, of knowing that you saw life differently from those around you.  If you had been helped to experience your own uniqueness, to feel the excitement of sensing, for the very first time, your own awareness of life.  What if someone had helped you to own all of this…to own your own life?

How might it be different for you?”

[Circle of care:  Anointing of each other]

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Dramatization of the Third Dialogue from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

“And Craving [Desire] said, “I did not see you descend, but now I see you rising.  Why do you lie, since you belong to me?’

     The Soul answered: “I saw you, though you did not see me, nor recognize me.  I was with you as with a garment, and you never felt me.  ‘Having said this, the soul left, rejoicing greatly.

     Then it entered into the third [Power], known as Ignorance,  Ignorance inquired of the soul: “Where re you going?  You are dominated by wicked inclinations.  Indeed, you lack discrimination and you are enslaved.”

     The soul answered: “Why do you judge me since I have made no judgment?  I have been dominated, but I have myself not dominated.  I have not been recognized, but I myself have recognized that all things which are composed shall be decomposed, on earth and in heaven.”

     Freed from this third [Power], the soul continued its ascent, and [saw the fourth Power].  This has seven

Manifestations:

The first manifestation is Darkness; the second, Craving; the third, Ignorance; the fourth Lethal Jealousy; the fifth, enslavement to the Body, the sixth, Intoxicated Wisdom; the seventh, Guileful Wisdom.

These are the seven manifestations of Wrath, and they oppressed the soul with questions:

    ‘Where do you come from, murderer?              And

    ‘Where are you going, vagabond?’

The soul answered:  “That which oppressed me has been slain; that which encompassed me has vanished; my craving has faded, and I am freed from my ignorance.  Henceforth I travel toward Repose where time rests in the Eternity of Time;  I go now into Silence.”

Having said all this, Mary became silent, for it was in silence that the Teacher spoke to her. {adapted from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene   page 35-7; J.-Y.LeLoup, @2004 Inner Traditions}

CONVERSATION   What is holding us back?

CLOSING MEDITATION

   “Love Me Tender”

Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go.

You have made my life complete, and I love you so.

Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled.

For my darlin’ I love you, and I always will.

Love me tender, love me long.  Take me to your heart.

For it’s there that I belong, and we’ll never part.

Love me tender, love me dear, tell me you are mine.

I’ll be yours through all the years, til the end of time.

-           Songwriters  Vera Matson, Elvis Presley