Prayer, Silence, Sabbath—Easter Liturgy at Agape

The simplest, most honest and direct prayer we pray is the prayer of silence.  In our daily periods of meditation and silence, we seek to become still enough that if we are to submit to the call of Jesus, we need silence.  In our silence, we become "still" enough to listen to a speaking God, a voice that is alive in our very midst.  Jesus rose before dawn and went out to a lonely place (Mark 1:35).  The word uttered by the Divine is a word filled with silence.
 
To fully experience the blessing of being alive, enjoy leisure and rest, is to observe the Sabbath.  This ancient practice finds its origin in the Genesis Story and is loved by People Israel for thousands of years.  In observing the Sabbath, all work ceases from Sundown on Saturday through Sunday.  We encourage leisure activities, fellowship, hikes, recreation, music and days of solitude.

As Catholic lay community, we maintain a devotion to the liturgical traditions.  At the same time, we remain open to the creative tension of new movements within the church and the uniqueness and power of our experience as lay Catholics.  We are open to diversity of religious expression by those of different faiths who visit, volunteer or intern at Agape.
  
We rejoice in the inner authority with which women and laity inspire a new vision of the church as together we build authentic Christian communities for the 21st Century.

Priests at Agape

Agape is blessed by the many devoted priests, including our chaplain of 12 years, now at Berkeley School of Theology, David Gill SJ, and Fr. Fred Enman SJ, (picture), as well as countless others who preside at Agape’s liturgies which include shared homilies, outdoor bonfires, dramatic readings from the congregation, lively musical an dramatic participation.

“What I most treasure is the opportunity to be in regular companionship with folks who know so well and live so conscientiously, the truths embodied in the life and teaching of Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and other heroes and heroines of nonviolent peace seeking.”
— David Gill, SJ