Liturgy Beloved community, let’s begin our timetogether with a calming, restorative breath.[Pause for the congregation to breath]The old stories of this earth repeatagain and again: War and rumors of war,Bombs, bloodshed, and destruction.Oh God, hear our lament.The old stories repeat:Children removed from their families,refugees fleeing their homes,The land stolen and exploited.Oh God, hear our lament.The old stories fail us. These […]
Stories tagged:
love
Make Yourselves at Home in Love
What might it mean for you to make a home in God’s Love? On this sixth Sunday of Easter, Christopher Mack wonders what it means for us to make an intimate, safe, and revolutionary home by mirroring Christ’s Love. [John 15:9-16] Reflection In what ways do Jesus’ words meet and stretch you during our divisive, violent, and overwhelming times? Are […]
Liturgy, Reflection, & Benediction 2024.03.24
Liturgy God of Love, God of Justice,God of Subversion, God of the Oppressed, Hear us.Welcome us.Empower us. Open our eyes to injustice around us.Crowd our hearts with compassion.Energize our steps as those of a young colt.Sweeten our lips with triumphant praises. “Glory to God in the highest!”“Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord!”“Peace in Heaven!” When […]
Anticipating Someone You Love
What’s in the box? On this Palm Sunday, Vanessa Maleare heightens anticipation about experiencing and participating in life with God. Through the acts of Palm Sunday we see Jesus as the sort of king who came to serve everybody else and who doesn’t like to see even his enemies get hurt. [John 12:12-16] Reflection When you picture Jesus back in […]
Reorienting Our Rule of Lent
How might we name the need for and create a different set of practices, as well as theological and communal pathways according to our uniquenesses? On this second Sunday of Lent, Christopher Mack interrogates a one-size fits all spirituality and invites us to “begin again, again” this season. [Romans 4:13-15, 18-22] Reflection What might respecting how the Divine Creator has […]
A Movement of Faith
What have you embraced with your time and attention that is weighing you down? On this first Sunday of Lent, Vanessa Maleare compares the poetic psalms to the stories we tell and how each of us uniquely hears them in light of the story of our Christian faith. [Psalm 25:1-10] Reflection Is there something to which you give your time […]
Liturgy, Reflection & Benediction 2024.02.18
Liturgy My Lord and God, where are you?I used to hear Your voiceAnd now I hear only stillness.I used to hear Your melodyIt would lift me,I would whirl about spinning with arms openBut now I feel old and my ears ringAnd my knees creak and popI lose my breath so quickly and my back aches.I’m afraid my part in Your […]