Liturgy

Vox family, friends, we join together this
morning with hearts made heavy by recent
news, recent traumas, recent wounds.
And life has gone on for many of us.

Lord God, we ask you to be in this place.
Be in our hearts, shine light in our darkness,
give healing. Bring us comfort.

Help us hold space for both sorrow and joy
as we continue to do the work of living.

We gather this morning in the name of
our healer, God,
our teacher, Jesus,
our comforter, Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Community Confession

The funny thing about us as humans is
we think we’re so good at looking good.
We say the right things, attend the right
events, and know the right people.

God, you search our hearts and know
us completely. We cannot hide from you.

We fear really confronting ourselves,
looking honestly into the mirror of our
hearts, and instead, live false truths and
meet our needs in violent ways.

God, help us to look honestly at our hearts.
Help us confront ways in which we cause
violence and pain on our neighbor.

When we hide, we forget that we are already
known, and have been known since before
time began. We forget to remember that you,
God, knew our capacity for both love and hate,
and created us anyway.

Help us rest in the presence of you,
the loving Creator, the one who wants
honesty and connection with us, so that
we might dance together in freedom.

We pray in the name
of our God,
Jesus the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 10.08.17 – Keeping the Wound Clean

What are some helpful responses to human violence?
What violence needs to die inside me so something else can be reborn?

Benediction

May the words of our mouths and
the meditations of our hearts be our
service to God. May they also serve
ourselves, so that we are better able
to serve our neighbor.

May we reflect the light of God’s love,
and shine radical compassion, kindness,
and graciousness to our neighbor.

May our hearts find light, our wounds healing,
and may our peace be restored.

Let the words of our mouths, and
the meditations of our hearts be
pleasing to you, O God,

as we go in the name
of the almighty God,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by Nicola Odemann @ Flickr]