Liturgy
Welcome Vox. Welcome to this safe space, this holy place
where our faithful endurance has brought us together.
It’s true, our endurance is often sourced
from the pain and challenges of daily life,
but let us now rest, be, and breathe.
Let us lean into each other,
God’s word and its truth,
letting the Holy Spirit flow and
be like water quenching our thirsty souls.
Today, we ask that our hearts be filled
and our spirit become lush in abundant faith
in the name of our God,
of the nurturing Son,
and of the replenishing Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(Gabriella Charissa Cruz)
Scripture Reading
We invite you to hear from the reading of Romans 5:1-5.
1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained
access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope
of sharing the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The Good News of Christ. Praise be to you, O Christ!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
Sermon and Reflection
Sermon Podcast 8.11.19 – Touching the Eternal
Is it possible that suffering (loss, trials, temptations, tribulation) is a portal to the presence of the Holy One and thus a path to experiencing joy?
Is there divine purpose in suffering?
Benediction
Vox, every day, we endure this walk of life
with God and our community alongside.
Let us leave today and walk with confidence in the
perfect path God has paved for us all, fully aware
there will be tall hills and deep ravines ahead.
May our enduring faith in God be bigger than any
trial we encounter, for such is the way of good growth.
We bless each step and endure
in the name of God, the Father,
Jesus, our reminder of God’s love,
And in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(Gabriella Charissa Cruz)
Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.
[Photo by Olga Wysopal @ Flickr]