Liturgy

Weariness fills our bones,
Our aching bodies swell.
Friends, how can we endure?
We look to those who have come before us—
To Moses, whose feet had known only trouble
Until you planted them on holy ground.

Our spirits are freighted
With the pain of those we love,
Friends, how can we rise to comfort them?
We look to those who have come before us—
To Jacob, who even as his own death approached,
Found strength to stand, lean on his staff, and bless his sons.

Our worries pool at our ankles,
They rise and soak us to the core.
Friends, where will we find shelter?
We look to those who have come before us—
To Rahab, whose unlikely faith saved
the revered and reviled alike.

Hear and speak this truth together, Vox family:
The road we walk is hard.
We tire, ache, and shiver.
But the road is also well-worn,
And in the distance there is a cloud
Of those who walked before us.

In the name of
God our Creator,
Christ our Savior,
and the Holy Spirit, our Guide.
Amen.

(Luke Helm)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the reading of Hebrews 12: 1-2.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,

and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

who for the sake of the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has
taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

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 8.18.19 – Hard Times

How does my small story connect with the larger story?

How does ‘looking where the artist looked’, help me see God’s trustworthiness?

Benediction

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,

May the Lord be gracious to you,
lift up his countenance upon you,
and may the Lord give you peace.

Be blessed, weary children,
and feel the love of the Father,
the mercy of the Son,
and the balm of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

(Luke Helm)

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

[Photo by hacione @ Flickr]