Liturgy

Lord God, we come to you this morning as fragile beings.
Oftentimes, we hide our vulnerability from each other
declaring ourselves weak and unloveable.

We’ve calloused our delicate hearts
to survive our daily hardships.
Unknowingly, these hardened hearts
have kept us from true connection with you,
dear God, one another, and ourselves.

Vox, accept this invitation to remove these barriers
and show the softness of your true selves.
As a community, rest in the gentleness of your being.

We soften our hearts and
receive the good word,
in the name of the Father,
his redeeming Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

(Gabriella Charissa Cruz)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the reading of Isaiah 58:9-12

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

10 if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.

12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.

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 8.25.19 – Watered Garden

How can I invite God’s presence into suffering today?

Where do I sense small sips of rest?

Benediction

Vox, let us leave this place with the
bountiful gifts God has declared for us all.
Let his abundant love be the fullness
on the other side of our emptiness.

Let us remember to rest so that we may
give unto him, others and ourselves.
Let us push through our imperfect humanity
so that we may feel embraced
in the acceptance of our whole being.

Let us step out of our darkness and come
squinting into the light of you, O God.

In your word we trust, dear Father,
in your grace we rest, Son of God,
and in the Holy Spirit we find peace.
Amen.

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

[Photo by Sayaka M @ Flickr]