Liturgy

As an opening prayer of lament in the
midst of a pandemic and suffering:

For those who are lost, we mourn.
For all that is broken, we cry out.
With those who weep, we weep.
Suffering Servant, hear our prayer.

For all who are alone, we invite your presence.
For we who are trapped inside, we ask your freedom.
For those without a safe place, we beg your protection.
Help of the helpless, shelter your people.

For those who labor on our behalf, healing,
tending, delivering, we give thanks.
For those whose work has been taken, we ask provision.

For those to whom the world looks for guidance,
we entreat your wisdom.
Shepherd, guide us through this shadow of death.

For all that is obscured, we ask for light.
From all our selfishness, we repent.
From all our anxiety, we turn.
God of love, cast out our fear.

In the name
of God, the Creator,
of Christ, the Risen One,
and of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.
Amen.

(by Emily Cool Greener & Lynn Domina)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the Gospel of Luke 4: 1-13.

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was
led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was
tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days,
and when they were over, he was famished.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command
this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him,
“It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant
all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him,
“To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it
has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.

7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the
Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the
pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will command
his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 11 and ‘On their hands
they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God
to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed
from him until an opportune time.

The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Homily and Reflection

Homily Podcast – Solidarity with the Powerless 03.06.2022

What is our relationship with power and powerlessness in our lives?

How are we invited to embody powerlessness or be in solidarity with those without power?

Benediction

Vox community, every day, may 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.

Hard as it may be,
we bless each step and endure
in the name of God, the Parent,
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.
May you find belonging and community this week.

[Photo by Annie Spratt]