Liturgy

God of Love,
God of Justice,
God of Subversion,
God of the Oppressed,

Hear us.
Welcome us.
Empower us.

Open our eyes to injustice around us.
Crowd our hearts with compassion.
Energize our steps as those of a young colt.
Sweeten our lips with triumphant praises.

“Glory to God in the highest!”
“Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in Heaven!”

When another says, “Prepare a way for me”
May we sprint boldly ahead for them.
When they proclaim, “We need this”,
May we give without question.

Where harshness threatens the path of others,
May we be the palm branches softening the blow.
Where silence exists, may we be the stones firmly shouting,
“Empire has no place here! The kin-dom of God is for all!”

May we hear.
May we welcome.
May we empower.

We pray all this humbly in the name of
God the true Royal,
Christ the Subverter of Empire,
And Holy Spirit the Fire of Rebellion.
Amen.

(Elise Bjork)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the Gospel of Luke 19: 33-40.

33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,
“Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord
needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after
throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks
on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down
from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples
began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds
of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some
of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your
disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were
silent, the stones would shout out.”

The Word 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 – Subversion of Empire as a Form of Holy Protest 04.10.2022

How might God be calling me to subvert injustice in my own sphere of influence?

How can I announce/proclaim the alternate Kin-dom of God this coming week?

What parts of established religious systems do I reject in following the Way of Jesus?

Benediction

Vox family, a battle lies ahead,
opposition, a rock in our path.
We rise up and press on.
Injustice will not persevere.

As cheering turns to jeering, we gaze upon the cross,
Wood turned to water washing over the sins of all.
We live in Christ’s example, steadily plodding on through
the branch-strewn path. No system can contain the freedom
we have in our God, the freedom we have in love.

Let us look for the joys all around us.
Let us relish in the comfort of community.

We are not alone. We are strong and mighty.
We are filled with the passion of the Holy Spirit
The fire of the Christ who rode humbly into
Jerusalem yet shook the Temple is present.
God sees us, and we are loved.
May we also love those around us.

Go forth in the name of
God the Redeemer,
Christ the Crucified,
And the Holy Spirit, Restorer of Life.
Amen.

(Elise Bjork)

Go in peace, and live the church.
May you find belonging and community this week.

[Photo by Lloyd Dirks]