Liturgy

God of heaven, you see what all of us need.
You long to gather us like chicks under your wing.
You offer comfort and protection, a place of rest.
Thank you for giving us all that we need.

God of earth, you see what the vulnerable need.
You want to feed each of your lambs.
You give sustenance to both body and spirit.
Thank you for giving us all that we need.

God of all, you see what the powerful need.
You desire to walk with the humble.
You teach us how to do justice and love kindness.
Thank you for giving us all that we need.

We gather here with awareness of so much need
in our lives and in the lives of others. Give us
ways to trust you for rest, for food, for kindness,
for ourselves and our neighbors near and far.

We give thanks to
the Creator God of heaven and earth,
the Embodiment of Love Divine,
and the Teacher of all Wisdom.
Amen.

(Neisha Hootman)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the Gospel of John 21: 15-19.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”

19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

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 – Forming a New Way of Life 05.01.2022

How might making space for sacraments help disrupt our default patterns?

What does our version of feeding and tending to the vulnerable look like?

What is our tension with following the nonviolent path of Christ?

Benediction

May Christ who invites you to a new life and
give you opportunities to care for others
as well as moments to be cared for.

May He offer you a widening circle
so that loving each other expands
to loving the whole world.

May He see all that you need
and hear all that you ask
and walk beside you each day.

May we go In the name
of God who made us,
Christ who loves us,
and the Spirit who sustains us.
Amen.

(Neisha Hootman)

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

[Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary]