Liturgy

Ever-present God,
you meet us in the borderlands,
in places neither here nor there, at times

when we are well out of our comfort zone;

even if we don’t know where we’re going,
when we feel most lost,

you are there: thank you, God.

We thank you for all we can learn from
our siblings who live on the
edge, in the borderlands:

about gratitude, grace and healing hope.

You meet us in the borderlands,
to call us back to you
and to remind us the promise of a coming home,

We pray in the name
of the God Who Is On the Move
the Nonviolent Nomad with No Place to Sleep
and of Spirit Hovering Over Unformed Chaos
Amen.

Scripture

We invite you to hear from the book of Genesis 12:1-4

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”,
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

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 – Leaving Home 3.05.2023

How are you “leaving home” (identity, loyalty, authority) in this season?

What’s helping you “leave home” in trust?

Who are you “leaving home” with?

Benediction

Let us close with a benediction.

We have gathered here as a rest stop
and now we gather ourselves
For this season’s many leavings.

As we release our grip on the familiar
may God grant us new mercies
and fresh trust,
in our creativity, resiliency, and Creator

As we approach the expansive unknown
may we find through Christ
and in one another
a welcoming home

As we go into unfolding possibilities,
May we sense your Spirit with us always,
Even to the very edge of our existence

We are on the move in the name
of the God of wilderness wanderers
Jesus, our compassionate companion
and Spirit who sustains our steps
Amen.

[Photo by Mari Madriz ]