Liturgy

The Spirit of God transforms our minds and hearts.
She stretches our imagination and expands our notions of possibility.

With hope, She urges us toward futures yet perceived.
Creation groans, awaiting collective freedom.

Redemption is coming. God will birth new worlds among us.
Through faith, we labor for renewal and restoration.

Free us from the constraints evil has placed upon our dreams.
We struggle to hope outside of what we have known.
We find it difficult to practice imagination
that is not bound by our fears or tainted with cynicism.

Open our minds.
Fill us with grand visions of life abundant.

We pray in the name of the
Inseparable Love of God,
of Christ the Liberator,
and Spirit who groans
alongside all creation
Amen.
(Adapted from Enfleshed Liturgy)

Scripture

We invite you to hear from the letter to the Romans 8:20-25.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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 – Creation & Trust 7.23.2023

What can we do today to help creation be free?
How is our pain like creation’s pain?
What does a trusting relationship with creation look like?

Benediction

Let us close with a benediction.

May the God of Creation,
the God of seas and skies,
fish and fowl,
be with you always.

May the God of the forest,
the God of grass and glade,
fill you with the sap of life,
transform you into the image
of the Nonviolent One,
and grow you into
a community of faithfulness.

Let us go from here,
participating in the work of
of the Creator who loves,
of the Savior who forgives,
and of the Holy Spirit, our Breath of Life.
Amen.

[Photo by Neom ]