Liturgy

This morning, as we celebrate the second week of Advent,
Let us first take a moment. To quiet our minds. Quiet our bodies. And quiet our spirits. And let us welcome Peace.

Into every part of ourselves. Feel peace pour over us like warm sticky honey.
Feel it cover our hands and our feet. Feel Peace envelop us. Shielding us. Protecting us.

We breathe Peace into our lungs. And exhale any stress or anxiety we may be feeling about what lies ahead. Let the worries of tomorrow melt away, and take a moment to inhabit this space.

Let us feel your Peace wash over us,
And create in us a sense of joyful,
Rejuvenating rest. So that you may prepare in us a peaceful confidence for what lies ahead. Remind us that you have come,
and are here now inhabiting this space with us.

And remind us that your Peace travels with us wherever we may go.
We pray in the name of God, the Author. Christ, the Prince of Peace. And the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. Amen

(Vox Prayer Team)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the Gospel according to Mark 1:1-5

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’” 4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

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: Preparing for Peace

• How is love helping me hold on?
• Which parts of life feel like caterpillar soup?
• How am I inviting my community to come near?

Benediction

Lord, we thank you for going before us and preparing a way for us to follow.
We thank you for a light in the darkness. And we thank you for Peace in the chaos.
We ask that you prepare in us a change so that we might embody your Peace as we live out this busy season.
Give us eyes to see. Ears to hear.
So that we might also prepare
a place for others to experience You.
And may your Peace continue to envelop us
and provide guidance for the steps we have yet to take.
In the name of God, our Navigator. Christ, our Companion.
And the Holy Spirit, the air in our lungs. Amen

(Vox Prayer Team)

Photo By Christian Lue