“Be not afraid,” said the angels To Zechariah and Mary and the shepherds. That made sense at Christmas As we welcomed the Prince of Peace. Now we are in a new year, a new time. The unknowns leave us wary, watchful. Sometimes the heavens seem silent And we hear only the cacophony of earth. We stand together on this first edge of the year Like a flock on the bank of the rushing river. Our feet are wet and our stomachs tumble As the water rushes through noisily. How shall we move forward, oh God? You who gathered the waters together And made dry land appear, You know the way through. We want to do more than make it across. We want our toeholds to be your steadfastness, Our linked arms to be your grace, Our changed hearts to be your glory. In the name of the God of heaven and earth, The beloved Son, And the Spirit who hovers over the water, Amen.
(Vox Prayer Team)
Scripture
We invite you to hear from the books of Isaiah 43:1-2; Luke 3:21-22
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
The Good News of the Lord. Thanks be to God! The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
What wisdom have you gained from participating in a community moving through fear and upheaval together?
How can we reorient ourselves around that which is life-giving, for our flourishing, inviting us into mutuality and interdependent beloved community?
If you feel you’ve lost sight of who you’re becoming in Christ, how can you listen for the voice calling you beloved this week?
Benediction
But now, this is what the Lord says— she who created you, , she who formed you: “Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” We belong here, God, with you and with each other. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” We trust that you will be with us as we go forward. “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” We thank you for sustaining us, uniting us, changing us. In the name of our God above, Emmanuel, God with us, And the Spirit dwelling in us. Amen. (Vox Prayer Team)
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