What does a hug from God feel like? On this Fifth Sunday, Vanessa Maleare leads our entire community, including our younger ones from Greenhouse and Zamyn, in a moment of wonder. She reminds us that God loves us holistically, including our being, thoughts, and feelings. [Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27, 31] Reflection Which song or breath practice might you deepen? Where do […]
Stories tagged:
Creativity
Theology of Making
Marcus Clarke, Resident Artist at Vesper, enters into a conversation with Weylin Lee exploring how art articulates and forms us along our spiritual journey, and encourages us to see our various callings as part of exercising our God given creativity. [Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27, 31] Reflection How are we invited to practice creativity and co-create with Creator? How might our practice […]
Liturgy, Reflection, Benediction 2023.10.22
Liturgy In a world shadowed by cruelty, violence and loss, Is there good reason for the planting of flowers? Yes! For these bursts of color and beautiful blooms are bright dabs of grace, witnesses to a promise, reminders of a spreading beauty more eternal, and therefore stronger, than any evil, than any grief, than any injustice or violence. What is the source of their beauty?The forms […]
Liturgy, Reflection, Benediction 2023.6.25
Liturgy In a world riddled with grief and uncertainty—What words do we speak to soothe our spirits, oh God? Smoke fills the air, violence fills our public space,illness lingers—Where do we go to feel safe, oh God? We are seeking restoration,longing for connection, yearning for joy—How do we reach for flourishing, Oh God? Be with us in our questions.Draw your […]
Into the Midst…
Have you ever had to push through discomfort to stand in your beliefs? On the last weekend of Pride, Amy Wolfgang recounts their own journey of integrating their faith with their queer identity. They challenge us to imagine and live into a hopeful and creative stance toward our collective future. [Matthew 10:27-39] Reflection Is there a hurtful or violent theology […]
Liturgy, Reflection, Benediction 2023.6.18
Liturgy Father, I stretch my hand to thee — for no other help I know.Oh, my Rose of Sharon, my shelter in the time of storm.My Prince of Peace, my hope in this harsh land.We come to you waiting for freedom,We come to you crying for justice,We come to you longing for peace.We bow before you this morning to thank […]
Liberated Into Community
How do we pivot from a past experience of deliverance to forming a community practicing sustained love and liberation? On the weekend of Juneteenth, Christopher Mack recalls the evolution of slavery to Jim Crow segregation to mass incarceration in the United States. How do our scriptures’ images of liberating eagles, nonviolent sheep, creative serpents, and peacemaking doves inform how we […]