How might we re-imagine God’s justice in a restorative framework rather than a primarily punitive one? On Christ the King Sunday, Christopher Mack reexamines scriptures on God’s justice and judgment through a lens of nonviolent theology and restorative justice. [Matthew 25:31-40] Reflection Where are you struggling to see God at work in our divisive, violent, over-consumptive, and destructive world? When […]
Stories tagged:
spiritual growth
Liturgy, Reflection, Benediction 2023.11.12
Liturgy We gather together as the rhythms of nature begin to slow, cool, anddarken. The nights grow longer, the trees prepare to hibernate, and weseek our own sense of rest.God of the Heavens and the Earth, teach us to see, hear, and tastethe inherent wisdom woven throughout creation.Open our eyes to recognize that wisdom is not found in the endlesspursuit […]
Finding Wisdom
What does wisdom mean to you? Gena St. David glimpses the wisdom of nature as shared through life, trees, and rain. We are invited to consider how we might find spiritual wisdom in the cycle of connection, disconnection, and reconnection embodied in nature and the life of Jesus. [Proverbs 3:13-20] Reflection What wisdom have you learned by observing patterns in […]
Let’s Not Do This
When you think about your story of faith, is there a season where you felt especially burdened by the teachings and ideas around you? Kimberly Culbertson follows up her October 1st message, “Rethinking Priesthood” with a reminder of three areas, Problematic Sexual Ethic, Religious Responsibility, and Disregard for Self, where we should reconsider how religious leaders have set limitations to […]
God Loves Every Part
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 […]
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 […]