Liturgy The violence in the world is old,Our place in the world is ever new. Work in us, Good Shepherd, andGive us the foresight to distinguishThe wolves beneath the willow;Give us courage as you scatterwhat prowls in wait. The goodness in the world is old,The threats to it seem ever new. Guide our simple steps, high upon the cliffs,Or low […]
Stories tagged:
community
The Peculiarity of Expired Dreams
How do you work through your expired dreams? On the eve of our Fall vision series, Christopher Mack ponders how setbacks, dead ends, failure, and loss shape our spiritualith. How might we see ourselves and one another with new eyes of hope, imagination, and solidarity for the journey ahead? [Exodus 3:1-15] Reflection How have you been shaped by expired dreams? […]
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 […]
Liturgy, Reflection, Benediction 2023.5.28
Liturgy We sit here on the edge of summerAnd we long for signs of home.We want to be invited onto the porchAnd offered a cool drink of lemonade.God, we are looking for the familiar. We are all together in one place nowAnd we hear the whisper of a wind comingWe are filled in surprising waysAnd made into new people.God, we […]