Nic Acosta reflects on pain and trauma and how we’re invited to explore and engage the tension and mystery that comes with it [Job 38]. Reflection: How can we bring our full selves to the table, both our joy and our pain, and still seek connection? What does it look like to lean into the mystery of Christ, leading us on our bright days and in our darkest hours? Resources: Video: Doctor Distracts Baby from Shots Book: Hillbilly Elegy (JD Vance) Podcast: The Bruenigs 

Vox Veniae Podcast

The Point(lessness) of Pain

Gena St. David reflects on the center of the Christ story and what it means to be saved. What are we saved from? How are we saved? What are we saved for? [Mark 10:17-31] Reflection How does your body respond to the image of nonviolent forgiveness in Jesus? What or who was Jesus trusting, and how did that trust enable him to respond nonviolently? What might become possible for us if we spent more time in embodied trust? 

What Does it Mean to Be Saved?

Weylin Lee reflects on how we are invited to center ourselves and our community around Christ in this next season together and we navigate reconnection and transition [Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12]. Reflection: How can we center ourselves around the embodiment of Jesus' life and teachings? Where can we let go of power and privilege to embrace downward mobility? Whom are the suffering that we can be in solidarity with? Practice: Reflect on who we center ourselves around.  Who are the people we have intentionally or unintentionally chosen to center ourselves around? How can Vox be centered around embodying the life and teachings of Jesus? Downward mobility.  Let go of power and privilege that you normally lean on. Experience a humiliation for your ego Resources: Book: A Church Called Tov (Scot McKnight) Book: The Cross and the Lynching Tree (James Cone)  

Centering Around Christ

Virginia Cumberbatch reflects on what it looks like to praise in the midst of the difficult season we have all been enduring [Psalm 124]. Reflection: How are you giving yourself permission to share and express gratitude for God's preservation, presence and protection? How will you express praise this week/in this season? Resources Song: Good (One House Worship) Song: You Keep On Getting Better (Maverick City Music) Song: In Your Nature (Zoe Worship) 

Blessed Be the Lord

David Wallace reflects on how our need for belonging can lead us to experiencing being othered and how Jesus invites us to see ourselves and others [Mark 9:38-50].   Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt "othered" and a time when you "othered" someone else.  What feelings come to the surface for each? Recall a moment that contributed to masking over the child-like nature of your True Self? How might you see your innocence and release its burden on you? 

We Are Not Other

Gena St David reflects on where we might find comfort in the Christ story when we suffer rejection for living what God invites us into [Mark 8:31-37]. Reflection Which relationships help us endure rejection? Where might the Spirit be inviting us to risk rejection and wage “good conflict”? How might the Christ story comfort us when we suffer rejection? Practice Name your five people – who helps us endure rejection? Name your loving reason – why is rejection sometimes worth it? Name your hope – what about the Christ story comforts us when we suffer rejection? 

What Does it Mean to Be Rejected?

Weylin Lee reflects on our invitation to practice ordinary faith that's grounded in mercy as we push against celebrity culture [James 2:1-17]. Reflection: What does it mean for us to push against celebrity culture in our community? How can we make space to reflect on and receive mercy in our lives? How are we integrating the teachings and life of Jesus as an expression of our faith? Practice: Examine our culture. Reflect on the culture of our Vox community and who it is that we welcome and engage.  How have we shown preference for certain types of people at the expense of others? Reflect on God’s mercy.  Make space to reflect on the ways we have recognized and received God's mercy toward us.  How might we need to unpack and process the barriers that keep us from fully receiving mercy in our lives? Resources: Podcast: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/ 

Ordinary Faith

Simone Talma Flowers reflects on Jesus' invitation to examine our hearts and to experience healing through God's love [Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23]. Reflection Are there areas of my heart that are hardened and shut off? How do I invite God in my life and heal my heart? How can God’s love be central in my heart? 

Our Heart Is Central to Our Faith

James Alison reflects on what Jesus is inviting us to when he asks us to eat the bread and drink of the life that he offers us [John 6:51-69]. Reflection What is the difference between the Manna in the desert, and what Jesus offers in the Eucharist?  Do Jesus’ words scandalize you? How do you understand “coming to be persuaded” that Jesus is the Holy one of God? 

The Bread Come Down from Heaven

Naomi Jackson reflects on the life of Solomon and why God gave him what he asked for and what he didn’t ask for and how that impacts our understanding of wisdom [1 Kings 3:6-14]. Reflection What do we learn about the character of God from their response to Solomon? How does wisdom frame the relationship between humans and God? How does one discern scripture into application? How does one discern scripture into an experience with God? 

Solomon and the Quest for Wisdom

Gena St David reflects on what it means to believe and considers whether it’s less a choice we make and more something that expands within us as we “say yes” to encounters with Jesus that prove trustworthy [John 6:35, 44-51]. Reflection How might I practice coming toward God with my hunger and thirst this week? How might I practice listening to God this week? How might I “taste” the life of Jesus this week? Practice Prayer of Examen.  What am I hungry for today? Listening Prayer.  I’m listening... Eucharist.  What does the Christ story reveal about God’s trustworthiness? 

What Does it Mean to Believe?

Jeff Chu reflects on where the Good News is as we continue to navigate difficult and disruptive transitions in our lives and those around us [Mark 6:14-29]. Reflection What are the things that, like Herod's worldly allegiances, keep you from the allure of holy mystery? What might help you remember the heart of why Jesus's name became known—the good news of love? 

Where is the Good News?

James Alison reflects on how we might be scandalized and what our response would be to the presence of Jesus [Mark 6:1-6]. Reflection What are you scandalized by and what does your scandal stop you from seeing? What does it mean to be scandalized by Jesus? Why are prophets likely to give scandal? 

The Hidden God

Jane Patterson reflects on the interaction Jesus had with the woman who touched his robe in order to be healed and what it means for our calling to serve others [Mark 5:21-43]. Reflection Who has touched you in the last year? Who has touched you in the last week? Who has touched us? Resources Church: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Minneapolis) https://htlcmpls.org 

"Who Touched Me?"

Insil Kang reflects on how our community has been and will need to prepare as we come back together physically and continue the work that God is inviting us towards collectively [Mark 4:35-41]. Reflection How have we been preparing to come back together physically, to continue this ministry at Vox? What have we seen and heard in God’s working in us while we have been physically distant? How can we continue to prepare? Practice Think of the “boats” that have been around you over this past year. Reflect on how they supported you and made you feel safe, even from a distance. Get a piece of stationary or a postcard, write them a note and physically mail it to them this week. As we consider this new opportunity of ministry and community at Vox, take time every day this week to pray for a member who comes to mind. Select a pump up song and play it LOUD as you dance and jump in anticipation of being back together. 

Prepare

The work of the people. Our weekly rhythm of being together as a larger community to WORSHIP and CONFESS, to engage SCRIPTURE and PRAYER, to celebrate EUCHARIST, and to be sent back into the city with a BENEDICTION each and every week.