Vox Veniae Podcast

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell. We are invited to experience a common and awe-inspiring grace as we abide with Jesus. Where do people find transforming grace at Vox? What particular ways are we invited to embody Divine grace and invite others to experience this sustaining grace with us?  On this fifth week of our series, Christopher Mack explores how we are invited to realize God is justice, rest in God’s Presence, and rise to see and serve God in our neighbor. This is a lifelong journey of living and learning, huddling together to guard our collective hope in God’s good future. Reflection Questions: What is the wisdom of your body telling you about this present moment? Do you experience pressure for performative gestures, cynical critiques, or overwhelmed withdrawals? How has Vox been a voice of grace in the face of injustice in the past, forming us today?

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell. We are invited to experience a common and awe-inspiring grace as we abide with Jesus. Where do people find transforming grace at Vox? What particular ways are we invited to embody Divine grace and invite others to experience this sustaining grace with us?  On this third week of our series, Vanessa Maleare reflects on what makes invitations to grow and companion one another meaningful and transformative. Reflection Questions: Who has been a “friend to your heart”? What are you seeking/looking for? What do you need from your intimate connection with Jesus?

Vanessa Maleare, a pastor and spiritual leader, shares insights on invitations to companionship with Jesus. She discusses the profound sense of loneliness many feel and the importance of authentic friendships, exemplified by her lifeline friend Crystal. Vanessa contrasts genuine spiritual invitations with transactional ones, urging listeners to reflect on their needs and connections with Jesus. She emphasizes that true transformation comes from being authentic and extending heartfelt invitations to others, fostering a community centered on divine grace.

Eric Robinson, a software engineer turned former minister, explores the powerful themes of bicultural identity and grace. He dives into the early church's scattering during persecution and how diverse believers bridged cultural divides in Antioch. Eric shares insights on living between cultures, the joys and struggles that come with it, and highlights Biblical figures like Barnabas. He emphasizes the dynamic nature of God's mercy and encourages listeners to discern their spiritual journeys, following the Spirit toward justice and collective belonging.

The discussion dives into the often-overlooked grace present in our lives, challenging listeners to see beyond their struggles. Christopher shares his initial reluctance toward John's Gospel, framing it as a lens to recognize spiritual vitality. Using a Westworld analogy, he illustrates how we can fail to see obvious grace. The conversation highlights how the Vox community embodies divine grace and invites personal stories of transformative encounters. Ultimately, it emphasizes the need for introspection and participation in the grace that surrounds us.

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this final week of Advent, Christopher explores the loneliness of the human condition juxtaposed with a God who is with us in every mess and who invites us to love by leading with mercy.  Reflection Questions: How do you experience belovedness in your body?  What would it look like for you to trust your own experience of God’s Love? Where do you hope to make a place for the freshness of God’s Love in your life?

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this third week of Advent, Christopher looks at the fragility of God being with us in even the most challenging and harrowing of times.  Reflection: What does your soul rejoice in? Is it harder for you to find joy in giving mercy or in receiving mercy? What is your prayer to the God of Upheaval?

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this second week of Advent, Vanessa looks at the fragility of God being with us in even the most challenging and harrowing of times.  Reflection  Where do you spy God? Where do you long to see peace realized in your personal life? What can you do to bring peace to others?

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this first week of Advent, Christopher looks at the genealogy of Jesus through the lens of Mary, searching for hope in a season of despair.  Reflection  How can we wear our own skin with gratitude instead of loathing? What is Divine Wisdom inviting you to trust? Who is someone in your life who illuminate hope for you? 

Homily Title: Reconstructing Sunday School: From Literal Fear to Imaginative Love While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.    Special guest, Sarah Swartzendruber, co-pastor at Cascade Church in Portland, OR continues our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, by exploring how we relate to the faith that was handed down to us and how we might reimagine more loving and holistic ways of sparking faith conversations and formation with kids in our lives. [Mark 1:10-13]   Reflection  If you were in faith spaces as a kid or student, what messages were you given about God? What “tips or solutions” would you add for moving away from “fear-based” theology? If you could teach your childhood self one message about God, what would it be? Resource PDF: Vox Childlike Faith of Curiosity