Vox Veniae Podcast

Despite the evidence around us, how can we awaken to God’s posture of love and liberation for the earth? On the fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Virginia Cumberbatch names the disruption, disappointment and injustice we face, while guiding us to the liberation movements of acknowledging, awakening, and anticipating God’s loving presence all around us and our world. [Isaiah 40:21-31] Reflection How might we renew our strength, our faith, in the midst? How can the uncertainty or mystery of our human condition embolden us in our collective purpose for equity and liberation? How can we entrust the big, the unknown, the scary to God’s hands? Resources Book: Shoutin’ In the Fire: An American Epistle by Dante Stewart  

How has pride in our knowledge limited our ability to love? On the fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Weylin Lee invites us into a practice of discernment rooted in mutuality that respects difference, embodied contemplation, and a freedom that protects the vulnerable. [1 Corinthians 8:1-6]   Reflection Where does knowledge limit and hinder our posture and practice of love and mutuality? What is our invitation to consider meaningful relationships with those beyond our own comfort and alignment? What does a nonviolent practice of empathy look like as we hold space for difference? Resources Book: This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley

How might we creatively embody good news toward our enemies? On this third Sunday after Epiphany, Christopher Mack glimpses Divine Love enveloping our pain, extending toward our enemies, and shifting our perspective through the story of Jonah.  [Jonah 3:1-5, 10] Reflection Is there somewhere pain has you locked in a cycle that isn’t working?  Where might God’s Love invite you to shift your perspective? What might it mean to show up wholly for yourself and others?

Homily: The Good Work What stories and beliefs did you inherit about sexuality? On this second Sunday after Epiphany, Kimberly Culbertson invites us to question and explore our inherited beliefs and practice, in light of Paul’s paradigm of the good and beneficial.  [1 Corinthians 6:12-13]   Reflection As you consider the work of being human, can you begin to prayerfully ask God, “Is this beneficial? Or is this destructive in some way?”  How can you lean into community as you discern right actions for your life?   We are members of one another. How is your life helping your communities to thrive

Can you recall a life realization that in retrospect appeared glaringly obvious? On this first Sunday after Epiphany, Lilly Ettinger invites us to wonder at God’s radical inclusion and how it invites the formation of a Beloved Community experiencing rescue and restoration.  [Isaiah 60:1-6] Reflection Where might you “lift your eyes” and see the world around you? Is there a place where you once felt like you didn’t belong but now do?  What changed? What needs to change?  

Who do you know that gives really good hugs? On this Fifth Sunday, Vanessa Maleare leads the Wonder Moment for our New Year’s Eve liturgy and brunch. She invites children of all ages to remember and reside in our beloved belonging. [Galatians 4:4-7]

What are the glimpses of hope, peace, joy, and love that we are invited to notice and hold with us? On the Friday before Christmas, Weylin Lee looks back on our year through both a global and local lens, before inviting us to practice sacred reading or lectio divina to glimpse grace in our own lives. [Luke 2:13-20] Resource Practice: Vox Lectio Divina Guide  https://voxveniae.com/lectio-divina/

Explore the surprising joys found in challenging times as personal stories reveal the transformative power of gratitude and kindness. Dive into the biblical tales of Mary and Elizabeth, reflecting on how to cultivate community and solidarity. Laugh along with discussions about supervillains and everyday mischief while contrasting disbelief and acceptance in unexpected life changes. Embrace the balance of joy and struggle, and discover how collective action can lead to empowerment and justice during the complicated holiday season.

How are we preparing to embody the peace of Christ and live as peacemakers? On the second Sunday of Advent, Weylin Lee connects peacemaking to the practices of rehumanizing others,   Being present to decentered places, and adopting a posture of consent. [Mark 1:1-8]   Reflection How is love helping me hold on? Which parts of life feel like caterpillar soup? How am I inviting my community to come near?  Resources Article: Welcoming Prayer  by Contemplative Outreach  https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/welcoming-prayer-method/ Poem: Shalom, Her Magnetic Heart Than by Kaitlin Curtice https://www.kaitlincurtice.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Curtice_poems.pdf

What helps you hold on? On the first Sunday of Advent, Gena St. David wades into the wilderness to grasp onto hope in these challenging times. [1 Corinthians 1:3-7] Reflection How is love helping me hold on? Which parts of life feel like caterpillar soup? How am I inviting my community to come near?  Resources Instagram: @blackliturgies by Cole Arthur Riley Article: The Three Elements of Self Compassion by Kristin Neff https://self-compassion.org/the-three-elements-of-self-compassion-2/   Podcast: Swearing Is More Important Than You Think by Freakonomics https://freakonomics.com/podcast/swearing-is-more-important-than-you-think/