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:

1. What does your soul rejoice in?
2. Is it harder for you to find joy in giving mercy or in receiving mercy?
3. 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 

1. Where do you spy God?
2. Where do you long to see peace realized in your personal life?
3. 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 

1. How can we wear our own skin with gratitude instead of loathing?
2. What is Divine Wisdom inviting you to trust?
3. 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 

1. If you were in faith spaces as a kid or student, what messages were you given about God?
2. What “tips or solutions” would you add for moving away from “fear-based” theology?
3. If you could teach your childhood self one message about God, what would it be?

Resource

PDF: Vox Childlike Faith of Curiosity

Homily Title: Reconstructing Prayer: From a Contest to a  Doorway

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. 

Brandon Kinder continues our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, by offering several practices for allowing prayer to be a doorway bringing us closer to both our authentic self and the One whose Divine Image we bear. [John 21:1-14]

Reflection 

1. How might the purpose of prayer seem different now than when we were younger?
2. When do you feel the most connected to the divine?
3. Try not to look at your phone right now.

Resource

PDF: Vox Doorways to Prayer

Reconstructing Church: From Conformity to Community

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. 

As we continue our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, Lilly Ettinger honors the tender and challenging experiences many have had with church while asking us to participate in the kind of community centered on Christ that would lead to our collective flourishing. [Hebrews 10:24-25]

Reflection 

1. Where do I see the kind of community I want to be a part of?
2. What do I wish motivated me to come to church?
3. How might I reimagine my role in this church?

Resource

PDF:  Vox Growing Together 2025

Reconstructing the Cross: From Punitive Scapegoating to Divine Nonviolence

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. 

As we continue our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, guest Anthony Bartlett reveals the cross as pointing to the way of our nonviolent transformation rather than a retributive transaction demanded by God. [2 Corinthians 5:13-21]

Reflection 

1. What traditional explanations of Christ’s death have I been given in the past?
2. What if the violence of Jesus’ death was the whole point–displaying human violence and the counter-revelation of divine nonviolence?
3. Is it possible for me to accept the revelation of a God of absolute nonviolence?

Resource

PDF:  Vox Practicing Nonviolence

Reconstructing Evangelism: From Tactics to Authenticity

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. 

This week, in our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, Vanessa Maleare shifts perspective from tactics to sell a religion to authentically bearing witness to the goodness of God present in each of our lives. [John 4:7-30]

Reflection 

1. What is inherently good for you in the ways of Christ?
2. Is there anyone you know that embodies this goodness?

Resource

1. Book: Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Faith by Rob Bell

PDF: Vox Veniae Bearing Witness to Goodness 

Reconstructing Scripture: From Solo to Symphony

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. 

Our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, continues with Christopher Mack gathering us to for the practice of Lectio divina as a way of stepping into God’s Story, even as we find it infusing in our being. [Mark 12:28-34]

Reflection 

1. How does the relational nature of this scripture conversation between Jesus and the scribe impact how you might reflect on scripture?
2. Where do you experience the disconnect in your life from hearing scripture and embodying it?
3. How might our experience of scripture be different if we try making a meal of it (formational) instead of reading it for helpful or inspiring bits (informational)?

Resource

1. Book: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
2. Book: Opening to God: Lectio Divina nad Life as Prayer by David Brenner
3. Book: Solo: An Uncommon Devotional by Eugene Peterson, Jan Johnson, J.R. Briggs, and Katie Peckham
4. Book: Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson

PDF: Vox Veniae Lectio Divina

Homily Title: Reconstructing Spirituality: From Guilt to Growth

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. 

Our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing Rhythms, begins with Christopher Mack inviting us to consider the practice of Rhythm of Life as a way of allowing the simple seed of God’s kin-dom in our lives and world to become a vibrant, yet surprisingly great shrub. [Mark 4:30-32]

Reflection 

1. What preconceptions about how God is supposed to work today might actually prevent you and others from growing in God’s Love?
2. Do you sense a distraction you might lay down or change your relationship with over the next month?
3. Is there an area in your life where you wish to take a simple step for the next month in the hope of experiencing growth?

Resource

1. Book: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

PDF: Vox Veniae Rhythm of Life

Claire Kinder, Hannah Friesen, Gena St. David, and Lindsay Stanek share about Vox Veniae’s new global partner, American Friends of Combatants for Peace, and the good work of nonviolent peacemaking happening between Palestinians and Israelis working in solidarity to advance a just peace. [Psalm 133]

Reflection 

1. What is the cost of peace without justice, and who bears it? 
2. What systems am I part of that maintain peace for some and oppression for others? 
3. How can I disturb my comfort to open the way to collective peace rooted in justice?

Resource

1. Website: https://www.afcfp.org/contact-us