1 Peter 2:2-10

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

 “See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,”

and “A stone that makes them stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.

A ‘Metal’ Priesthood

May grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Some of you have already heard me tell this story — I thought it was so funny when it happened that I told a lot of people — but a few months ago, I was visiting someone in the hole who was going through it (that is not the funny part). I had to wait in the bubble for the officers to finish whatever they were doing, and when the sergeant walked in, and saw me in my collar with my tattoos and Doc Martens, he said:

“I didn’t know priests were ‘metal’ now. I should really go to church more.”

I laughed and said, “Maybe you should,” and soon after was able to see the person I was there to visit.

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A week or two after that officer called me a “metal priest”, the person I had visited in solitary was back in gen-pop, and I stopped by to see how she was doing. Some things were going on in the pod and with her cellmate that were freaking her out, so I prayed with her and did a cell blessing. I gave her a copy of St. Patrick’s Breastplate — which is a prayer for protection — along with a copy of the blessing I’d done, and I explained to her how she could pray them herself.1 I told her she could pray that prayer and cell blessing with her cellmate, or offer to do it with others who needed it.

She balked. Very skeptically, she asked, “Is it really okay for me to do this?”

The Priesthood of ALL Believers

So I told her: as Lutheran Christians, we believe in something called the priesthood of all believers. The Bible tells us that all who follow Jesus, all who are baptized into Christ’s Church, are members of a royal priesthood. That means none of us has any more access to God than another, and that each of us is called to do important work. My calling happens to involve wearing this weird collar, because my weird collar helps the community identify the particular role I am called to, and am in the formation process of learning to do – which is to preach and administer sacraments – and my weird collar connects me (and by extension, the community I serve… which is you) to the universal church… the big “C” Church that we are all a part of. I told her as a baptized Christian, she also has a calling. It may be different from mine, but is just as (if not more) important.

As Christians, you all have a calling. It probably isn’t to do what I do (I hope not for your sake, though it could be) but it is just as important. The Church cannot be the Church without all of our unique gifts and voices informing our callings. We are all… ALL… all the baptized here today… we are all called to be priests.

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#MetalPriestess

If I’m honest, I have secretly wished Lutherans called our ordained ministers “priests”, like some other Christian traditions do — but really only so I could start using the hashtag “#metalpriestess” — but for theological reasons (reasons about how we understand God and our relationship to God and others), I’m glad we don’t. And I wish we talked more about what it means that all the baptized, not just the ones in special outfits, have a unique calling. A vocation that is your voice in the world, that only you can fulfill. And what it means to be members of this royal priesthood.

Priests in the Old Testament were responsible for the temple and the sacrificial system. They acted as mediators between God and the people — calling them to repentance, pleading for mercy on their behalf, pronouncing blessings upon them. They stood in the gap, bridging the separation between heaven and earth, between God and creation. Rather than being a role of privilege and power, priests were servants of the people, interdependent with the community. And that is what the passage we read from 1 Peter says we all are now, through Jesus Christ our High Priest. Hebrews calls Jesus a compassionate High Priest who secures our redemption, trustworthy, so we can hold fast to our confession.2 Ephesians even says that through Christ we can approach God with boldness. Boldness.3

Just sit with that for a minute, let your calling and responsibility as a member of this priesthood sink it. Look around at the other priests in this room. Priests with glasses. Priests with walkers and wheelchairs. Priests with tattoos. (Priests with glasses, walkers, and tattoos). Cis priests, trans priests, and all flavors of queer and not-queer priests.

Loud priests, quiet priests that rarely speak out, but notice everything. Priests still wrestling with their past, priests that may spend the rest of their lives living out their calling inside these prison walls, and priests with a million doubts and questions. Priests with face and neck tattoos they may or may not have gotten right here in this facility... My friends, you are a royal priesthood.

I’ve thought a lot about that sergeant’s comment. Partly, because I know very well that I am not actually ‘metal’ — I am, in fact, a woman who loves Star Wars and Doctor Who, who once used an online Dungeons and Dragons character generator to create an imaginary boyfriend so I could make up adventures for us to have together, and who recently considered getting a liturgical fanny pack for days when I lead worship in pants that don’t have pockets…

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“Oh shit, I’m going to have to actually do this”

But I’ve also thought about it because he wasn’t really saying that I’m ‘metal’. What he was actually saying was that I’m not what he expected (which, among other things, was probably a straight man). It reminded me of how I found my way into this particular vocation, my calling to become a pastor. Friends from my recovery circles — people not at all involved in church — would say, “Oh, I would go to church if you were the pastor,” because as a Christian, I seemed so different from everything else they had experienced; I was not what was expected. And in my heart and not out loud, I said, “Oh shit, I’m going to have to actually do this,” and maybe that’s exactly what you’re saying — in your heart, and maybe also out loud,

“Oh shit, I’m going to have to actually do this,”

about whoever it is you know you’re called to be and whatever it is you’re being called to do.

And while all of you are called to be priests, most of you are not being called to be pastors… but cosmo is a calling… the kitchen is a calling… being a porter, an OCA or a para-pro is a calling. Being a student and getting your GED is a calling. Taking time to heal is a sacred calling. And all of those callings are places that the royal priesthood, the ‘metal priesthood’ is needed.

And in this moment in history, a ‘metal priesthood’ is desperately needed.

A former professor of mine recently asked to borrow a book I bought in Germany while visiting an exhibit about Christian participation in Holocaust, specifically looking at Lutheran involvement. She asked, because she’s leading another study trip to Germany in October and going to talk about the need for us (Lutheran Christians) to recognize that while we love to claim Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we have historically been on both sides of good and evil — the Confessing Church came into being because the majority of Christians in Germany (so… Lutherans), were complicit with the rising Nazi party… some of them were leaders it until things got so bad that they finally realized what they had done, but not until many had died.

Mobilizing the Choir

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about how the current strategy of progressive Christians to push back against Christian Nationalism, isn’t working. So far it’s been leaders (pastors, theologians, and scholars) pointing out how Christian Nationalism is not consistent with the gospel (which it is very much not). What is needed, however, is not more smart-sounding people using smart-sounding words to preach to the choir, but what others have called “mobilizing the choir”. Gentle reminder… the the choir are also members of the priesthood.

What is needed is for regular Christians to have conversations with those who are complacent with Christian Nationalism, and even those on the other side, rather than only reposting alarming and pointed articles from leaders, worrying, and showing up to protests (I am not telling you not to protest, just not to only protest). We all really need to consider which side we’re on right now, and be actively and strategically resisting evil (and praying our faces off).

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‘Metal’ Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone

We need ‘metal’ priests who will stand in the gap, who act as a bridge between God and creation, and who look so very different from what people expect. So very different from exclusionary moralism. So very different from fear of strangers, the poor, and trans people. So very different from maintaining the status quo, keeping the peace at the cost of freedom, and following a Jesus that seems like they created him using an online White Christian Nationalist superhero character generator4. Instead, we we need some priests who are strange, some who are poor, some who are trans, and all who are exactly themselves. ‘Metal’ doesn’t look the same for everyone.

When I started seminary, I was careful to try to do things the “right” way and really tried not to get into trouble (I really did). What I learned along the way was that who I was created to be, without any intention on my part, was sometimes going to disrupt systems that weren’t designed for me — which is literally all of academia and most of the institutional Church. And by trying not to disrupt them, I was causing myself and others harm. So I stopped trying to do things the “right” way and started trusting that if God was calling me, God was calling me to be me.

I also started seeing how God was calling others to be themselves — and that some of them look entirely normal. Just lovely, kind, church folks. And I treasure my normal-looking, kind, church friends for many reasons, but one of them is that while I have rapport with a very niche group of weirdos, many others spot trouble coming when I walk in the room. It’s the seemingly sweet but secretly feisty church ladies and the gentle, straight and straight-passing men who are able to work subversively inside systems I simply cannot access and say things that would be dismissed as “too radical”, demanding, or harsh if I said them. Thanks be to God that they can and do… by being exactly who they are, just as they were created to be.

Who You Are is How You Do This

Beloved, who you are is how you do this. Neurodivergent or neurotypical. Straight or queer. Black, brown, or white. Trans or cis. Formally educated or secretly confused by big words (and small, hard ones). That is what it is to be members of a metal priesthood: mediators between God and creation who show up fully as themselves.

This world, at this time, needs priests who are fully themselves – with the honest questions of Thomas and the earnest confusion of Philip — calling the people to repentance, but who still cry out to God not to hold the people’s sins against them, like Stephen did. Because the people’s sins are very real lately, and so is the need for those willing to stand in the gap and intercede for mercy.5

This is my last sermon as the pastoral intern and associate chaplain here. I’ll be able to visit, but I won’t see you as much, so this is my prayer for you:

I pray that you will go be priests in this facility and to your loved ones outside. I pray that you bless strangers and neighbors (and officers). I pray that you will pray for the people who love you and the ones who scare you. I pray that you will stand in the gap between heaven and earth in all the beautiful, weird, particular grace of who God made you to be.

Beloved, go be metal priests.

 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;

  in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

 Wash me through and through from my wickedness,

  and cleanse me from my sin.

 For I know my offenses,

  and my sin is ever before me.

 Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;

  so you are justified when you speak and right in your judgment.

 Indeed, I was born steeped in wickedness,

  a sinner from my mother’s womb.

 Indeed, you delight in truth deep within me,

  and would have me know wisdom deep within.

 Remove my sins with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

  wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.

 Let me hear joy and gladness;

  that the body you have broken may rejoice.

 Hide your face from my sins,

  and blot out all my wickedness.

 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

  and renew a right spirit within me.

 Cast me not away from your presence,

  and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

  and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

 Let me teach your ways to offenders,

  and sinners shall be restored to you.

 Rescue me from bloodshed, O God of my salvation,

  and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.

 O Lord, open my lips,

  and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

 For you take no delight in sacrifice, or I would give it.

  You are not pleased with burnt offering.

 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;

  a troubled and broken heart, O God, you will not despise.

An Asshole After God’s Own Heart

Searching and (not quite) fearless

Some 18ish years ago, I was getting sober and working the 12 steps with a sponsor. When we got to the 4th step, which is taking a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, I had an easy time finding fault with myself. I had pages and pages worth of everything I had ever done or not done, or thought, or thought about doing or not doing, that was even the slightest bit wrong. My basic belief about myself was that I, who I essentially was, was wrong… flawed… broken.

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I wrote it all down… except… one… thing… the one thing that I was so ashamed of I had never spoken it aloud and spent years pouring gallons of alcohol on to avoid facing. So when I got to my 5th step – the one where you admit to God, yourself, and another human being the exact nature of your wrongs – I sat down with my sponsor and read her my whole list of mostly pretty petty sins, my resentments, and my fears. Surely, a list so long and otherwise thorough would be good enough without me having to say that… the one thing I was really ashamed of.

When I finished, which was no less than 3 hours later, my mouth was dry from all the talking. My sponsor (who was a terrifying woman) looked me in the eye, and in the stern voice of a parent who knows their kid is lying but not what they’re lying about, said “What did you leave out?” And almost against my will, out of my mouth came the truth of that thing I was so very ashamed of.

I braced myself for a lecture, or at least some shock or judgement. Her response was the same as mine has been now for every 5th step and confession I’ve heard in the years since (which is a many) – she was wholly and completely unimpressed and underwhelmed by my most grievous sin – she replied, “Is that all?”

“Is that all !?!?!”

Like how dare this woman not affirm what a terrible person I really am–that I am uniquely and irreparably defective, unworthy of human connection or compassion, and only allowed to breathe the same air as decent people because I do such a great job of hiding it with all my over-functioning and caretaking and really good jokes.

But that was all.

And having to look at everything I didn’t like about myself written out on paper, confessing it to God, myself, and another human being, and then being told by this scary woman that she was not shocked or impressed by my sin – that is how I began to heal – not just from the things that had been done to me, but also from the things I had done to myself. I started to heal from the burdens I carried too long and lies I had clung to too tightly. I began to take off some of the heavy armor I wore – armor that cut and chafed and constricted me.

Auntie Bathsheba and this psalm

Some of you participated in our Advent study called “The Aunties” – during the time leading up to Christmas, we learned about the women listed in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew – women many of us have a lot in common with. And I know we’re way past Christmas, but there is a reason I’m bringing up The Aunties – one of them, the one who is unnamed in Matthew, but called “The wife of Uriah the Hittite” is also unnamed but present in the Psalm that we read today. Her name was Bathsheba1.

So in verse 4, when David says to God in this Psalm “Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” that’s confusing, because he wrote this Psalm about his sin against Bathsheba and her husband. I want to believe that David said to God “against you only have I sinned” because he knew that every sin against another human being, anyone made in the image of God – Bathsheba, her husband, and himself – that is a sin against God. I really wish he’d said her name though.

Here’s a quick recap on how we got here, to this Psalm, to this cry for God’s forgiveness:

King David was the most powerful man in Israel, he saw a married woman performing a religious ritual, and decided he should get to have sex with her. When she told him she was pregnant, he had her husband killed to cover his sin2.

What a complete fucking, piece of shit, asshole, right? Like I don’t even know enough cuss words for that (and I know sooo many).

An Asshole After God’s Own Heart

But this asshole is described elsewhere in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart (make sense of that)3. And honestly, he’s a pretty relatable asshole… an asshole that reminds me that even my worst sins are not beyond God’s grace. That a clean heart is possible. And even more than that, this asshole gives me hope that terrible things done in secret and covered up, things done both by me and to me, can be transformed into something beautiful if they are brought out into the light. Something beautiful like this Psalm. The Psalm that David wrote when he was confronted with his sin against Bathsheba, and admitted what he’d done4.

For that transformation to happen though, to know the joy of that clean heart, and experience the freedom that comes in Christ, we have to be willing to take a good, hard look at ourselves, sometimes allow others who care for us to tell us things we don’t like, and admit the truth (that God already knows) to ourselves first, but also God and others5.

And that, my friends, is what we do in the church season we are beginning this week. Starting this Wednesday, which we call Ash Wednesday, we’ll be in the season of Lent. In Lent we spend the 40 days leading up to Easter6 remembering our own mortality – that we are made from dust and someday we will die and be dust again. We remember Jesus’ time fasting and being tempted in the wilderness7, and we take a good, hard, look at ourselves – not to beat ourselves up, or to try to atone for our own sins, for as the Psalm says in verses 16 & 17:

It’s not more sacrifice God is after. Or offerings. But our hearts.

We have a tendency to want to skip this part – when we learn of Christ’s love and forgiveness – that it is for us… for you, Beloved – when we find out that we are freed and forgiven, it makes perfect sense that we want to run toward that love, never think about our past again, and especially not admit that in our present, we are still captive to old ways of thinking and being. Old ways that once protected us but have become burdensome, heavy, constricting armor that no longer fits. Old ways that no longer align with who we are being called to be.

How we heal

It is in admitting the whole truth about ourselves–in confessing our mortality, our humanity, our weakness, and sin without hiding or minimizing or numbing it, offering our broken hearts to God, even the parts we broke ourselves and so feel like it’s our own responsibility to fix–it is in writing it all down and saying it out loud to another person, that we begin to heal.

Sitting with those hard truths about ourselves is uncomfortable but God gives us this gift, this time of reflection, this gift of confession, not to pile on more shame, but to set us free.

It takes a lot of trust and assurance that God will not despise. That the beat up, broken, mangled heart you hand over is enough of an offering. That what is left of your heart will be handled with care. Beloved, I assure you, God is big enough and gracious enough to handle whatever you’ve got.

So I invite you in this time before Easter, before we celebrate Christ’s freeing resurrection, to take this time as a gift to yourself. To slow down and reflect and lay down some of the burdens you’ve carried too long, lies you have clung to too tightly, and begin to take off some of the heavy armor that is keeping you from experiencing the freedom you already have in Christ.

This Ash Wednesday – my supervisor and I will be in the prison yard during lunch movement to give ashes and blessings to anyone who wants that transformation, welcoming them into this season of Lent, this season of reflection and repentance for renewal8.

Ashes are an ancient sign of repentance and a recognition of our mortality, our humanity. We’ll receive them too, because we are every bit as human as you. And we need freedom, too. Amen.

(Alternatively, here’s an Ash Wednesday message from Chris Rock A horoscope for everybody. *NSFW*)

or “I carried a watermelon.”

OR “Come and see.”

Isaiah 49:1-6 (NRSVue)

Listen to me, O coastlands;
pay attention, you peoples from far away!

The Lord called me before I was born;
while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.

And he said to me,
“You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord
and my reward with my God.”

And now the Lord says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength—

he says,
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Word of God, Word of life
Thanks be to God

(In worship, we also had dramatic readings of the gospel from both the King James Version and New English Translation before I read the NRSVue below).

John 1:35-39 (NRSVue)

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,  and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ

I can do all things through Christ which strangleth me

Grace and peace to you from the Triune God, the source of all light and life.

I grew up memorizing scripture. So I could quote the Bible LONG before I understood what any of it meant. Which seems like a problem a lot of people still have – being able to quote the Bible but having no idea what it’s about.

My church growing up was King James only. I am not dissing the King James Bible – it was a work of art. When we hear it now though, it can sound overly serious, very reverent and holy, with all the “Thees” and “Thous”. A lot of the language, specifically “Thee” & “Thou” sound formal to us, but those were more friendly and informal than “you” was when it was written. In English now, we only have the one word for “you”—no matter who you’re talking to, you’re actually using the more formal way to address people, like calling everyone “Sir”… “Madam”… “Mx”... And how we talk to people, how they talk to us, changes how we hear what they’re saying, and how we respond, doesn’t it?

How we imagine things being said in the Bible, sets our expectations for what we get from the text, which sets our expectations of God.

My mom told me that when I was little and would recite Phillipians 4:13, which some of you likely know—it’s one of those verses that gets printed on stickers and stitched on throw pillows—in the King James it reads “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” But my mom told me that when I was little, and had an adorable speech impediment, I would say “I can do all things through Christ which strangleth me.” At the time, she didn’t want to make me feel bad for not being able to say it right, but as I am now an adult without a speech impediment, she has since told me she always kind wondered what I thought that meant.

I don’t remember what I thought, but I do remember what I thought God’s voice sounded like.

God sounded like a man with a deep, commanding voice. But not cool like Morgan Freeman. And not especially comforting or warm. And to me, the deep voice and all the “thees” and “thous”, made everything sound SO VERY serious. That very serious God was powerful and loved everyone, but loved me kind of like the way I begrudgingly love people I don’t actually like and have no desire to be close to. People who, if they were going to die, I would do the right thing and save their life, but I wouldn’t enjoy talking to them afterward.

Hearing God’s voice like that, like a rich distant relative that felt obligated to bail me out of jail, but didn’t really want to spend any time with me, made obeying God a lot less fun. Which also made it a lot harder to do.

But sometimes Jesus laughed

That changed sometime in my late teens or early twenties, when I watched a movie that portrayed Jesus as laughing sometimes1. That’s all it took. Thinking Jesus might have laughed sometimes. Specifically, in the movie, when Peter walks on water, starts to sink, and calls out to Jesus to save him, Jesus warmly laughs as he says:

“You of little faith, why did you doubt?” instead of:

“O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Do you hear the difference?

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Whatcha’ lookin’ for, friends?

We’ve talked a lot in Bible study about what we take into the text – how sometimes specific words trip us up, our expectations of God and what we think the Bible says keep us from hearing what God is actually telling us in the text.

So in the gospel today, when Jesus notices he’s being followed by these two goober disciples of John and says “What are you looking for?” (NRSVue) or “What seek ye?” (KJV) or “What do you want?” (NIV & NET), or my own translation, “Whatcha looking for, friends?” How I hear that, changes my response.

The disciples respond “Where are you staying?” which I think is a weird question. In all fairness, they were probably caught off-guard when the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world turned around and talked to them. I’m sure I’m the only one who does this, but have you ever rehearsed a conversation in your head and then when the moment finally came, blurted out something super-awkward? Or maybe it was like in Dirty Dancing the first time Baby talks to Johnny Castle she says:

“I carried a watermelon.”

So they ask the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world where he’s staying...2

COME AND SEE

Some people have a gift for making it easy to save face and recover from embarrassment. Jesus doesn’t scoff or say “Nunya” which is what I think I might be tempted to say. He also doesn’t say something normal like, “I’m crashing at Lazarus’ crib,” or “at the Super 8 on the other side of the Jordan; come chill.”

Instead, Jesus one-ups their weirdness.

He just says:

Come and see.

No answers; just an invitation.

And they do. They come and they see. The text says they spend the rest of the day with him; from 4 in the afternoon on. That’s a while.

That’s not a rich relative who is polite because of some sense of obligation, but doesn’t like you. That’s someone who really wants to know you, and really wants you to know them.

That’s also someone who doesn’t want you to have a lot of expectations about what following him, what coming along to see, will be like.

The reading from Isaiah also addresses expectations and assumptions, talks about how much we don’t know.

Isaiah cries out:

But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord
and my reward with my God.”

In other words, I was called to do this thing, made especially for it, formed in my mothers womb for this one, for this very specific purpose, and I have failed. I have wasted all this energy, wasted my life and nothing came of it. I know God still loves me, so I guess that’s enough…

That’s a bummer, right? When you feel passionate about what you do, you’re good at it, and you love it, and it just keeps not working.

When you really believe that you were made to do something and can’t. The career you got into to be of service to others and care for your family, stalls, even fails. Decades of advocating for justice are wiped away in one year by one political administration.

When you are so certain that this one thing is THE thing – maybe it’s a relationship, maybe it’s your sentence, your kids, a ministry you started. Whatever it is, you know that you know that you know that you’re right about this, that you are being faithful. You know what should happen, what will bring you happiness, and you work and you wait and you pray, and it just doesn’t happen.

I had an expectation that if I followed Jesus closely enough, I would have a happy marriage – that did not happen for me, and I don’t know that it ever will. I worked with immigrants and refugees in a program that intentionally stayed off of government radar because we were afraid of what’s happening now, and this all happened anyway. I was willing to work for poverty wages and risked my own safety, for what? I didn’t pay nearly as high of a price as Renee Good, but I do get where Isaiah is coming from when he says, “I spent my strength for nothing and vanity.”

But those expectations of how things are supposed to be if we’re obedient aren’t from the God revealed to us in scripture. Jesus doesn’t say where he’s staying, or what’s going to happen next, he just says:

“Come and see.”

And God responds to Isaiah’s lament:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;

I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

In other words, the thing you thought was what you were supposed to do, that really big deal thing that you spent your whole life preparing for, believed in, that wasn’t the thing. It was too small.

RELEASE THE OUTCOME

Someone I care about was struggling this week, and he told me that he knows he needs to remember who he is and release the outcome. Which is true, but not easy.

The disciples wanted answers. Which is pretty normal and not unreasonable. They wanted to know where Jesus was going, where they would go if they followed. I mean, me too. I also want to know where this *gestures broadly* is going. I want to know where the steps I’m taking are leading, what the outcome will be if I follow, and that it will be the outcome I want.

But Jesus doesn’t give us answers. Jesus invites us to “Come and see.” To meet him at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and spend the rest of our day with him. The one that John calls “The lamb that takes away the sin of the world,” invites us to follow him. To where? We don’t know.

MAYBE THEY WENT WAKEBOARDING

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It was suggested in Bible study earlier this week that maybe later they went wakeboarding. In my imagination, Jesus led them to his favorite taco truck and then they all hung out at the sketchy motel pool.

I’ve been on this “Come and see” journey a while now. The one thing I have come to depend on, to be very sure about, is that my expectations will not be met. I will be disappointed and disillusioned and heartbroken. Maybe that’s where you are. If so, know this – I have also come to be very sure that if I continue to put one foot in front of the other, to one day at a time take up my cross and follow Jesus, I will eventually find that my expectations weren’t met because they were too small.

I know that I know that I know that the story I’m a small part of, that we are all a part of, is much bigger than any of us hoped for. That in letting go, we find ourselves. And that God is so much more fun than I thought.

Come and see.

Amen.

PRAYER

Holy and gracious God,
you have guided your people by clouds and pillars of fire,
the wise have followed stars to find you,
and now you lead us by the light of your Son.
Give us faith to continue when we don’t know where we’re going,
that through your grace,
we may worship you and faithfully serve you,
follow you and joyfully find you,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen3.

Last month I crawled out from under the pile of seminary coursework and internship work-work1 that consumes most of my mental/emotional energy and time to speak to some needs of our community. They were my needs, too. Needs for lament, support, connection, fun, and spiritual growth.

The responses I received from our little community were so beautiful and full of grace. Thank you.

Fuck it

I have long lived into a style of leadership that has been helpfully named by one of the pastors I work with as the “Fuck it; I’ll go first” school of pastoral ministry2. I didn’t learn it in church or God-grad-school — I learned in 12-step fellowships that “leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”3 Vulnerability, openness, and non-hierarchal leadership are just the only ways to lead that have ever felt non-yucky to me (non-yucky is a technical, theological term).

So far, so good. However, it has not been without challenges, for myself and for others. Being a whole, messy, very human-human, is not popular in the institutional church — it makes the normies squirm. There’s a good chance that you’re here because you desire community that’s gritty, relevant, real, AND rooted in the ways of the ancient Christian faith. Ways like justice, mercy, and humility4 wrapped in worship that connects us to something greater and sustains us to carry on. My prayer for our community is that our rootedness in God’s grace will open the way for us to grow with vulnerability, experimentation, play, and hope imbedded in our DNA.

I went first

I went first and others have stepped in to join the experiment — community members and friends have shared their stories, co-lead worship, taught us to pray in Spanish, led Circles, and committed to pray for our community. Rev. Albert Starr and Rev. Carla Christopher offered their powerful poetry, liturgy, and voices to our prayer service Lamenting Christian Nationalism (seriously, just listening to them healed my soul a little). Three of our four Circles are being led by someone other than me, and friends ordained in other denominations are offering their gifts to our community, too. Holy shit… that went well…

Now you try it

Oddballs, I’m speaking directly to our friends who are NOT specially trained clergy folks here5 — this is your formal invitation to say “Fuck it,” and step into vulnerability, openness (and maybe even leadership) by:

• joining a Circle (click here)

• inviting some friends to be part of Odd Grace Community (you can start by just inviting someone to join a Circle with you or sharing a post or prayer service)

• telling us what you would like to lead (a bunch of you have opened 12-step meetings; you already know how to do this)

Feeling inadequate? GOOD. Me, too. We’re in good company — that’s the tradition of many prophets and leaders in the Bible6:

• Moses was bad at talking — Ex. 4:10

• Gideon thought he was too weak — Judges 6:14

• Jeremiah was young — Jer. 1:7

• Isaiah was sinful — Is. 6:5

• Mary (Jesus’ mom) was young, poor, and insignificant — Luke 1:48

• The samaritan woman was foreign, female, and an outcast within her already marginalized group — she became an evangelist — John 4:16-18 (she’s my favorite)

• Mary Magdalene, who Jesus cast 7 devils out of, was the first preacher to proclaim the risen Christ in John 20:18

• The 12 disciples were mostly idiots *gestures broadly at the gospels*

• The Apostle Paul was sometimes an asshole *gestures broadly at the epistles* (this is comforting, because I too am sometimes an asshole)

• these are just the examples I didn’t need to do any work to find — there are a lot more

Shy but techie? Awesome. Like people but don’t know the Bible? Lit. Organized introvert? Godsend. If you have an idea for a Circle you’d like to start, would like to co-lead on a prayer service podcast, have a story to share, or want to talk about how we can work together in other ways, email oddgracecommunity@gmail.com.

Someone will walk with you through every step.

Matthew 9:37-38 (MSG)

“What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”

I know that you all know that the need and opportunity to spread love and grow in grace, especially with others in recovery, is so great. Everyone needs to hear the Good News that they are created in the image of God, God calls them good, and they are loved unconditionally. People who have been written off by society because of their addiction, mental health, gender identity, who they love, 1st language, [insert trauma here], or just really had the shit beat out of them by the church, need to know of their belovedness. It is from that place of first being rooted in our own belovedness that we are called to pursue justice and joy for others.

Beloved, you are made in God’s image, God calls you good, you are loved unconditionally, and being called as you are to be who you are in a world in need of your gifts and God’s grace.

+Peace+
Vicar 7

May God Bless You and Keep You Wonderfully Weird

Here are links to Vicar 7’s Reformation Day & All Saints Day posts if you missed them.

ANNONCEMENTS

Names for Blue Christmas

Please continue to submit names of people who died since our last Blue Christmas, especially those lost to addiction, mental health, violence, and hate crimes. This year we are adding loved ones being held by ICE and loved ones in prison to our prayers, so please send those names as well.

Email: oddgracecommunity@gmail.com with names for Blue Christmas and Prayer requests

Sacred Circles & Communion in Nov. & Dec. 2025:
Click here for more information or to register. (all on Zoom)

Thursday | Nov. 6 | 8:30pm ET & 6:30pm MT
Recovering from Christian Nationalism

Monday | Nov. 10 | 7:30pm ET/5:30pm MT
Healing Pause

Thursday | Nov. 13 | 8pm ET/6pm MT
The Aunties of Our Faith: Advent Bible Study

Sunday | Nov. 16 | 8pm ET/6pm MT
Creating Community: Nov. project — Zines!

Monday | Nov. 17 | 7:30pm ET/5:30pm MT
Healing Pause

Thursday | Nov. 20 | 8pm ET/6pm MT
The Aunties of Our Faith: Advent Bible Study

Nov. 20 | 8:30pm ET & 6:30pm MT
Recovering from Christian Nationalism

(we know there are a couple Thursday nights with two Circles — they’re both good, just pick one)

Nov. 27 — no Circles
practice gratitude, grieve & repent from the sins of our ancestors, & get some rest

!!! Sunday | Nov. 30 | 7pm ET/5pm *ish (this is being figuring out)
Dinner Church Eucharist (Communion) with Highlands Lutheran Church
email: oddgracecommunity@gmail.com if you’d like to join

Thursday | Dec. 4 | 8pm ET/6pm MT
The Aunties of Our Faith: Advent Bible Study

Thursday | Dec. 4 | 8:30pm ET & 6:30pm MT
Recovering from Christian Nationalism

Friday Dec. 13 | Blue Christmas liturgy available
Odd Grace Community members are encouraged to plan an in-person Circle for Dec. 20 or 21 *ish

Thursday | Dec. 18 | 8pm ET/6pm MT
The Aunties of Our Faith: Advent Bible Study

Thursday | Dec. 18 | 8:30pm ET & 6:30pm MT
Recovering from Christian Nationalism

Fri Dec. 20 | Blue Christmas podcast prayer service available

Sacred Circles

Recovering from Christian Nationalism: applying recovery principles to sustainable resistance work (like Al-Anon, but for fascism)

1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30pm ET/6:30pm MT | Zoom

*next meeting Nov. 6

The Aunties of Our Faith: Advent Bible Study
Thursdays in Advent | 8pm ET/6pm MT
Nov. 13-Dec. 18 (off Nov. 27) | Zoom

*starts Nov 13!!!

Healing Pause | Meditation for recovery & healing
2nd and 4th Mondays | 7:30pm ET/5:30pm MT | Zoom

*next meeting Nov 10

Creating Community | Circle for creativity and connection
3rd Sundays | 8pm ET/6pm MT | Zoom

*starts Nov 16! Zines with Vicar Albie Nicol

Etymology of Mayhem read by Rev. Albert Starr Jr. from his book Late Night Offerings and Morning Prayers

Lament Psalm, A Spoken Word, and the final blessing were written and voiced by Rev. Carla Christopher. (She also wrote the sending but let me say it.)

Land Acknowledgement

As we prepare to enter this time of lament and prayer, we encourage you to reflect on the history of the land where you are. Vicar 7 is located on original and ancestral homeland of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho people. Rev. Albert Starr resides on the land of the Chumash and Tongva, Rev. Carla Christopher is currently based on Pocomoke land, and other voices join us from the lands of the Myaamia, Kaskaskia, and Shawnee people.

Psalm 94 - Responsive Reading

How long, O Lord,     
how long shall the wicked triumph?
They bluster in their insolence;
all evildoers are full of boasting.

They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your very own.
They kill the widow and the stranger
and put the orphans to death.

Yet you will not abandon your people,
nor will you forsake your very own.
If the Lord had not been my help,
I should soon have dwelt in the land of silence.

As often as I said, “My foot has slipped,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, upheld me.
The Lord has become my stronghold,
my God is my rock of refuge.

Prayers of Lament

After each lament, the leader and people say:
. . . your people cry: How long, O Lord?

Reflection on 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Vicar 7

Confession

Regular text is spoken by one voice
Bold text is spoken by the whole community

God’s grace in Christ frees us for the difficult work of recognizing and lamenting the idolatry of Christian Nationalism still rooted in our own hearts. Trusting in Divine goodness and mercy, we search ourselves fearlessly and confess our sin to God, ourselves, and one another.

Aching with sorrow,
we grieve this pain and death that surrounds and fills us.

Rejecting the viciousness,
we give ourselves to one another in love and care.

Listening at last,
we rise up to face the horror; we confess ourselves complicit.

Following Jesus’ example of forgiving those that would brutally murder him,
We cry out to God for mercy for those whose fear has turned to hate,
those who commit violence,
and those that are silent in the face of evil.
We ask for their healing, our healing, and for the healing of all creation.

We cry out for God’s mercy for ourselves as well.
Forgive, O God, our wrongful action and our inaction.
Forgive our silence and indifference.
Lead us in love,
For the sake of our savior Jesus Christ.

May God inscribe our hearts with justice and guide us in the ways of peace.
Amen.

Thanks for praying with us. If this service was meaningful to you, we hope you’ll share it with someone. Check out previous prayer services and worship experiences at oddgrace.substack.com, and subscribe for free to get updates about our community.

May God bless you and keep you wonderfully weird,
Vicar 7 (and the rest of the OG Community)

NEW CIRCLES!!!

Recovering from Christian Nationalism starts October 16!

Recovering from Christian Nationalism
1st & 3rd Thurs | 8:30pm ET, 6:30pm MT | Zoom

Thursday, Oct. 16 will be the first meeting of a new 12-step group called Recovering from Christian Nationalism, which will meet on Zoom on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8:30pm Eastern Time, 6:30pm Mountain Time.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism is for anyone working to resist Christian Nationalism (or just trying to survive it) who is willing to start with themselves. No experience with the 12-steps is necessary to participate.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism is a partnership between Odd Grace Community and FREE to Be Community, and will be led by Pastor Lauren Applegate. For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up by clicking the link to the Worship Companion in the show description and going to the “Circle Sign-ups” tab or at https://linktr.ee/oddgrace. Email lauren@freetobecommunity.org with questions.

If you’ve worked the 12 steps and are willing to lead a study to take others through them to further the work of resisting Christian Nationalism, or you’d like to work the steps with someone, please reach out to us at oddgracecommunity@gmail.com. We already have a study prepared, but need more people experienced in the steps to carry the message.

Healing Pause — starts Oct 27
2nd & 4th Mondays | 7:30pm ET, 5:30 pm MT

Healing Pause incorporates the power of group meditation and discussion for inner healing and greater freedom. Utilizing the 3 Doors contemplative meditation practice, you’ll be invited into sacred awareness and presence. No experience needed, all types and paths of recovery are welcome.

For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up by clicking the link to the Worship Companion in the show description and going to the “Circle Sign-ups” tab or at https://linktr.ee/oddgrace.

Healing Pause will be led by Pastor Joel Richter – you can reach out to him with questions. He’s nice, we promise.

THE AUNTIES (of Our Faith): Advent Bible Study

Starts Nov 13!

A study of the women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ
Thursdays in Advent | 8pm ET & 6pm MT | Zoom

How much do you know about Jesus’ great-great-great (28 greats) Grandma? Or even his mom?

The truth will definitely surprise (and maybe even shock) you.

Join Odd Grace Community and Highlands Lutheran Church as we learn about these fascinating women and what their stories can teach us today about life and faith.

This study is about women—it is NOT a “Women’s Bible Study”. Adults of all genders are encouraged to participate. But definitely adults, because we all cuss a lot and most of the women we’re studying were pretty scandalous (and amazing!). Also, if you’re uncomfortable talking about sexuality, we encourage you to come, so we can help you not be so uptight.

• Nov 13: Tamar

• Nov 20: Rahab

• Nov 27: no meeting

• Dec 4: Ruth

• Dec 11: Bathsheba (she has a name)

• Dec 18: Mary!

This study will be led by Vicar 7, with poetic works contributed by Rev. Carla Christopher, Rev. Albert Starr, and Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry. Register here

Creating Community (with Vicar Albie Nicol)

Beginning Nov. 16!

3rd Sundays at 8pm ET, 6pm MT

Join Odd Grace Community for a monthly creativity circle.

November’s creative practice will be making zines. Albie will demonstrate how to make both old school paper and newfangled digital zines. We’ll do a community check-in while we create. Click here to register

Coming Soon

Contemplative Co-working for those who want to body-double so Vicar 7 doesn’t flunk out of God Grad School (and also so you get your stuff done).

Midweek Movement for Mental Health (MMMH) a community movement practice in the middle of the week, so we all don’t lose our shit.

On Oct. 14, 2025, we’ll be releasing a podcast Prayer Service Lamenting Christian Nationalism for community members to pray along with. Multiple community members and co-conspirators have worked together to create a lament service that is as beautiful as it is meaningful. We are especially grateful to friends of Odd Grace Community, Rev. Albert Starr and Rev. Carla Christopher for offering their original poetry and voices. If you missed the last issue of the Oddball Bulletin, it’s worth going back to read Rev. Starr’s full poem, but here is an excerpt from For Those Monday Kind of Days1:

Lamentation frees us to weep,
and we weep the hot, cleansing tears of anguish.
Lamentation turns our crying to crying out,
crying out to the Great One,
Creator and Giver of Life, Shaper of Justice, Maker of Mercy
Lamentation, like a shepherding wind, turning us toward God

and we resist hopelessness,
even our sorrow songs watch for the coming.

We defy the foul stench of misery.
We are bathed in the fragrance of hope.

Shit is hard right now, and we know it. As many in our community prepare to participate in No Kings Day on Oct. 18 and we all continue our work for the good of our neighbors for the sake of the gospel, taking time out to cry out grieve, feel our losses, and cry out to God, is imperative. We hope this Lament Service will support you as you continue to endure, resist, and defy the idolatry that is being passed off as the gospel by those conflating nationalism and White Supremacy with our ancient Christian faith.

We believe that wherever two or more gather, that Christ in is their midst2. For those who are able to gather with others, whether family, friends, co-workers, or people you game with online, we are sending out the Worship Companion and Gathering Guide early3. We urge you to spend time in prayer and lament with others this coming Tuesday Oct. 14. We know many will have to do this alone—we are praying especially for you who are isolated from like-minded community.

Click to access the Worship Companion and Gathering Guide. Email oddgracecommunity@gmail.com with questions (or to tell me what I misspelled).

NEW Circles!

We also have some things to celebrate. Two new ongoing Circles will be starting this month. Recovering from Christian Nationalism will begin Oct. 16 and Healing Pause will start on Oct. 27. We’ll also have a 5-part Bible Study for Advent starting Nov. 13.

While the world continues to whirl around us, we have some spaces available for community and healing. We hope you’ll join us. You can learn more about these Circles and sign-up to participate below.

In order of how soon they start…

THIS THURSDAY — Oct. 16
Recovering from Christian Nationalism
1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30pm ET, 6:30 pm MT | Zoom

Thursday, Oct. 16 will be the first meeting of a new 12-step group called Recovering from Christian Nationalism, which will meet on Zoom on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8:30pm Eastern Time, 6:30pm Mountain Time.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism is for anyone working to resist Christian Nationalism (or just trying to survive it) who is willing to start with themselves. No experience with the 12-steps is necessary to participate.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism is a partnership between Odd Grace Community and FREE to Be Community, and will be led by Pastor Lauren Applegate. For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up at https://linktr.ee/oddgrace. Email Pastor Lauren with questions.

If you’ve worked the 12 steps and are willing to lead a study to take others through them to further the work of resisting Christian Nationalism, or you’d like to work the steps with someone, please reach out to Pastor Lauren or Vicar 7. We already have a study prepared, but need more people experienced in the steps to carry the message.

Healing Pause – begins Oct 27!
2nd & 4th Mon | 7:30pm ET, 5:30 pm MT | Zoom

Healing Pause incorporates the power of group meditation and discussion for inner healing and greater freedom. Utilizing the 3 Doors contemplative meditation practice, you’ll be invited into sacred awareness and presence. No experience needed, all types and paths of recovery are welcome.

For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up by clicking the link to the Worship Companion in the show description and going to the “Circle Sign-ups” tab or at https://linktr.ee/oddgrace.

Healing Pause will be led by Pastor Joel Richter – you can reach out to him with questions. He’s nice, we promise.

THE AUNTIES of Our Faith
Advent Bible Study Starts Nov. 13!
Thursdays in Advent | 8pm ET & 6pm MT | Zoom

How much do you know about Jesus’ great-great-great (28 greats) Grandma? Or even his mom?

The truth will definitely surprise (and maybe even shock) you.

Join Odd Grace Community and Highlands Lutheran Church as we learn about these fascinating women and what their stories can teach us today about life and faith.

This study is about women--it is NOT a “Women’s Bible Study”. Adults of all genders are encouraged to participate. But definitely adults, because we all cuss a lot and most of the women we’re studying were pretty scandalous (and amazing!). Also, if you’re uncomfortable talking about sexuality, we encourage you to come, so we can help you not be so uptight.

• Nov 13: Tamar

• Nov 20: Rahab

• Nov 27: no meeting

• Dec 4: Ruth

• Dec 11: Bathsheba (she has a name)

• Dec 18: Mary!

This study will be led by Vicar 7, with poetic works contributed by Rev. Carla Christopher, Rev. Albert Starr Jr., and Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry. Register here

May God Bless You and Keep You Wonderfully Weird,

Vicar 7

PS — Coming soon…

We have two more Circles in the works:

Creating Community4 will be an ongoing online creatives & crafting group. Probably monthly. We’ll learn new crafts together and each share what we’re working on. You can watch Vicar 7 keep trying to make icons out of trash.

Manic Mondays5 will be a Zoom co-working/body-doubling group sometime on Mondays, time TBD. We’ll do pomodoros and some spiritual or mindfulness practices while we try to get stuff done6.

In response to the wave of vitriol and violence that is sweeping Turtle Island1, on Oct. 14, 20252 Odd Grace Community will be releasing a Service of Prayer Lamenting Christian Nationalism. This service will be in the form of our previous prayer service podcasts. To allow you to time to organize a gathering of private prayer or public protest to lament this growing evil, the full written liturgy will be released in advance — look for it next week.

In the meantime, plan a gathering for Oct. 14. At home, at the statehouse, at school, in the office parking lot. Wherever. Just plan to gather. And pray.

This lament service will include offerings of poetry from Rev. Albert Starr, Jr. and Rev. Carla Christopher. We owe an immeasurable debt to the Black church and Black leaders for teaching us that lament is an indispensable part of sustainable resistance. Rev. Albert Starr Jr’s poem For Those Monday Kind of Days 3 illuminates this.

Yes, lamentation is resistance. Resisting the voice and the influences, the powers that want to silence the cries of our brokenness.
We cry and cry out in defiance,
defying the voices and violence that demand we
”Stop resisting, stop resisting, stop resisting, stop.”

Resist is what life does when death threatens.
Resist is what life does,
when the suffocating lie seeks to choke into submission
the fire and light of truth.

Truth is we can’t breathe under the willful weight of the tormentor,
kneeling on our neck.
Truth is we can’t breathe in shallow graves,
hatefully dug to silence generations.
Truth is what life does whenever death threatens.
So, we smile and laugh, the ways of resistance.
Sing and Dance
the steps of resistance,
defying the brokenness visited upon us by cruel and godless hands.

(And the arrogant oppressor thinks our singing so soothing;
our dancing, entertainment; our smiles and laughter, acceptance)

The Spirit of Lamentation comes,
like breath, like wind, touching and telling,
teaching our hearts and our tongues to pray,
praying often what our minds are still yet too numb to know.

Spirit of the Great Restorer
enters the shallow graves hate has intended
and we begin to learn the ways of Lamentation.

Lamentation frees us to weep,
and we weep the hot, cleansing tears of anguish.
Lamentation turns our crying to crying out,
crying out to the Great One,
Creator and Giver of Life, Shaper of Justice, Maker of Mercy
Lamentation, like a shepherding wind, turning us toward God

and we resist hopelessness,
even our sorrow songs watch for the coming.

We defy the foul stench of misery.
We are bathed in the fragrance of hope.

And so we rise up
defiant, resisting
yet yielded and yielding to The Way and ways of the Most High.

We unconditionally condemn Christian Nationalism as idolatry that stands in opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the same time, we name that political violence, including: gun violence, policies that harm the marginalized, and violent rhetoric are all manifestations of this idolatry. We implore you to join us in prayer and lament on Oct. 14, 2025 as an act of resistance to Christian Nationalism and of all of its sick fruits.

+Peace+
Vicar 7

May God bless you and keep you wonderfully weird.

NEW GROUP beginning Oct. 16
Recovering from Christian Nationalism

Recovering from Christian Nationalism:
1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30pm ET, 7:30pm CT, 6:30pm MT, 5:30pm PT

Recovering from Christian Nationalism will incorporate the wisdom of 12-Step recovery, Christian contemplative practices, and the power of mutual support groups to sustain the work of dismantling Christian Nationalism, beginning with ourselves. No experience necessary — the only requirement is the desire to resist Christian Nationalism.

Join us on Zoom on 3rd Thursdays at 8:30pm ET, 7:30pm CT, 6:30pm MT, and 5:30pm PT4 as we support each other in the work of resisting and dismantling Christian Nationalism. Our first meeting will be Oct. 16, and and we will meet monthly thereafter.

For the safety of the community, we do require a one-time registration to obtain the Zoom ID & Password. It’s just an extra step to discourage trolls and Zoom bombers. Click here to register and receive Zoom link..

Subscribe now

The Gospel according to St. Luke, the 15th chapter
Glory to you, O Lord

Luke 15:1-10
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ

Twist and Shout

In the classic film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a high school student creates an elaborate system of deception so that he, his girlfriend, and his mopey best friend, can skip school for a day. There are stunts, dummies, impersonations, car theft, and computer hacking. The three of them pretty much have the best day of their lives as they gallivant about on a beautiful day in Chicago… in a Ferrari…, visiting the Sears Tower and Art Institute, seeing a Cubs game, and enjoying fine-dining. At one point, Ferris even somehow ends up singing “Twist and Shout” on a float in a parade.

If you haven’t already guessed, this is one of the movies that played on repeat in my house as a kid. I clearly remember my younger brother getting up to dance when Ferris sang.

Save Ferris!

However, while Ferris and his friends are having the time of their lives, rumors at the school have spread that he’s gravely ill, maybe even dying, and his fellow-students have begun a “Save Ferris” campaign.

This is all too much for Ferris’ holier-than-thou sister Jeannie1 and creepy high school principal Mr. Rooney. Separately, they each set out to catch Ferris in his lies, and pretty much have the worst day ever doing so.

“They’ve been in my pocket; they’re real warm and soft”

The movie’s conclusion is both surprising and satisfying. Not only do Ferris and his friends get away with it, but Ferris’ mopey, depressed best friend is finally able to voice his anger and fear of his father, freeing him from the weight he’s been carrying. Mr. Rooney, the creepy High School principal determined to foil Ferris’ fun, ends up bedraggled and stranded on the roadside having to ride the bus back with his students.

In the final scene Mr. Rooney is offered a gummy bear from a kind and awkward student who tells him “They’ve been in my pocket; they’re real warm and soft.” For no good reason, that offer of gummy mercy by someone he clearly thinks is beneath him, and that line, “They’ve been in my pocket; they’re real warm and soft,” is one of my core memories. It lives forever on the wallpaper of my brain alongside lyrics to Tom Lehrer songs and commercial jingles and standup bits from the 80s and 90s.

Good Kid Syndrome

Now, I liked the movie, but by no means LOVED it as much as my younger brother did. It always bothered me a little that Ferris got away with it, and that those trying to catch him suffered.

You see, while I am a person in recovery for my own addiction, and generally aware of my sin, I am also the first in my family to get sober. That means, I am also in recovery for being the sister and daughter of people whose addictions got WAY worse than mine.

I am the oldest daughter of an oldest daughter. I was the one at home making dinner while my mom was working three jobs to keep us fed and housed. The kid that didn’t cause trouble (I never got caught).

I have had a long enough time recovering from the life that contributed to and accompanied active addiction for God to heal me and change my heart. I usually come across like a pretty decent person these days. So, just every once in awhile, I give in to self-pity and want credit for being just “not quite as bad” as others.

Jeannie’s Redemption

So I didn’t appreciate it as a child, but as an adult, my favorite part of the movie’s conclusion is what happens to Ferris’ sister Jeannie. Jeannie is the tattle-tale, too-good, meddling sister (who, to be clear, I strongly identify with). Her redemption scene begins with Jeannie in at the police station (she is there very unfairly), and she’s in an uncomfortable conversation with a young man who is there for something he freely admits to having done, someone she definitely thinks she’s better than.

It takes some time, but as her icy self-righteousness thaws, she comes to realize that trying to parent or police Ferris’ behavior has only ever caused her grief, and that she is nothing more and nothing less than his sister, his peer, his equal, his comrade in this struggle called being a teenager. She drops the good-girl facade and behaves like a typical teenage girl. She even lets herself have a little fun. She’s free.

When You Scratch the Surface of a Pharisee, You Get a Codependent

The Gospel today began with the Pharisees and scribes being absolutely scandalized that Jesus would eat with sinners. People love to hate on the Pharisees and scribes, but they weren’t the real problem Jesus’ people were facing. The real problem was that the Jewish people were being oppressed by Rome, and the Pharisees and scribes, having closely studied the scriptures, came to the correct conclusion that the way to freedom was repentance. That is absolutely aligned with what the scriptures teach… they just misunderstood what they needed to repent from.

Like Ferris’ sister Jeannie who thought she could make high school and being a teenager more bearable by following all the rules perfectly, and policing others’ behavior to get them to follow the rules as well, the Pharisees thought that playing nice with their oppressors and being sure to dot every “i” and cross every “t” of the law would eventually lead them to freedom.

Most of them weren’t bad people–they are the people today that give advice when you just want someone to listen. People who try to fix things you don’t think are broken, not out of malice, but from a place of truly wanting to help. Even though you never asked for their help, help that always seems to come with expectations.

Some of them were more sinister — like people today that use their status and platform to spread hateful rhetoric and demonize vulnerable groups, advocating for policies that harm immigrants, strip away the rights and healthcare of trans people, and reject all attempts at gun control2. Those that think the way they see the world is the only correct perspective, and that they are more righteous for having it.

Both are people that forget that they are nothing more and nothing less than a sibling, a peer, an equal. It’s an easy mistake to make when you’re someone who has turned your own life around (or maybe never totally screwed it up in the first place), to think that makes us at least a little better than “those sinners” over there.

And while there is definitely sometimes wisdom in following rules to survive (like in here, seriously, follow the rules), we, like the Pharisees, like Ferris’ sister Jeannie, miss the point when we think the rules themselves are what will set us free.

Jesus Ate With Pharisees, Too

And on the other hand, we forget that Jesus ate with Pharisees, too. That both the worst things people do to end up in here, the worst things people do in here, even the vile sins of those that harm and oppress others in the name of God, are not unforgivable. The scriptures show us that all creation will eventually be redeemed and made new3. That means we will share heaven with people we hate on earth4, so maybe now is the time to have mercy and offer them a warm and soft gummy bear.

I Got 99 Problems, and a Sheep Ain’t One…

While it’s not what comes next in the lectionary, the next story after the ones we just read in Luke is the one often called the Prodigal Son5–it’s the story of a runaway being welcomed back by an overjoyed parent, while their Pharisee-like older sibling is super annoyed about it.

Between the grumbling Pharisees and the runaway son though, we have these two short stories Jesus tells the Pharisees mad about him eating with sinners–one about a lost sheep and one about a lost coin. I’m going to read the first one to you again, and ask you to imagine being in the story. Listen for who in the story you most identify with.

Take some deep breaths while you listen again:

Luke 15:4-7
“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until she finds it? And when she has found it, she lays it on her shoulders and rejoices. And when she comes home, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

• Who did you identify with the most?

  • The lost sheep? The shepherd? The 99 other sheep? The neighbors?6

• Does it seem fair to leave all the other sheep to find just one?7

• Do you think the shepherd would leave them if she didn’t know they’d be safe?8

• What does it feel like to be the shepherd with the lost sheep on your shoulders?

• What does it feel like to be lost?

• What does it feel like to be found and carried home?

• Who is having the most fun in this story?9

Notice that in both this story about sheep and the one about the lost coin that comes next, there is never a mention of how they got lost. It just doesn’t matter. We don’t know if the sheep wandered away intentionally, and also, is it fair to blame a sheep for acting like one? They aren’t very smart. Coins do sometimes seem to take on a mind of their own, so maybe it just threw itself off the dresser and hid10, but probably not.

It doesn’t matter how we get lost, if it’s our own fault or not. Whether they were a “sinner” or a Pharisee — lost is lost. Either way God still doesn’t rest until we are found and brought back to our place of belonging. And then God throws a party.

Ferris’ best friend is freed by naming his anger. Ferris’ sister Jeannie giggles as her mom comes to get her at the police station. The bus picks up Mr. Rooney and he gets offered a gummy bear. Sinner or Pharisee, at the police station, by the roadside, or even if we’re lost right here at church, God searches until we’re found, carries us home, and then throws a party. Amen11.

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GOSPEL | Luke 19:28-40 (NRSVue)

The Gospel according to St. Luke. Glory to you O God.

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"

So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

They said, "The Lord needs it."

Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.

Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."

He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Sermon by Vicar 7

So I have a very serious question I want you to think about — what would talking stones, or in this case, shouting stones, sound like?

When I start to think about this, I first picture kind of muppet-stones, that are not actually hard like stones, because they’re muppets, and they have mouths and eyes. And some of them have glasses and some wear lipstick and there are really big ones and the really big stones have very big, deep, voices, except some of them are surprisingly soft, and then smaller ones have higher voices, and some of them are surprisingly loud. Since they’re muppet-stones, they all occasionally break into song and harmonize really well as they sing-shout together:

Or the way it’s phrased in the gospel of John that we quote during communion and that we said when we blessed the palms just now, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Is that what you pictured?

No?

Hmmm…

So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like living inside my head, now you know it’s pretty silly in there. The reason that Jesus talked about shouting rocks is not silly though. He’s responding to some of the religious leaders that were trying to get him to tell his followers to calm down and behave. And it matters that does say “some”, not “all”, because the way we usually hear people talk about these stories like ALL of the Pharisees, the religious leaders, were against Jesus, which isn’t true, but even the ones that were, had reasons that they thought were good, and for the people’s best.

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Just before this scene, Jesus tells a story about a TERRIBLE ruler that extorts people, rewards people based on worldly values, and is awful to anyone that opposes him1. People with an agenda to hold power over others have used that story to make people believe that’s how God deals with people, but it’s clear from the rest of scripture that what’s actually happening when Jesus talks about the horrible ruler is that he’s criticizing the empire of Rome that’s oppressing his people, the Jewish people2. The leaders of Rome were well known for their intense oppression of those that oppose them, both by financial extortion and extreme violence, just like in the story before.

So the religious leaders that are trying to get Jesus to shush his excited followers aren’t just bad people, but they are scared people. And they aren’t scared for no reason. But they are people who think that Jesus is too radical and his message of peace is too risky.

They have been living under the oppression of Rome for a long time now, and they have learned ways to get by, to survive. And the peace that Jesus brings, the peace the people are shouting about, when they say:

This is real peace, the kind that that Rev. Dr. King talked about in his Letter from Birmingham Jail when he said that true peace “is not the absence of tension but the presence of justice.”

That letter that Rev. Dr. King wrote from Birmingham jail is a letter written to fellow clergypeople, so religious leaders very much like the scared people trying to get Jesus to quiet the crowds. In that letter, Dr. King names White moderates counseling him against direct action as the greatest hindrance to the freedom of the people he is fighting for, his own people, African Americans who were being oppressed.

While White moderates trying to tell people of color not to be so angry about their mistreatment is still a thing, now this could also apply to moderates that are native-english-speakers or natural citizens telling their immigrant friends to calm down. It could be straight-moderates, or cisgender-moderates, or man-moderates, telling queer people, trans people, or women not to be “so emotional”. It’s anyone who thinks that they know better than the people going through the things, how the people going through the things should feel about it and respond.

And to be very clear, the peace that Jesus brings, like the peace Dr. King preached, does involve risk. And sacrifice. Dr. King was murdered for his boldness, and when Jesus responds that he’s unwilling to silence the crowds, he does so knowing full well that he is going to be murdered in less than a week.

AND he knows that he’ll be raised again.

SO MUCH can happen in a week.

I mentioned that just before this scene, Jesus tells a story criticizing worldly rulers for oppressing his people. Then right after this, the day we call Holy Monday, Jesus flips the tables in the Temple in protest of the oppression some of his own people are enacting against one another3. Sometimes we turn on each other when we can’t push back on the people that are really hurting us, don’t we?

Can you think of a time you did that? How could you do it differently?

Jesus knows that pitting people against one another is an old trick of oppressors. Getting them to hurt each other is less work for the people in power. So he flips the tables and tells them to snap out of it – the Temple is supposed to be a sanctuary, a house of prayer, not another place of oppression.

So that was Monday – after he enters the city to cheers of Hosanna and flips tables, he preaches in the Temple4, and then someone close to him conspires against him5. The next day, at the Passover Feast, the day that the Jewish people celebrate their freedom from their captivity in Egypt, Jesus feeds that person anyway6, and washes his friends’ feet7. Then he’s betrayed8, given a mock trial9, tortured10, murdered11, buried12, mourned13, and then. Spoiler alert. Rises again14, and like the stones shouting Jesus’ praise if the people don’t, the stone that was intended to seal him in the grave did not stay put15.

So much can happen in a week.

*16I know that in here, loud protests and demonstrations are not an option, and I am NOT encouraging you to do that. But Jesus saying that if we don’t or can’t speak up in the ways we’d like to, that the stones will do it for us, is also a promise. God’s love is so compelling and Christ’s peace is so powerful that all of creation, not just the humans, but even stones, shout for joy in expectation.

So much can happen in a week.

And like I mentioned before, Jesus knew what was coming. The crowds did not. The people had a clear expectation of how the Messiah would save them, and it did not involve his death.

Have you ever had that?

A really clear idea of the right way for things to go, for justice to unfold?

I had a really clear idea of how my life would work.

When I was in my early 20’s I honest to goodness thought I’d get married and have kids and have a nice quiet life teaching Sunday school and being a good submissive wife and mother. Really. I know y’all don’t know me that well, but please understand that life would have destroyed me, so thank God it didn’t happen. But that’s the expectation that I was given by the religious leaders in my life.

Well-meaning people, who thought they knew what was best, like the well-meaning religious leaders in this story. Not actually a Biblical expectation, but the one that was presented to me as one. And for years and years my heart broke over and over again that I was failing that expectation, thinking I knew what would make me happy, and give me life.

I wonder if you’ve ever been given an expectation by someone you trusted, someone who meant well, that you had to let go of to have the life that God intended for you.

Going to seminary and becoming a pastor were not part of my plan, I didn’t even know they could be a plan. Moving to Colorado and working in a women’s prison weren’t even within the realm of things I could have imagined for myself. And to be sure, there were some things that happened in between. Other things I never imagined, some less fun than others, like realizing I needed to get sober, having a brief and terrible marriage, and doing all the work that goes with healing. Which many of you know is a lot. But also things like helping smuggle Bibles and condoms, on the same trip, and jumping on a moving train in Central Asia. We don’t know the future., and…

So much can happen in just a week.

The people had expectations of their Messiah-king. And we sometimes have expectations of how God should work in our lives. Knowing that so much can happen in a week, can sometimes even tempt us to expect God to work faster, to obey our timeline and conform to our expectations. I expected different things from my life than God gave me, and I am so grateful that I was wrong.

It’s okay if right now, the shouts of joy aren’t coming. My muppet-stone-chorus will do it for you if you can’t. God’s love is so compelling and Christ’s peace is so powerful that all of creation, not just the humans, but even stones, shout for joy in expectation.

So much can happen in a week.

The path to peace is a difficult one, but we follow a savior that goes before us. Jesus leads us to victory through hardship, AND THE ONLY WAY THROUGH IS THROUGH. The only way to the resurrection is through all the rest of Holy Week. The protesting and preaching, the eating and singing and foot washing, the betrayal, and death. They all lead us toward the resurrection. As you go through this week, Holy week, full of both joy and hardship, remember that our expectations may not be God’s best for us, but God’s promises are true – we just don’t always know how they’re going to come about. Death comes before resurrection.

So much can happen in a week.

Amen.

They were right.

Proclaiming freedom in Christ to women in prison is my new favorite thing. However, I forgot my sermon manuscript at the outside church I serve (the one not in a prison or on the internet), so had to preach from memory using an outline I scribbled down during the first song (when I realized it wasn’t in my binder).

It could have been worse, but it could have been better.

This is the sermon I would have preached.

Texts: Exodus 34:29-35 & Luke 9:28-43a

For those of you I haven’t gotten to meet yet, my name is 7 O’Riordan. I’m a student Chaplain/pastoral intern/Vicar here at New Beginnings, and I’ll be with y’all through Aug of 2026. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to get to know each other. I’m in school to become a Lutheran pastor, like Pastor Samm and Pastor Nadia, and internship is part of that process. I’m also serving with Pastor Samm at their other congregation, and I really do love those folks, but the opportunity to be a part of New Beginnings is the reason I chose to leave everyone I love in Ohio and move across the country with just my cats and way too many books. Thank you for letting me be part of your community.

So enough about me… back to Jesus… he’s way more interesting. I know I talked a lot right after the reading, but did anyone notice anything in particular that stood out to you or have a favorite part? (some answers were: 3 tents, Jesus is grumpy, Moses showed up).

Meditation on Luke 9:28-36

Before I tell you my favorite part, I’m actually going to read it to you again. It’s long, so I’m just going to read the first half, but this time, I want you to listen for a word or phrase or idea that gets your attention & just be curious about it. There’s only one rule (I know, I don’t love rules either and you already have a lot to follow, but I promise this one is a good one). The one rule is that as you’re listening, stay focussed on God’s love for you. If that’s too much of a stretch, try to imagine what it would be like if God loved you and was actually excited to spend this time with you.

With that in mind, take a deep breath, ask for the Holy Spirit to help you hear what God has for you, and listen again.

Re-read Luke 9:28-36

So, I’ll tell you, my favorite part was when Peter is super tired, and says something dumb out loud – they’ve been doing all this public ministry stuff, which even if you're a people person, which I am, constant extroverting is exhausting.

So they do all this public Ministry stuff, and they've stayed up really late, and Peter sees Moses and Elijah show up and start talking to Jesus about something he doesn’t really get, and then they go to leave and Peter recognizes that something good is happening — which to be clear, is a vast improvement from how the people responded to Moses when he started glowing. When that happened to Moses, the people freaked out so bad that he had to wear a mask around everyone but God. At least Jesus had three people he could show his true self to. I hope you have that, too.

But Peter, grateful for this amazing thing that’s happening, is like “wait I'll build you a tent!” (I don’t know if Peter carried a little tent-to-go kit in his tunic-pockets or what that was about, but the next line is my favorite part

NOT KNOWING WHAT HE WAS SAYING

I don’t know about you, but saying something out loud that maybe should have stayed an inside thought, is something I can identify with on a spiritual level. And if I’m exhausted from peopling and lack of sleep, it’s almost a guarantee that I’m going to say something before thinking it all the way through (or cry for no reason… or both). So when Peter, one of Jesus’ besties, one of the only people Jesus can show his true self to, does this very human thing that I do a lot, it reminds me that my silly humanness does not make me unworthy to be with Jesus. It just makes me human.

But… by offering to build the tents, what was Peter saying that he didn’t know he was saying?

Just. Don’t. Leave.

Let’s walk through the story up to there.

They’re on this mountain with Jesus, and he starts like glowing or something, something big is happening, and the two all time greatest prophets from the past show up. So Peter’s very understandable reaction is to try to make this amazing moment last. He’s a faithful Israelite, so hospitality is deeply engrained into his soul, and he tells them “you don’t need to go anywhere. I’ll make you a tent, better yet, I’ll make you each a tent, you can each have your own, so you’ll be super comfortable and can stay longer.

Just. Don’t. Leave.”

The word being used here is one for a temporary dwelling, which could mean that Peter understood impermanence and just wanted to make it last a little bit longer. OR, it could mean Peter’s tunic-pockets weren’t big enough to carry the tools needed to build three houses on the fly. So maybe phase one of the building plan was tents, but phase two was mountain chalets!

It’s also the word used for tabernacle which was the temporary structure used to carry the arc of the covenant – so kind of like a mobile shrine or pop-up-church. So Peter, recognizing that something good is going on, and grateful for it, does this very human thing – he wants to hang on to this powerful moment, this mountaintop moment, where he sees Jesus in glory and gets to live every faithful Jewish boys’ dream of meeting Israel’s top prophets. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make that last longer?

Mountaintop experiences aren’t meant to last forever though. Those glimpses of the Divine keep us going and remind us that God is real and present with us. But we go to the mountain to pray not to stay.

Pray, read, listen, pray: a crash course on Luther’s Lectio Divina

We do need to pray and connect with God when we aren’t on the mountain top, too though, right? We do, really, staying connected to the Source of Life makes the impermanence of things a lot easier to deal with. We do that in church, but the way we read the Gospel earlier when I read it and I told you to listen for what stood out, and I read it again, is part of a very old, very simple spiritual practice that you can do on your own or in a small group.

It’s really simple – remember the only rule — God loves you (and you’re listening for what God has for you, not someone else):

• Pray — ask for the Spirit to show you what God has for you

• Read the passage slowly two or three times

• Listen for what stands out to you

• Pray — talk to God about it, thank her for this time together, and then ask the Spirit to continue to be with you throughout your day.

Pray, read, listen, pray — I believe in all of you that you can do that.

If you gather with others, you can talk about what you noticed, or you can journal about it. Remember it’s about what God has for you, not so you can tell your neighbor about themselves. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes.

Clinging to the Past

But there’s more than Peter just wanting to prolong this mountaintop moment. The two greatest prophets of Israel’s past (who are LONG dead by the way, so it’s weird that no one is freaking out here), but these great, long-dead prophets from the past show up, and Peter very reasonably fan-boys a little, but instead of learning from the past, appreciating it for what it was, and letting it go, he wants to build shrines, or like a places of worship for it. Places of worship of the past (Moses and Elijah) and the present (Jesus). By building shrines, he can keep them right where he can find them and predict them and maybe even contain or control them. And being afraid to let go of the past, acting in fear of losing something you have or not getting something you think you need or deserve, those are old ways of being, normal human reactions we have when we’re not living in faith into a transformed life. That can be especially tempting when we’ve gone through a lot of hard things. But old keys don’t open new doors.

When you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got, right?

But… Jesus is doing something new!

I wonder if you can think of a time that you might have done something like that? Either individually or collectively with others. A time you tried to hang on to a moment or a person or a way of being that worked in the past but that wasn’t meant to last forever. Or something that was good for you and your friends, but you later realized was hurting others. It’s hard to reconcile those things sometimes — gratitude for our own blessings with regret for those same blessings doing harm to others.

A lot of us here are in recovery — I’m 17 years sober — so sometimes it’s a little easier for us to remember clinging to glaring character defects that were developed when we were young to protect us, but that stopped helping long before we let them go. Or relationships, whether with family, partners, or friends, or whatever that used to be good and we kept hoping they would be again, and we thought if we just fixed this thing, if we just built this tent, then they wouldn’t leave. Or a time you remembered the past as being way more glorious than it actually was and tried to recreate it. Or even a really impactful spiritual experience that you wished would have lasted longer.

When we aren’t spiritually fit, when we’re exhausted, when we’re afraid of losing something we have or not getting something we want, we sometimes default back to those old behaviors, those unhelpful ways of being, romancing a past that wasn’t all that romantic for everyone. The good news is that the very human and normal tendency to want to cling to people and control circumstances does not make us beyond Jesus’ love or even friendship. Peter was his bestie.

But when we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got.

Jesus is doing something new

Because remember, the thing that happened when they came down from the mountain? I didn’t reread that part, because it was so long, but what happened was that Jesus healed a child that the other disciples hadn’t been able to. After taking time away to:

rest, pray, learn from the past, and let it go

Jesus came back down the mountain able to continue his mission of healing our hurting world. He invites us to join him – to be healed, from the past, from the ways of being that aren’t who we know God for us anymore, and then to carry that healing to others.

They had no way of knowing there was someone that needed them, that only they could help, at the bottom of that mountain. They just did the next right thing. When we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got, but…

Jesus is doing something new.

Jesus is doing something new in you

So before we go, I want you to think about 3 things we learned from this story and ask God to help you with them this week, so that you can participate in the new thing God is doing in you.

Remember, Peter was grateful, (vs 33 “it is good for us to be here!”)

What are you grateful for?

They had to let go of the past and accept that the present was temporary.

What do you need to accept or let go of?

They went down the mountain, not knowing what would happen next.

And what’s the next right thing for you to do?

Jesus is doing something new.

May it be so.

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CW: brief mention of sexual assault/rape, discrimination against people of color

The Worship Companion contains the full liturgy and includes a Gathering Guide with music suggestions. Please use the podcast or transcript for the sermon, testimony, and to learn the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish with us.

We talk about Epiphany aka Three Kings Day aka the time foreigners deceived the government and saved Jesus’ life and our own stories of spiritual seeking. Friend of Odd Grace Community Miguel Hernandez also reflects on his lived experience as a Chicano in the US, recovery, and spiritual journey.

Worship Leader: Vicar 7
Worship Assistant: Jena Newland

• Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12

• Sermon-story (Sermonony? Stormon? Sermy?): Vicar 7

  • Star Word Generator

• Responsive Reading of Psalm 72:1-14

  • Refrain: “All rulers shall bow down”

• Conversation with Miguel Hernandez

• Prayers of Intercession: God of Grace > Receive our Prayer

• Offering and announcements:

  • 10% of January offering will go to Global Refuge

• Lord’s Prayer in Spanish lead by Maria Reyes

Prayer requests: oddgracecommunity@gmail.com

May God bless you and keep you wonderfully weird

Subscribe for free to receive updates and be part of our little band of Oddballs.

My dad did not remember. Though a big fan of God, his disdain for organized religion and traditional church has been consistent throughout my lifetime. That was the only midnight mass he ever attended to see me sing (and one of the very few church services inside an actual church building for any reason). To be fair, it was also 30 years ago, and he was probably also QUITE intoxicated. We are both many-24-hours-sober now and have the ability to acknowledge the past without shame or wishing to shut the door on it. He asked me which of his girlfriends got me drunk at Christmas Eve dinner — we sighed in unison at the mention of her name, remembering the dark time in our family’s history that her presence in a story indicates.

The conversation started when my stepsister’s partner asked me if I thought I’d be able to stay up late enough to make it through midnight mass. I laughed and said I had coffee brewing — that midnight mass on Christmas Eve was one of the two church services a year that I actually care about (the other is Easter Vigil). My dad also laughed when asked if he would go with me. We both sighed, but differently this time. Some things don’t change.

Later on Christmas Eve I sang Silent Night by candlelight, QUITE sober, and was even mostly able to pronounce the German well enough to not sing watermelon and help visitors follow the liturgy. It was likely the last Christmas I’ll have with my home congregation, and the last with my family, at least for awhile. In January I’ll move from Columbus, OH to Denver, CO for an 18 month internship — I have no idea where I’ll serve after then.

Odd Grace Community exists for myriad reasons. As much as I like to think I’ve chosen a very different way of following God than my dad (even “rebelliously” choosing to be part of the institutional church!), having been raised by an irreverent, obstinate, yet very affable house-church preacher is likely one of those reasons. Recognition of my own need for community, and the unknown and likely transient nature of my future ministry is definitely another.

As I typed the words that Christmas Eve midnight mass and Easter Vigil are my two favorite services, I realized that they are both about liminality, birth, new birth, and freedom. I live in a liminal space — a state of synchronous beginning, being, and becoming. One where my tattooed-sweary-vulnerability, and comfort with my own and others’ need for grace, often makes me a tad bit too gritty and free for churchy-church folx. That same vulnerability, and comfort with my own and others’ need for grace, makes me not quite gritty enough and still too free for many in recovery (tattoos and swearing notwithstanding). So another of the many reasons I chose to create a space for misfits, seekers, and weirdos like me is knowing that I am not as unique as often I feel, want to be, and sometimes also fear that I am. Recovery has taught me by experience what I learned in Bible study to be true — I am never alone — I just have to keep reaching out to not be lonely.

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There are no small number of weirdos like me. People who are, or who want to be, comfortable enough in their own skin to laugh and cry easily and loudly, to love bodily and without condition. People who revel with delight in the spreading of Christ’s mercy and working toward a just society. People looking for their people. Maybe you’re one of them. Or maybe you’re a different kind of weirdo. Either way, I hope you’ll join us, stick around through the inevitable growing pains of forming a new kind of community, and help us build a home where everyone who wants to can belong, there is always enough, shame has no place, questions are treasures, and we sing Silent Night together in whatever language makes sense to us, in whichever time zone we live, with or without candlelight, knowing we are being held in the light by God and a bunch of other weirdos.

Peace to you, Beloved.

Happy Christmastide 💚

Vicar 7

Podcast Worship Leaders: Sar7ah “7” O’Riordan and Jena Newland

Biblical Text: John 1:1-5

Community responses are labeled C: and in Bold italics, text spoken by a worship leader or lector is labeled L:. suggested actions are in italics (Substack won’t let me use red)

Suggested Music: Song recommendations are based on theme, style, and theology and curated to lift up artists of color and those that are queer, trans, or LGBTQIA+ affirming. If you have songs you think work better, you’re probably right. Let us know.

Prelude:

• Hymn for the Hurting, written by Amanda Gorman spoken by Seneca Holden (spoken word)

• Kevin, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Leon Bridges (pop/hip-hop)

• O Come O Come Emmanuel, Poor Bishop Hooper (sounds like a funeral derge)

Gathering Song:

• Drive Out the Darkness, Porter’s Gate

• O Come O Come Emmanuel, Ivhanna Gil (soulful)

Song of the Day:

• Illuminate the Shadows, Porter’s Gate (soulful)

• Christ, Be Our Light, Written by Bernadette Farrell covered by Ivhanna Gil & Jonatan Narvarez (hymn)

• Christ as a Light, Liturgical Folk (folksy version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

Postlude:

• When Death Dies, Gungor (indie, tear-jerker)

• Hold On (Joy is Coming), Harlem Gospel Travelers (gospel, dance it out)

Let us know what worked and what didn’t oddgracecommunity@gmail.com. The first person to email me with a (non-theological) mistake, gets a reward in heaven. The first person to email me to argue does not.

Gathering

Prelude:

• Hymn for the Hurting, written by Amanda Gorman spoken by Seneca Holden (spoken word)

• Kevin, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Leon Bridges (pop/hip-hop)

• O Come O Come Emmanuel, Poor Bishop Hooper (sounds like a funeral derge)

L: A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

(pause)

L: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you.

Land Acknowledgement:

L: “As we prepare for worship, you’re encouraged to reflect on the history of the land where you are. The land on which we are gathered for worship is the original and ancestral homeland of (name whose land you’re on) people. We give thanks for their presence here since time immemorial and wish to honor all of our indigenous siblings that have cared for this land and continue to call it home.2”

You can learn about the land you’re on here. Jena and I recorded on the original and ancestral homeland of the Miami, Shawnee, and Kaskaskia people.

Grounding practice: Box breathing into breathe prayers

Inhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts, exhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts

Inhale the peace the comfort and consolation of the Holy Spirit

Hold it in your heart

Exhale your worries, fears, and heartache

Leave it there

(Repeat)

Gathering Song:

• Drive Out the Darkness, Porter’s Gate

• O Come O Come Emmanuel, Ivhanna Gil (soulful)

Prayer:

L: Blessed is our God, light of the universe,
As present with us in gloom as joy
In sunlight or shadows.
C: Amen

L: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing upon them, and the burden upon their shoulders, you have broken in pieces, O God, our Redeemer.

Let us pray - be with us, God, as we lay our heavy hearts bare before you. Speak peace to your people and comfort us in our grief, that your splendid grace and tender love may be a light in all the earth; through Jesus Christ,
who was,
and is,
and is coming soon.
Amen.

Word

Meditation:

L: During the liturgy of light and remembrance in our service, we’ll be using a response taken from the following reading from John chapter 1.

L: First, though, we’ll spend some time in contemplation with the reading. To start, try to focus on God’s love for you and delight in being with you. If that’s too hard, try imagining what it would be like to be loved by God so much that God was actually excited to spend time with you.

L: With that focus, listen as the passage is read. Pay attention for a word or image, phrase or idea that stands out to you. Sometimes people get anxious about doing this correctly. As long as you're trying, you’re doing it right.

Gospel Lesson: John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word
The Word was with God
And the Word was God
The Word was present to God from the beginning

Through the Word all things came into being
And apart from the Word
Nothing was made that has been made

In the Word was life,
And that life was the light of all people
A Light that shines in the darkness
A Light that the darkness did not overcome3

L: Sit with that word, phrase, or image that came to mind. Try not to analyze it, but savor it, and imagine it sinking into the deepest part of you and resting there.

L: Be curious. What might God be telling you?

L: As you listen again, still focussing on God’s love, let your imagination engage the passage. What do you see? Or smell? Or Feel? How does your body feel? What sensations do you notice?

Repeat John 1:1-5

L: Take some time to reflect on what you noticed.

L: Talk to God about what came to mind, and how God might be inviting you to respond. Listen for the answer. You may find writing helpful.

L: When you’re ready to move on, thank God for this time together and ask for the Spirit to continue to illuminate God’s love.

L: If you’re gathered with others to pray, this would be a good time to discuss your experience. If you’re comfortable sharing it on our Substack, I’d love to know. If absolutely nothing happened and you found this practice to be weird and frustrating, that’s okay, too. Different practices work better for different people.

If you’re interested in learning more about this way of praying or would like to do more of it, Pray As You Go is an excellent resource, and their meditations are way better than mine.

Liturgy of Light and Remembrance: It’s suggested that you have four candles, plus one for each person that died this year that you want to remember.

The one leading each section will close with:
“We trust in your Word, We trust in your Light” and then together we’ll respond:
A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

First Candle:
L: We light this candle to remember those who have died this year. After each remembrance, we’ll pray together, saying “May perpetual light shine upon them”

L: We remember our loved ones. We take them by the hand and present them to God, entrusting them to eternal loving care. We invite you to name them aloud or in the silence of your hearts… (pause) loving God, we pray
C: May perpetual light shine upon them

L: We remember especially our loved ones lost this year to overdose, addiction, or mental illness: Jennifer, Mary, Fisk, Michael, Jess, Dan, Peyton, Jenny, Ricky, Tattoo Mike, Pickle, Tommy, Steve, Joe, Richard,… (pause) compassionate God, we pray
C: May perpetual light shine upon them

L: Nex Benedict was a non-binary, indigenous, 16 year old whose life tragically ended following a violent attack in their school restroom. We remember Nex and all of our queer, trans, and 2 Spirit siblings that lost their lives this year due to hatred and ignorance… (pause) God of justice, we pray
C: May perpetual light shine upon them

L: Our indigenous relatives go missing and are murdered at shockingly high rates. We remember Nex and all of our indigenous relatives that lost their lives this year. Creator, we pray…
C: May perpetual light shine upon them.

L: Our Black, African descent, and other siblings of color, immigrants, and those who are deemed “other” are also frequent victims of hatred and violence. We remember those that lost their lives this year… God that sees, we pray
C: May perpetual light shine upon them.

L: Gracious God, we give thanks for the lives of these precious ones and all they were to us. We entrust them to your loving care and ask you to save a place for us beside them. Take our sad and aching hearts and comfort us. Comfort us, in the hollowness and emptiness we feel. God of sorrowing, draw near!

Help us to find joy in the people, events and the beauty of nature which still surrounds us… We trust in your Word, we trust in your Light.
C: A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Second Candle:
L: We light this candle for the pain of hardship and loss… Let us take a moment to remember our losses. We invite you to name them, aloud or in the silence of your hearts….

L: God of mystery, we turn our hearts to you. We come before you in need of peace, grateful for the mystery of life and ever keenly aware of your promises of guidance and protection. We want to place our trust in you, but our hearts grow fearful and anxious. We forget so easily that you will be with us in all that we experience. Help us to be patient with the transformation of our lives and to be open to the changes which we are now going through. We trust in your Word, we trust in your Light.
C: A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Third Candle:
L: We light this candle for those who experience a loss of faith or direction in their lives… Your words to us are clear: “Do not fear, I go before you.”

L: God of our depths, we cry out to you, be with us, be our light. Hold us closely and guide us from within. Reassure us that we cannot stray so far that you can’t find us and you delight in our return. Remind us that you love our questions and we are on the right path. Take all that is lost in us and bring it home with you. We trust in your Word, we trust in your light.
C: A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Fourth Candle:
L: The final candle we light as a symbol of our hope, the hope that the Light of Christ offers us. Each of us comes bearing our own burdens, sorrows, and broken places. We invite each of you to offer your own need to the God who loves each of us deeply, and is with us in our pain. God waits patiently, gently calling out: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (pause)

L: These lights in their brightness may only be symbols, but as they burn and finally go out, we remember that suffering passes, though memory remains. We remember that God, who shares our life, promises us a place and time of no more pain and suffering.

Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a lover adorned for their beloved. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.
God will dwell with them;
they will be God’s peoples
and Godself will be with them and be their God
and wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
For the former things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”4

L: O God whose spirit is known by those whose hearts are thankful, and who makes cheerfulness a companion of strength, lift up our hearts, we pray, to a joyous confidence in your care. Guide us when we cannot see the way. Teach us to know that a shadow is only a shadow, because the light of eternal goodness shines behind the object of our fears. Where there is love in life, teach us to find it; help us to trust it and enable us to grow in the power of love. So may our lives bring comfort and encouragement to others. We ask it, in the name of Jesus Christ. We trust in your Word, we trust in your Light.

A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

L: This is the good news, Beloved. The Word became one of us, and moved into the neighborhood. We have seen his glory, his one-of-a-kind glory, full of grace and truth.

We are people well acquainted with darkness, and uniquely equipped to face the gloom present in the world and our lives. Remember that as God lights a candle in our darkness and holds us close until we are able to shine, we are also called to carry that light to others. None of us heals alone. We need each other. Hold each other in the darkness.

Together, we are a light that shines in the darkness, that the darkness cannot overcome. Amen

Song of the Day:

• Illuminate the Shadows, Porter’s Gate (soulful)

• Christ, Be Our Light, Written by Bernadette Farrell covered by Ivhanna Gil & Jonatan Narvarez (hymn)

• Christ as a Light, Liturgical Folk (folksy version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

Response

Holy One, our only home
Blessed be your name
May your day dawn
Your will be done
Here, as it is in heaven
Feed us today
And forgive us
As we forgive each other
Be with us in times of trial
And rescue us from evil
For the glory
The power
And the mercy are yours
Now and forever
Amen

The Blessing of Naloxone:

We invite you to present your Naloxone kits for a blessing. We have lost so many. We refuse to allow their deaths to be in vain. We carry their memories as we carry these kits, and pray for a time when no one will have to feel the pain of the loss of a loved one to accidental overdose.

A blessing of Naloxone written by Dr. Sharon Fenneman and spoken by Minister Blyth Barnow

Creator of resurrection and light, we come to you with grateful hearts for all the ways your love continues to rise up in our midst. We give you thanks and praise for the Holy drug, naloxone, and the new life that it can bring.

We know that we need each other to survive, so we ask you to bless these kits, and all those who will use them, and all those who will be in need of them. Make them and us instruments of resurrection, that suffering will be released, that injury will be transformed, that joy will arise, that strength will take hold, that hope will take wing, and that death will yield to new life. Empower us to live into our vocations as people of resurrection, bringers of new life, proclaimers in word and deed of a new day rising. In the name of all that unfurls hope in our midst every moment, we pray. Amen.

Naloxone finder https://nextdistro.org/naloxone

Offering

Part of our response to God’s goodness is in the sharing of abundance.

Blyth has named Lifeline of Ohio as the organization she’d like people to donate to. Please give generously, and if you’re not able to contribute financially, please keep them and all in need of organ transplants in your prayers.

If you’d like to support Odd Grace Community, you can give at OldTrinity.com and select Odd Grace Community from the dropdown.

As we close our time of gratitude through generosity, please join me in the prayer that Jesus taught us. Please say whatever version of this prayer is most meaningful to you.

Holy One, our only home
Blessed be your name
May your day dawn
Your will be done
Here, as in heaven
Feed us today
And forgive us
As we forgive each other
Be with us in times of trial
And rescue us from evil
For the glory
The power
And the mercy are yours
Now and forever
Amen

Prayers of Intercession

L: In the spirit of this season, let us now confidently ask our God for all the things we need. We’ll close each petition with “Loving God, receive our prayer” and the community is invited to respond “And in your mercy, answer”

L: Let us pray –
We pray for ourselves, as we participate in this Christmas as unique people, coping with our many different losses. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer.

L: For our families and friends, that they may be well and continue to be a mutual support and help to us. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer.

L: For any person we have loved who has died, for all the losses we know in our lives, that all may be redeemed by your promise. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer.

L: For our family and friends, that you may bless them with love, peace, and joy. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer.

L: For all suffering from addiction or mental illness and those that love them, especially Chris S. and Chris V. May they know they are loved, may help be there at just the right time, and may they experience the gift of recovery. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer

L: For our neighbors that are exposed to the cold and don’t have enough food, that you may bless them with shelter, nourishment, and the dignity that comes with bearing Your image. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer

L: For other vulnerable communities, those that face discrimination and injustice, and those with chronic illness or pain, especially Miguel, Naomi, Shane, Jena, Temple… that community would rise up around them to protect them and carry them when they cannot carry on. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer

L: For peace throughout the world as proclaimed by the Christmas Angels on that faraway hillside, especially in Palestine and Israel. Loving God, receive our prayer
C: And in your mercy, answer

L: For greater understanding of the lessons of love and acceptance as taught by Jesus your Christ. Loving God, receive our prayer.
C: And in your mercy, answer.

L: God of great compassion and love, listen to the prayers of your people. Grant to all, especially the bereaved, lost, the hungry, and troubled ones this Christmas, this blessing we ask in the name of Jesus.

Sending

Announcements

Thank you for being with us for our Blue Christmas prayer service. We hope it was meaningful to you. People often struggle alone and in silence during the Holidays, so please forward or share it with anyone you think might find it helpful – personal invitations are far more effective than social media or other outreach we do.

Look for our next worship service in early January for Epiphany – we’ll be talking about journeys both in the metaphorical sense of spiritual seeking, wandering, and losing and finding faith – some things I know quite a lot about. As well as in the literal sense of physically traveling a really long way to find hope. I think Jena also promised to make King Cake for that feast day. We have lots of opportunities for service available – techy people and those interested serving as worship assistants in particular, email oddgracecommunity@gmail.com. We’d also love to hear from anyone trained in teaching contemplative practices that would like to share them with our community.

Don’t forget to subscribe to oddgrace.substack.com to be emailed when new services come out and get the Worship Companion with the liturgy, announcements, pet pictures, and other bonus content. The Worship Companion for this service has a link to a sad holiday playlist curated by Odd Grace Community members. Check it out to harshly judge our taste in music.

Grounding practice

Box breathing into breathe prayers

Inhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts, exhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts

Breathe in the hope of Christ’s coming

Hold it in your heart

Breathe out God’s love for the hurting

Leave it with them

(Repeat)

Blessing

God of endings and beginnings,

God in the darkness and the light,

God, our hope for the journey,

☩ bless and keep you now and forever.

Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.

C: Thanks be to God

Odd Grace Community is a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church, which is a Reconciling in Christ Congregation in downtown Columbus, OH. You can learn more about Old Trinity at OldTrinity.com.

Bonus Content:

Left to right: Cyril (Tuxedo) AKA “Lucky Charms”, Methodius (maskless raccoon) AKA “Otis” or “Mount Odius”. They are twice this big now, but this was the last time they were still enough to be photographed. Which kitten do you think can be heard purring during the service? If you can tell me when he’s purring, I’ll send you a free Magnificat shirt or mug from Art of Marza.

Jena and Miguel’s dog “Chico” is the goodest boy and cannot be heard during the service.

Check out The Saddest Holiday Playlist Ever curated by Odd Grace Community Members.

CN: accidental overdose, violence against BIPOC & LGBTQIA2S+

This is a service of the Word and prayer for those grieving this holiday season. Included are a Liturgy of Light and Remembrance for loved ones who died of accidental overdose, addiction, or mental health and BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ lost to hatred.

Gospel Reading:
John 1:1-5

Responses:
We pray > May perpetual light shine upon them
We trust in your word, we trust in your light > A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
Receive our prayer > And in your mercy, answer

Offering: HEAL Ohio

Prayer:
Holy One, our only home
Blessed be your name
May your day dawn
Your will be done
Here, as it is in heaven
Feed us today
And forgive us
As we forgive each other
Be with us in times of trial
And rescue us from evil
For the glory
The power
And the mercy are yours
Now and forever

Amen

This prayer service is dedicated to Noah Adam Reardon 10/14/1974-2/2/2000, who died of an accidental overdose. May perpetual light shine upon him.

Worship Assistant: Jena Newland

This is the liturgy1 and notes for the Advent worship service. Community responses are labeled C: and in Bold italics, suggested actions are in italics.

Suggested Music: Song recommendations are based on theme, style, and theology and curated to lift up artists of color and those that are queer, trans, or LGBTQIA+ affirming. If you have songs you think work better, you’re probably right. Just let us know.

Prelude:

• Brighter Days by Blessing Offor (hopeful)

• Christmas Song by Dave Matthews Band (plaintive)

Gathering Song:

• Make a Way, Porter’s Gate

• Raise Up, Semler

Song of the Day: some version of the Magnificat

• Canticle of the Turning (contemporary)

• Canticle of the Turning (celtic)

• Magnificat, Grayson Warren Brown (gospel choir)

Postlude:

• Last Days, Flamy Grant (Country/CCM)

• World Without End, Five Iron Frenzy (Ska-punk)

Let us know what worked and what didn’t oddgracecommunity@gmail.com. The first person to email me with a (non-theological) mistake, gets a reward in heaven. The first person to email me to argue does not.

Gathering

Prelude:

• Brighter Days by Blessing Offor (hopeful)

• Christmas Song by Dave Matthews Band (plaintive)

7: The Lord be with you

C: And also with you.

Land Acknowledgement: As we prepare for worship, I encourage you to reflect on the history of the land where you are. Jena and I are recording from the original and ancestral homeland of the Miami, Shawnee, and Kaskaskia people. We give thanks for their presence here since time immemorial and wish to honor all of our indigenous siblings that have cared for this land and continue to call it home.

Grounding practice: Box breathing into breathe prayers

Inhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts, exhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts

Inhale the peace that passes all understanding

Hold it in your heart

Exhale your worries, fears, and heartache

Leave it there

(Repeat)

Gathering Song:

• Make a Way, Porter’s Gate

• Raise Up, Semler

Prayer:

S7: The peace of God,

Which surpasses all understanding,

The love of Christ what guards our hearts,

And the joy and consolation of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

C: And also with you.

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare a pathway for your Christ. By his coming speak peace to your people and set our hearts on fire with love for you, that your saving grace and splendid glory may dwell in all the earth; through Jesus Christ,

who was,

and is,

and is coming soon.

C: Amen

Word

Meditation:
To begin our time in the word, we’re going to do a contemplative practice. To start, focus on God’s love for you and delight in being with you. If that’s too hard, try imagining what it would be like to be loved by God so much that God was actually excited to spend time with you.

With that focus, listen as Jena reads the passage. Pay attention for a word or image or phrase that stands out to you.

(Sometimes people get anxious about doing this correctly. As long as you're trying, you’re doing it right. The only caution I give is that if what you notice seems very harsh, judgemental, or scary, that’s a hot tip that it’s not God. Feel free to ignore that. If you’re able to, reconnect with your breath and try again. If not, feel free to skip ahead.)

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Sit with that word, phrase, or image that came to mind. Try not to analyze it, but savor it, and imagine it sinking into the deepest part of you and resting there.

Be curious. What might God be telling you?

As you listen again, still focussing on God’s love, let your imagination engage the passage. What do you see? Or smell? Or Feel? How does your body feel? What sensations do you notice?

repeat Malachi 3:1-4

Take some time to reflect on what you noticed.

Talk to God about what came to mind, and how God might be inviting you to respond. Listen for the answer. You may find writing helpful.

When you’re ready to move on, thank God for this time together and ask for the Spirit to continue to show you God’s love and will for you today.

If you’re gathered with others to pray, this would be a good time to discuss your experience. If you’re comfortable sharing it on Substack, I’d love to know. If absolutely nothing happened and you found this practice to be weird and frustrating, that’s okay, too. Different practices work better for different people.

If you’re interested in learning more about this way of praying or would like to do more of it, Pray As You Go is an excellent resource, and their meditations are way better than mine.

Psalmody: Luke 1:46-55

Today’s Psalmody is the Magnificat by Marty Haugen from Holden Evening Prayer. This is Mary’s song found in Luke chapter 1.

(This is meant to be a responsive reading between two people or groups)

My soul proclaims your greatness, O God
And my spirit rejoices in you
You have looked with love on your servant here
And blessed me all my life through

Great and mighty are you, O Holy One
Strong is your kindness evermore

How you favor the meek and lowly one
Humbling the proud of heart

You have cast the mighty down from their thrones
And lifted up the humble in heart

You have filled the hungry with wondrous things
And left the wealthy no part

Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One
Strong is your justice, strong your love

As you promised to Sarah and Abraham
Kindness forevermore

My soul proclaims your greatness, O God
And my spirit rejoices in you
You have looked with love on your servant here
And blessed me all my life through

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

 ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

 Every valley shall be filled,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight,

and the rough ways made smooth;

 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

7: The gospel of the Lord
C: Hallelujah

Sermon: A long time ago, in a Palestine far, far, away

(The GoT references were planned, the Star Wars references just happened. It must have been God’s will or something.)

Song of the Day: some version of the Magnificat

• Canticle of the Turning (contemporary)

• Canticle of the Turning (celtic)

• Magnificat, Grayson Warren Brown (gospel choir)

Response

Prayers of Intercession

We invite you to join us for the prayers of intercession. Jena will begin a prayer and then pause for you to add your own. She will close each one with the words, “Lord, in your love” and the community will respond with “Receive our prayer”.

Okay, lets’s practice

Jena: Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

As we prepare for Emmanuel, God-with-us, let us pray for all people and places that long for God’s presence.

A brief silence.

Refining God, move through your people. Root out practices that cause harm, and kindle a fire for sharing your good news… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

Renewing God, transform your creation. Empower us to change systems that harm what you have made, and guide us in practices that preserve and restore creatures and habitats… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

Reconciling God, teach the nations your ways. Strengthen organizations and communities that broker peace and care for refugees, immigrants, and all caught in the center of conflict, especially those in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, the continent of Africa, and in the United States… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

Rescuing God, restore your people who are in any need. Heal all who are suffering especially Miguel, Lisa, Tim, Valerie, and Kelly, those struggling with mental health or addiction, treatment providers, and those that love them. Provide comfort and strength, and nurture sustained wholeness for the future… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

Reforming God, fill this community with your presence. Enrich our seasonal preparations, and bless our efforts to share your good news of hope and healing… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

For what else do we pray?... (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

Reassuring God, we remember those who have died and rest in you… Jess, Dan, Payton, and Michael. Guide us in deep gratitude for their life, and allow us to learn from their faithful witness… (brief silence)

Lord, in your love,
C: receive our prayer

7: Blessed are you, Creator of the Universe – may the light of Christ make our darkness bright, for your Word and your presence are the light of our pathways, just as you are the light and life of all creation2. Be with us now, and receive these prayers and the pleas of our hearts, in the name of Jesus Christ.
C: Amen

Is that Odd or is that God?

Jena’s testimony

Offering

Part of our response to God’s goodness is in the sharing of abundance.

Jena named Lifeline of Ohio as the organization she’d like people to donate to. Please give generously, and if you’re not able to contribute financially, please keep them and all in need of organ transplants in your prayers.

If you’d like to support Odd Grace Community, you can give at OldTrinity.com and select Odd Grace Community from the dropdown.

As we close our time of gratitude through generosity, please join me in the prayer that Jesus taught us:

Holy One, our only home

Blessed be your name

May your day dawn

Your will be done

Here, as in heaven

Feed us today

And forgive us

As we forgive each other

Be with us in times of trial

And rescue us from evil

For the glory

The power

And the mercy are yours

Now and forever

Amen

Sending

Announcements

Blue Christmas Service Dec. 20 – we’ll be doing a naloxone blessing and remembering loved ones we lost to overdose. LOTS of service positions available – techy people and those interested serving as worship assistant, email oddgracecommunity@gmail.com

Grounding practice

Box breathing into breathe prayers

Inhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts, exhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts

Breathe in the hope of Christ’s coming

Hold it in your heart

Breathe out God’s love for the hurting

Leave it with them

(Repeat)

Blessing

God of endings and beginnings,

God in the darkness and the light,

God, our hope for the journey,

☩ bless and keep you now and forever.

Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.

C: Thanks be to God

Odd Grace Community is a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church, which is a Reconciling in Christ Congregation in downtown Columbus, OH. You can learn more about Old Trinity at OldTrinity.com.

Worship Assistant: Jena Newland

1st Reading — Malachi 3:1-4 (Lectio Divina)
Psalmody — The Magnificat from Holden Evening Prayer by Marty Haugen
Refrain: My soul proclaims your greatness, O God
And my spirit rejoices in you
You have looked with love on your servant here
And blessed me all my life through
Gospel — Luke 3:1-6

Sermon: 7 O’Riordan — “A long time ago, in a Palestine far, far, away”
(I promise I did not intend to write a Star Wars sermon. I didn’t even realize I had until after the fact. The GoT references were entirely intentional though.)

Prayer of Jesus (adapted from Holy Wisdom Monastery)
Holy One, our only home
Blessed be your name
May your day dawn
Your will be done
Here, as in heaven
Feed us today
And forgive us
As we forgive each other
Be with us in times of trial
And rescue us from evil
For the glory
The power
And the mercy are yours
Now and forever

Amen

Updates at oddgrace.substack.com or @OddGraceCommunity