Vox Veniae Podcast

On this third Sunday of Lent, Eric Robinson roots us in a spirituality of the wilderness. Eric reminds us of how anxiety spreads through systems and communities to scapegoat either one of the most powerful people in the group or the least powerful. He encourages us to resist the temptation to emotionally fuse with anxiety or to cut ourselves off, but to instead self-differentiate. We are encourage...

On the second Sunday of Lent, Lilly Louise Ettinger reminds us powerfully and poignantly that the wilderness is not always received as a gift. We often find it the last place we want to be. Yet we still often find ourselves in the middle of it. Lilly suggests prayer labyrinths, morning pages, and the power of presence as lodestars to guide us in the wilderness.   Belonging in the Wilderness lays b...

On this first Sunday of Lent, Christopher Mack invites us to open ourselves to God’s Presence in the wilderness through Henri Nouwen’s suggested practices of contemplative prayer, forgiveness, and theological reflection. Belonging in the Wilderness lays bare the tension between our vulnerable humanity… our desire to simply be, without hustling for worthiness or trying to fit in… and our longing fo...

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

God’s Love is in plain sight all around us, yet it seems so obscure. We may feel orphaned from homes where we once experienced spiritual vitality. Coercion and condemnation have left us on the streets looking for a better way. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ first words are, “What are you looking for?” and they’re followed by an invitation to “come and see.” We aren’t given certainty or a system to sell....

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ a...

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ a...

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ a...

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus’ a...

Homily Title: Reconstructing Sunday School: From Literal Fear to Imaginative Love While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.    Spe...

Homily Title: Reconstructing Prayer: From a Contest to a  Doorway While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.    Brandon Kinder cont...

Reconstructing Church: From Conformity to Community While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.    As we continue our Fall Vision se...

Reconstructing the Cross: From Punitive Scapegoating to Divine Nonviolence While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.  As we contin...

Reconstructing Evangelism: From Tactics to Authenticity While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.  This week, in our Fall Vision s...

Reconstructing Scripture: From Solo to Symphony While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.  Our Fall Vision series, Reconstructing...

Homily Title: Reconstructing Spirituality: From Guilt to Growth While many of the ideas and practices handed down to us about God and the church may have shifted, there is something about Jesus we still find compellingly beautiful. Often, after letting go of what wasn’t working, we struggle to find a way forward that shapes our lives to mirror the Beloved Community of God.  Our Fall Vision series,...

Claire Kinder, Hannah Friesen, Gena St. David, and Lindsay Stanek share about Vox Veniae’s new global partner, American Friends of Combatants for Peace, and the good work of nonviolent peacemaking happening between Palestinians and Israelis working in solidarity to advance a just peace. [Psalm 133]   Reflection  What is the cost of peace without justice, and who bears it?  What systems am I part o...

What is perpetually draining you of hope and joy?  Aurelia Dávila Pratt encourages us to steward a full cup for our own embodied self and the Body of Christ in relation to our time and how we relate to social media. [1 Corinthians 12:12-26] Reflection  What’s something that quietly energizes you—or helps refill your cup-when you’re feeling drained?  Where in your life are you being invited to pay...

How can I do something for someone else that brings me joy? Vanessa Maleare defines self-care by casting a vision of service as self-care. [1 Peter 4:7-11]   Reflection  What area of helping others bring you joy or energy?  Is there an area of service in which you’d like to grow?  If there is a barrier to you giving your time somewhere, could that barrier be moved in a creative way? Resource Book:...

What’s your favorite call to adventure? Christopher Mack hears the call to reconsider our relationship with the status quo as we are invited to daily form Beloved Community. [Luke 14:25-33]   Reflection  Where do you feel an invitation to subvert the values and expectations of the status quo? How might a cruciform vision of spirituality challenge you? Is there a way you might explore the practice...