Sunday Gathering: July 5

Welcome to a special morning of worship among the Vox Dei Community.

Today, we are gathering in our own homes as we seek another refreshing moment in the midst of a long season of disruption. If you would like to walk alongside Vox during this time of physical distancing, please subscribe to our Communiqué list to stay updated about all that is going on.

The journey ahead is uncertain. But the outcome is certain. God will get God’s way. 

In this confidence, we set aside this morning to turn our minds, our hearts, our bodies, toward the center of all that is: Jesus Christ, death conqueror, risen King, Lord of all that is and of all that will ever be.

          We gather apart this morning
          Separated by crisis
          But united as one body
          Scattered like seeds to the wind
          The wind of the Spirit planting us among neighbors
          Apart, this morning we gather

---

​Welcome one another to this time of worship. If you are alone, welcome your own heart in the name of Christ who is with you.

“The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.”  - William Temple

Your Name Is Power
by Rend Collective

          Verse 1:
          You're the only answer to the darkness
          You're the only right among the wrong
          You're the only hope among the chaos
          You are the voice that calls me on
          Louder than every lie
          My sword in every fight

              Chorus:
              The truth will chase away the night
              Your name is power over darkness
              Freedom for the captives
              Mercy for the broken and the hopeless
              Your name is faithful in the battle
              Glory in the struggle
              Mighty it won't let us down or fail us
              Your name is power
              Your name is power

          Verse 2:
          I know it is written, hope is certain, yeah
          I know that the word will never fail (Never fail me)
          I know that in every situation
          Yes I know, You speak the power to prevail
          Louder than every lie
          My sword in every fight
          The truth will chase away the night

              Bridge:
             When You speak, You scatter darkness
             Light arrives and heaven opens
             Holy spirit, let us hear it
             When You speak the church awakens
             We believe the change is coming
             Holy spirit, let us see it

---

​Let us pray
We are not people of fear:
We are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbors’ safety.
We are not people of greed:
we are people of generosity.
We are your people God,
giving and loving,
wherever we are,
whatever it costs
For as long as it takes
wherever you call us.*
Amen.
*Words: Barbara Glasson, president
​of the Methodist Conference, Britain.

Art: Ale De la Torre, Mexican illustrator
​and graphic designer.

---

Psalm 29:3-4
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord, over many waters.
The Voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

---

A Liturgy For Those Flooded With Too Much Information**
In a world so wired and interconnected,
our anxious hearts are pummeled by
an endless barrage of troubling news.
We are daily aware of more grief, O Lord,
than we can rightly consider,
of more suffering and scandal than we can respond to, of more
hostility, hatred, horror, and injustice
than we can engage with compassion.

But you, O Jesus, are not disquieted
by such news of cruelty and terror and war.
You are neither anxious nor overwhelmed.
You carried the full weight of the suffering
of a broken world when you hung upon
the cross, and you carry it still. 

When the cacophony of universal distress
unsettles us, remind us that we are but small
and finite creatures, never designed to carry
the vast abstractions of great burdens,
for our arms are too short and our strength
is too small. Justice and mercy, healing and 
redemption, are your great labors.

And yes, it is your good pleasure to accomplish
such works through your people,
but you have never asked any one of us
to undertake more than your grace
will enable us to fulfill.

Guard us then from shutting down our empathy
or walling off our hearts because of the glut of
unactionable misery that floods our awareness.
You have many children in many places
around this globe. Move each of our hearts
to compassionately respond to those needs
that intersect our actual lives, that in all places
your body might be actively addressing
the pain and brokenness of this world,
each of us liberated and empowered by
your Spirit to fulfill the small part
of your redemptive work assigned to us.

Give us discernment 
in the face of troubling news reports. 
Give us discernment 
to know when to pray, 
when to speak out, 
when to act, 
and when to simply 
shut off our screens 
and our devices, 
and to sit quietly 
in your presence, 

casting the burdens of this world 
upon the strong shoulders 
of the one who 
alone 
is able to bear them up. 

Amen.
**Copyright © 2017 Douglas McKelvey

---

The Good News of our Lord:
Jesus said,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Matthew 6:25-34

---

Let us GIVE generously to the work of God through the church. Give Here.
​
Father, you sustain all things. You hold my household in the palm of your hand. Help me to trust in your power, and to lead my household in acts of hope today. Amen.

Jesus reminded us that all the earth is God’s when he said, “Freely you have received, so freely give.”

So let us pray: 
          Father, you are an abundant giver.
          There is nothing that I have that you have not given me.
          The way of your kingdom is the way of generosity.
          Help me to honor you with my resources.
          Free me from the deceit of riches.
          Lead me on the path of generosity.
          For your glory, Lord, for the abundance of my own life and for the sake of others.  
          AMEN. 

Give ONline

You Keep Hope Alive
by Mandisa and Jon Reddick

          Verse 1:
          Days may be darkest
          But Your light is greater
          You light our way
          God You light our way
          When evil is rising
          You're rising higher
          With power to save
          With power to save

              Chorus:
              You keep hope alive
              You keep hope alive
               From the beginning to end
              Your word never fails
              You keep hope alive
              Because You are alive
             Jesus You are alive

          Verse 2:
          Death had a stronghold
          But Your life was stronger
          Rose from the grave
          Rose up from the grave
          When evil is rising
          You're rising higher
          With power to save
          With power to save

              Bridge:
              There's hope in the morning
              Hope in the evening
              Hope because You're living
              Hope because You're breathing
              There's hope in the breaking
              Hope in the sorrow
              Hope for this moment
              My hope for tomorrow

---

Let us RESPOND to the Spirit’s work in the world.

Human beings have an incredible capacity to endure, so long as they keep hope alive.
 
For Christians, this means reminding ourselves that Jesus is renewing all things, and he calls us to participate. Now, more than ever, this can and should be true of the American church:

          "...always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you 
          the reason for the hope you possess..." - 1 Peter 3:15
 
What has always been true is suddenly apparent: we live in a dark, dangerous and chaotic world and Jesus has called us to be the light in the darkness (Matthew 5:14). 

How we respond to danger says so much to our neighbors about what we really believe. So let your house be a lighthouse, a place that signals safety, warmth, and the hope of home. 

Light a candle in your window, as a symbol and a reminder of your hope. If your neighbors ask you, be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within you.

---

Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord.

          The Lord bless you and keep you
          The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you
          The Lord life up his countenance on you and give you His peace.
          Now for ever. Amen.

---

P.S.
A Bedtime Liturgy for Small Children
To remind them, and us, of God's protective love:
 
          Parent: Did God make you?
          Child: Yes.
          Parent: Does God love you?
          Child: Yes.
          Parent: Will God always protect you?
          Child: Yes.
          Parent: Even more than I can? 
          Child: Yes.
        Parent: You’re right. Now rest in the peace that the one who made the stars knows your name, and will always love and care for you. Goodnight.

---