Join Odd Grace Community for our monthly Service of the Word and Prayer.

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: [email protected]

May God bless you and keep you wonderfully weird

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 themWe trust in your word, we trust in your light > A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome itReceive our prayer > And in your mercy, answer

Offering: HEAL Ohio

Prayer:Holy One, our only homeBlessed be your nameMay your day dawnYour will be doneHere, as it is in heavenFeed us todayAnd forgive usAs we forgive each otherBe with us in times of trialAnd rescue us from evilFor the gloryThe powerAnd the mercy are yoursNow 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 Leader & Preacher: Sar7ah “7” O’Riordan

Worship Assistant: Jena Newland

1st Reading — Malachi 3:1-4 (Lectio Divina)Psalmody — The Magnificat from Holden Evening Prayer by Marty HaugenRefrain: 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 throughGospel — 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 homeBlessed be your nameMay your day dawnYour will be doneHere, as in heavenFeed us todayAnd forgive usAs we forgive each otherBe with us in times of trialAnd rescue us from evilFor the gloryThe powerAnd the mercy are yoursNow and forever

Amen

Grace is strange. So are we. Recovery-centered, progressive Christianity. 

Updates at oddgrace.substack.com or @OddGraceCommunity