Vox Veniae Podcast

As we start the new year with our first liturgy in our new building, Gideon Tsang invites us to consider how we might need to expand our spiritual vision to see love in ourselves and others  [Matthew 2:1-12].

Reflection

What if God continued to expand our vision of love for ourselves and others?

How can I welcome all parts of myself?

Spiritual Practice

Vesper.  Remind ourselves nothing can add to our intrinsic value.

As we continue the Advent season, Matt Inman reflects on how the love of God brings us the peace of God [Philippians 4:4-9].

Reflection

Who has loved you really well and helped you appreciate your real self?

Who in your life is out beyond their comfort zone right now and needs gentleness and love?

Resources

Video: Humans of New York

 

 

Spiritual Practice

When you feel like yourself or a family member is close to their edge, introduce a gentle mercy into the dynamic.

Take the emotions and thoughts you had during today’s clip and bring that into your prayers this week.  Where might the love and acceptance of God bring a greater sense of peace?

Where do you feel the peace of God in your life? Write out a list of who and what helps you turn your focus back on what is good and true.

As we continue the Advent season, Jason Minnix reflects on the invitation to interior preparation to get ready for eventual peace and a return to who we really are [Luke 3:1-6].

Reflection

What would it look like to let go of who I think I am (unworthy, selfish, controlling, etc.) and reconnect with my deep self? (loved, compassionate, curious)

How can I relax into the flow of God loving me today?

Spiritual Practice

Welcoming Practice.Breath deeply
.

Notice emotions, thoughts, body sensations & sink in.

Welcome anything you notice.

Let Go of having to manage any of it on your own.


Become aware that everything is being held and accepted.

Listen within the spaces you feel lost and empty.What is my wilderness now?  (It may be a change, good or bad, that you haven’t processed yet: someone you miss, or something you miss, maybe your body has changed. Name and acknowledge what’s hollow.)

Take a minute to feel what’s there.

And in this space of grief, listen, see what else is there.

Receive transformation through curiosity and compassion.What emotions arise as I consider this season?


Practice validating and having compassion for the presence of those emotions and thoughts.

As we begin the Advent season, Gideon Tsang reflects on what we are paying attention to during this Advent season [Luke 21:29-36].

 

Reflection

What would you like to pay attention to in this advent season?

How can you slow and quiet down your life to experience God's gentle nearness?

 

Resources

Video: The Secret Rhythm Behind Radiohead’s “Videotape”

Book: Heart and Mind: The Four Gospel Journey for Radical Transformation (Alexander Shaia)

Book: The Gift of Being Yourself (David Benner)

 

Spiritual Practice

Reflect on your season of faith.  What season of faith are you in? Meditate on the gospel of your current season (Matthew - fall, Mark -winter, John -spring, Luke - summer). Start a seasonal book club.

Reflect on God’s stillness.  Create an advent sound journal.  What’s the noisiest part of your life?  How can you turn it down or hit pause?

Chris Morton reflects on how we can be intentional with our memories and how remembering God’s provision is important for our growth [Deuteronomy 6:1-9].

Reflection

What legacy will you chose to remember?

What truths do you need reminders of?

What story do you want to tell?

Spiritual Practice

Think of something that you can remember this week of how God has provided for you.

Gideon Tsang finishes our vision series on Rootedness by exploring what it looks like for us to consent to rootedness and the fruit that we’ll bear [John 15:15-17].

Reflection

What kind of people do we want to be in 20 years?

What kind of fruit do we hope to produce over time?

Resources

Video: Mindful Silence (Phileena Heuertz)

MWG: Discussion Guide

 

Spiritual Practice

Attend the new building open house.  What is your Oneing dream for Vox? How can we dissolve our illusions of separateness?

Dream of a name that captures our lasting fruit.  Submit it to [email protected].  How can you be a part of that dream?

Jason Minnix continues our vision series on Rootedness by exploring how being rooted in community changes our relationship with God over time [John 15:9-14].

Reflection

How is God inviting the mess of who I am into love?

How am I being invited into the mystery of intimacy now?

Resources

Book: The Forgotten Desert Mothers (Laura Swan)

 

 

Spiritual Practice

Receiving Love.  How is God inviting the mess of who I am into love? (all of my questions, doubts, suspicions, addictions, smallness, all of it)  What are the parts of my life that need a home in community? (will you bring them in slow and small ways)

Gideon Tsang continues our vision series on Rootedness by considering why we should be rooted with Christ and each other [John 15:4-8].

Reflection

How is Christ inviting the disappointment of our exterior lives to deepen into our interior lives?

What does it look like to root together with the Vox community this season?

Resources

Podcast: On Being (Kevin Kelly)

 

Spiritual Practice

Examine your interior and exterior life.  What disappoints you about your exterior life?  Embrace the disappointment. Receive your invitation to Christ IN you.

Stake your claim in our collective soil through the new building: Ask, Donate, Volunteer

Jason Minix starts our vision series on Rootedness by reflecting on what it means to become more rooted to God and a spiritual community  [John 15:1-4].

Reflection

How am I being invited into rootedness now?

What surfaces for healing in me now as I consider rooting?

Spiritual Practice

Vine Inventory.  What vines am I attached to right now? (friends, family, work, hobbies, faith community)  How much do I give to them? (physically, mentally, emotionally) Are they still meaningful to the same degree they once were?  Is it time to renegotiate my vines?

Consenting to Rootedness.  What are we being invited to consent to, and where do I need to make space for healing first?  How is God being stingy to bring to beauty and meaning every detail of my story eventually? How is God joyfully wasting love on me now?

Geeta Mondol shares about her recent challenges and God’s provision as she continues the work of the Ashish Centre in New Dehli, India [Luke 5:17-26].

 

Reflection

What does our posture of faith and hope look like in uncertain situations?

In what ways have we experienced healing into community?

 

Resources

Video: Become Weaker (Jean Vanier)

Video: Healed into Community (Sara Miles)