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Episodes
The work of the people. Our weekly rhythm of being together as a larger community to worship and confess, to engage scripture and prayer, to celebrate eucharist, and to be sent back into the city with a benediction each and every week.
Episodes
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
As we continue in the Advent season, Jeff Chu reflects on how we are invited to experience and practice peace in the middle of the wilderness [Matthew 3].
Reflection
- What in your life needs to die?
- What are you trying to cultivate in your life this season?
Resources
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
As we begin the Advent season, Gideon Tsang reflects on what we are invited to spend time on and what we can use this season for [Romans 13:11-14].
Reflection
- How can you rest in knowing that your awakening will find you in time without your own willpower?
- What parts of you are being made whole in this season of Advent?
Spiritual Practice
- Waking from sleep. What parts of your life are still asleep? What parts of your life are recently awakened? What parts of your life are disorienting right now?
- Examining our wholeness. What are our current exoskeletons? What parts of us are learning to stand on our own, connecting to Christ in us, the hope of glory?
Resources
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Virginia Cumberbatch explores how we have lost the art of neighboring and how we can practice it in our lives [Jeremiah 23:1-6].
Reflection
- How can you practice the art of neighboring this week?
- What does God ask of us in participating in the tapestry of community?
Spiritual Practice
- What is your responsibility in the art of neighboring? What does that look like for you here at Vox, in Austin, in this world? How do you neighbor (pursue shalom) in your sphere of influence?
- What does neighboring look like for you in 2020? What areas in our life have we allowed division or distance to keep us from one another? What spaces can we step into to love, care for and affirm one another more? Who will you see, hear and neighbor in this next season?
Resources
- Film: Won’t You Be My Neighbor
- Video: Personal Space with Shia LaBeouf
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Jason Minnix reflects on how challenging the structure of our life and faith helps us explore the meaning behind them [Luke 20:27-38].
Reflection
- Do the rules and structure of my life support my "why" or have they replaced it?
- What's alive in me today? How can I carry it with love this week?
Spiritual Practice
- Refocus on your why. Refocus on where you’re going. What is my sense of purpose and meaning now?
Resources
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Kelly Cutbirth reflects on what makes a saint and what is the work of an ordinary saint [Luke 6:20-31].
Reflection
- Think of an achievement, success or possession in your life right now that you’re afraid to lose. Can you imagine God’s love for you even without that thing?
- Reflect on a part of yourself that you’ve made an enemy. What would it look like to practice love for that part of yourself?
Spiritual Practice
- Practice belief in your inherent worth. Think of something you’re afraid to lose: an achievement, approval, possession, loved one. Take time to wonder what deeper value you’ve attached to that thing (love, belonging, worth). Receive the reminder that you are inherently and unconditionally worthy.
Resources
- Film: JoJo Rabbit
- Film: Chocolat (Prayer Clip)
Wednesday Oct 30, 2019
Wednesday Oct 30, 2019
Weylin Lee reflects on how the lenses that we use to see ourselves and others might be helping or hurting our posture of humility [Luke 18:9-14].
Reflection
- How have we devalued others through our lens of contempt?
- Does our lens of comparison lead us to competition or curiosity?
- How can we put on a lens of mercy toward ourselves and others?
Spiritual Practice
- See without judgment. Think of someone you see with contempt. Objectively observe what you dislike about them. Consider how you may have been conditioned to dislike those things. Search for treasures buried in this person.
- See with curiosity. Meet with someone you compare yourself with. Hear their story with curiosity. Discover what their life has to teach you.
Resources
- Video: Portlandia (Did You Read It?)
- Podcast: On Being (Father Gregory Boyle)
- Vox Value: Posture
Wednesday Oct 23, 2019
Wednesday Oct 23, 2019
Gideon Tsang reflects on how prayer might realign the posture of our soul and being [Luke 18:1-8].
Reflection
- How might prayer help keep your heart open to God, ourselves and others?
- How does the way you feel about yourself reflect on the way you feel about God?
Spiritual Practice
- Centering Prayer. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within. When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Resources
- Book: The Cloud of Unknowing
Friday Oct 18, 2019
Friday Oct 18, 2019
Jason Minnix reflects on our desire for growth and how healing is integrated into that process [Luke 17:11-19].
Reflection
- What is it like to be accepted in my moving towards and away from healing?
- Where do I sense healing in proximity to threats in my life today?
- What am I grateful for this morning?
Spiritual Practice
- Call out for mercy. Where am I keeping my distance and calling out? Invite God’s tender presence to be near you in your spaces of longing.
- Discern your capacity for growth. Who makes me uncomfortable? What’s my capacity to be near them and heal/grow? How much is too much? How much is too little? Ask for the grace to live between your limits.
Resources
- Film: The Peanut Butter Falcon
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Chris Seay reflects on what it looks like for us to be in community and what we can learn from the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer [1 Corinthians 12:7-20].
Reflection
- What are some ways we experience or contribute to scapegoating in our lives?
- What does it look like to listen well in community?
Wednesday Oct 02, 2019
Wednesday Oct 02, 2019
As we finish our fall vision series exploring Contemplation, Gena Minnix reflects on what our bodies need in order to enter into a contemplative space [Matthew 26:39-42].
Reflection
- What do I need to know before I can consent to God's healing action and grace within?
- Where and when can I include contemplation as part of my daily routine?
Spiritual Practice
- The Welcoming Prayer. Welcome, welcome welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it’s for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, emotions, feelings, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for security. I let go of my desire for approval. I let go of my desire for control. I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person, or myself. I open to the love and presence of God, and the healing action of grace within.
Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
Wednesday Sep 25, 2019
As we continue our fall vision series exploring Contemplation, Gideon Tsang reflects on why it might be helpful to notice our lives more deeply [Matthew 8:18-22].
Reflection
- What does it look like to contemplate the ways we divide in life?
- How can we contemplate finding home within ourselves?
Resources
Spiritual Practice
- Consider the sides we experience. What if contemplation helps the crowded other side, slowly depopulate? Perhaps overtime we’ll realize there are no other sides within us either. Then perhaps slowly, maybe one day, we’ll realize there aren’t sides.
- Consider our home. Where are you most at home? With whom are you most at home? Where are you least at home? With whom are you least at home?
- Centering Prayer. Sit for 10 minutes and use a sacred word, phrase or image to center and allow yourself to move into a posture of surrender and openness to God.
Wednesday Sep 18, 2019
Wednesday Sep 18, 2019
As we continue our fall vision series exploring Contemplation, Jason Minnix reflects on contemplative practices that show us how to see and bring healing to our sight [John 9:1-7].
Reflection
- What am I holding tightly to that is filtering my enjoyment of life?
- Where do I sense an invitation to practice resting my mind?
Resources
- Podcast: On Being (Gordon Hempton)
- Terry Martin’s Memorial
- MWG: Discussion Guide
Spiritual Practice
- Practice Contemplation. Set aside 5-20 min a day, and/or perhaps an hour or two once a week. Choose something that gives you space to disengage from thoughts and emotions. Expect some disruption at the start.
- Contemplative Practice. Body Scan. Walk through each part of your body and the reflections that come to the surface.
- Seeing Our Filters. What filters serve me now? (filtering judgment, shame, social media, etc.) What are my filters that keep out life? (filtering love, grace, joy, peace, receiving)
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
As we start our fall vision series exploring contemplation, Weylin Lee reflects on how creating space for contemplation actually involves letting go of things in our lives [Matthew 16:24-26].
Reflection
- What are the things we are hesitant to let go of because it’s how we protect ourselves and preserve our way of living?
- Where do our loyalties lie and how do we end up losing sight of God’s vision for our life when we’re so tied to our loyalties?
- What's the frantic and anxious work that we’ve been devoting our energy to and how can we create space for rest instead?
Resources
- Video: Wave Pool in China
- Movie: JoJo Rabbit
- Video: Costco Opening in China
- MWG: Discussion Guide
Spiritual Practice
- Be Still Prayer. “Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am. Be still and know. Be still. Be.” Sit in a posture of letting go. Pause and reflect after each phrase is read until you’re left with “Be”.
- Prayer of Examen. Review your day and recall moments you experienced God’s presence. Reflect on the loyalties in your life that you’re tied to. Consider how you can discern God in all aspects of your life.
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Gideon Tsang explores what our faith provides for us and in what ways it might be freeing us [Luke 13:10-17].
Reflection
- Is our faith making us less or more free?
- How can we engage the space between our acting and our being?
- What parched areas of our life might need watering this week?
Resources
- Song: Faith (Bon Iver)
Spiritual Practice
- Notice the times where you’re acting vs. being. Give each of the characters a name. Thank these characters for being so helpful. Gently experiment with acting to being
- What part of your life needs watering? What does your soul love to do? How can you find space to water your soul this week?
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
Jason Minnix explores how prayer, justice, and rest work together and how they are all woven together [Isaiah 58:9-14].
Reflection
- How can I invite God's presence into suffering today?
- Where do I sense small sips of rest?
Spiritual Practice
- Invite God’s presence into our suffering and needs. Set aside 1 hour a week to make a list of your needs. Spend time making a plan to meet 2-3 of them. Anticipate set backs. Become curious about God’s support of you receiving what you need.
- Practice Sabbath. Does what I’m doing to rest free me up a little physically, emotionally and spiritually? Take small sips of rest daily. Take a long drink one day a week.
- What’s the one thing I’m being invited into today? To try a more meaningful form of prayer. To bring my needs and suffering into God’s presence and to engage them with care. To find rhythms of rest that free us.
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
For Kid’s Sunday, Gena Minnix reflects on how God invites us through difficult times in our lives [Hebrews 12:1-2].
Reflection
- How does my small story connect with the larger story?
- How does 'looking where the artist looked', help me see God's trustworthiness?
Resources
- Video: Mountain of Hell Race Crash
- Artist: Tomás Saraceno
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Jennifer Cumberbatch reflects on the invitation to joy in the midst of suffering [Romans 5:1-5].
Reflection
- Is it possible that suffering (loss, trials, temptations, tribulation) is a portal to the presence of the Holy One and thus a path to experiencing joy?
- Is there divine purpose in suffering?
Resources
- Video: Joyful Joyful (Sister Act 2)
Spiritual Practice
- PLAN: P - Play (Creativity in God’s image), L - Listen for God’s emotions, A - Praise is Appreciation, N - Nurture a heavenly rhythm
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Jason Minnix invites to reflect on what we are striving for and what Jesus invites us to consider regarding our attachments [Luke 12:13-21].
Reflection
- How might I access the grace to see the nightmares I'm holding onto?
- What does it look like to experience the abundance I already possess?
- Where do I hear invitation to move into my interior work?
Spiritual Practice
- What’s my Attachment? (IF-THEN Belief) “If” _______ - What am I striving for? “Then” _____ - What do I imagine that will give me?
- Practice Releasing an Attachment. Reflect on my attachment, or false belief (IF-THEN Belief). Take some time to really see it as a nightmare when I look to it as a source of lasting fulfillment. Become aware of the possibility that I have everything I need to be content right now.
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Weylin Lee explores what it means for us to grow in a meaningful way if the substance of our faith is Christ [Colossians 2:6-19].
Reflection
- How can you allow gratitude to overflow in your life?
- In what ways can you engage the dying process in order to experience life?
- In what ways is our practice of freedom moving us towards Christ?
Resources
- Podcast: On Being (David Steindl-Rast)
- Film: The Farewell
Spiritual Practice
- Practice of Gratitude: Stop Look Go. Stop - slow down, stop trying so hard and be present. Look - open your eyes, ears, senses to soak in all that we’ve been given. Go - move into the world with gratitude that is overflowing.
- Imagine the Dying Process. Imagine the death of a loved one, a job or a dream. Sit in the emotions and feelings that surface from that imagined loss. Invite the disappearance of clinging that is tied to anxiety and insecurity and fear.
Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
For Kid’s Sunday, Gideon Tsang reflects on the story of Mary and Martha and how we can be present here [Luke 10:38-42].
Reflection
- How can you invite God into your mess this week?
- What does it look like to practice your preferred posture of presence?
Resources
Spiritual Practice
- Welcome Your Mess. Invite someone into your home without cleaning it. Sit in the discomfort of being accepted in your mess.
- Learn to Idle. Sit for 10 minutes in a room with a friend. Do nothing. Share your observations.