October 14, 2025
Lamenting Christian Nationalism
<p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/17lIM3iUGKOvl_s_IjWx0MMyUkMoNIO6ZoQVxIPQjiss/edit?usp=sharing">Worship Companion</a> contains the full liturgy, music suggestions, and guest bios (including pictures of their pets), a guide for hosting your own prayer gathering, and links for upcoming events. </p><p>Etymology of Mayhem read by Rev. Albert Starr Jr. from his book Late Night Offerings and Morning Prayers</p><p>Lament Psalm, A Spoken Word, and the final blessing were written and voiced by Rev. Carla Christopher. (She also wrote the sending but let me say it.)</p><p>Land Acknowledgement</p><p>As we prepare to enter this time of lament and prayer, we encourage you to reflect on the history of the land where you are. Vicar 7 is located on original and ancestral homeland of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho people. Rev. Albert Starr resides on the land of the Chumash and Tongva, Rev. Carla Christopher is currently based on Pocomoke land, and other voices join us from the lands of the Myaamia, Kaskaskia, and Shawnee people.</p><p><strong>Psalm 94 - Responsive Reading</strong></p><p>How long, O Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph?<strong>They bluster in their insolence;</strong><strong>all evildoers are full of boasting.</strong></p><p>They crush your people, O Lord,and afflict your very own.<strong>They kill the widow and the stranger</strong><strong>and put the orphans to death.</strong></p><p>Yet you will not abandon your people,nor will you forsake your very own.<strong>If the Lord had not been my help,</strong><strong>I should soon have dwelt in the land of silence.</strong></p><p>As often as I said, “My foot has slipped,”your steadfast love, O Lord, upheld me.<strong>The Lord has become my stronghold,</strong><strong>my God is my rock of refuge.</strong></p><p><strong>Prayers of Lament</strong></p><p>After each lament, the leader and people say:. . . your people cry: <strong>How long, O Lord?</strong></p><p>Reflection on 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Vicar 7</p><p><strong>Confession</strong></p><p>Regular text is spoken by one voice<strong>Bold text is spoken by the whole community</strong></p><p>God’s grace in Christ frees us for the difficult work of recognizing and lamenting the idolatry of Christian Nationalism still rooted in our own hearts. Trusting in Divine goodness and mercy, we search ourselves fearlessly and confess our sin to God, ourselves, and one another. Aching with sorrow,<strong>we grieve this pain and death that surrounds and fills us.</strong></p><p>Rejecting the viciousness<strong>,</strong><strong>we give ourselves to one another in love and care.</strong></p><p>Listening at last,<strong>we rise up to face the horror; we confess ourselves complicit.</strong></p><p>Following Jesus’ example of forgiving those that would brutally murder him,<strong>We cry out to God for mercy for those whose fear has turned to hate, </strong><strong>those who commit violence, </strong><strong>and those that are silent in the face of evil.</strong><strong>We ask for their healing, our healing, and for the healing of all creation.</strong></p><p>We cry out for God’s mercy for ourselves as well.<strong>Forgive, O God, our wrongful action and our inaction.</strong><strong>Forgive our silence and indifference.</strong><strong>Lead us in love,</strong><strong>For the sake of our savior Jesus Christ. </strong>May God inscribe our hearts with justice and guide us in the ways of peace. <strong>Amen.</strong></p><p>Thanks for praying with us. If this service was meaningful to you, we hope you’ll share it with someone. Check out previous prayer services and worship experiences at oddgrace.substack.com, and subscribe for free to get updates about our community. </p><p>May God bless you and keep you wonderfully weird, Vicar 7 (and the rest of the OG Community)</p><p></p><p>NEW CIRCLES!!! Recovering from Christian Nationalism starts October 16!</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/CMUU3SMTnn65E59Q8"><strong>Recovering from Christian Nationalism </strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/CMUU3SMTnn65E59Q8"><strong>1st & 3rd Thurs | 8:30pm ET, 6:30pm MT | Zoom</strong></a></p><p>Thursday, Oct. 16 will be the first meeting of a new 12-step group called <a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/Uf37TPXZBojmDWU69">Recovering from Christian Nationalism</a>, which will meet on Zoom on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8:30pm Eastern Time, 6:30pm Mountain Time.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/Uf37TPXZBojmDWU69">Recovering from Christian Nationalism</a> is for anyone working to resist Christian Nationalism (or just trying to survive it) who is willing to start with themselves. No experience with the 12-steps is necessary to participate.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/Uf37TPXZBojmDWU69">Recovering from Christian Nationalism</a> is a partnership between <a target="_blank" href="http://oddgrace.substack.com">Odd Grace Community</a> and FREE to Be Community, and will be led by Pastor Lauren Applegate. For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up by clicking the link to the Worship Companion in the show description and going to the “Circle Sign-ups” tab or at <a target="_blank" href="https://linktr.ee/oddgrace">https://linktr.ee/oddgrace</a>. Email <a target="_blank" href="mailto:lauren@freetobecommunity.org">lauren@freetobecommunity.org</a> with questions.</p><p>If you’ve worked the 12 steps and are willing to lead a study to take others through them to further the work of resisting Christian Nationalism, or you’d like to work the steps with someone, please reach out to us at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:oddgracecommunity@gmail.com">oddgracecommunity@gmail.com</a>. We already have a study prepared, but need more people experienced in the steps to carry the message.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/fv23V9Nj5tt2UamHA"><strong>Healing Pause — starts Oct 27</strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/fv23V9Nj5tt2UamHA"><strong>2nd & 4th Mondays | 7:30pm ET, 5:30 pm MT </strong></a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/fv23V9Nj5tt2UamHA">Healing Pause</a> incorporates the power of group meditation and discussion for inner healing and greater freedom. Utilizing the 3 Doors contemplative meditation practice, you’ll be invited into sacred awareness and presence. No experience needed, all types and paths of recovery are welcome.</p><p>For our community’s safety, registration is required to receive the Zoom link. You can sign up by clicking the link to the Worship Companion in the show description and going to the “Circle Sign-ups” tab or at <a target="_blank" href="https://linktr.ee/oddgrace">https://linktr.ee/oddgrace</a>.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/fv23V9Nj5tt2UamHA">Healing Pause</a> will be led by Pastor Joel Richter – you can <a target="_blank" href="mailto:PastorJoel78@gmail.com">reach out to him</a> with questions. He’s nice, we promise.</p><p></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/P95J8Ptwa9nz5KF78https://forms.gle/P95J8Ptwa9nz5KF78"><strong>THE AUNTIES (of Our Faith): Advent Bible Study</strong></a></p><p><strong>Starts Nov 13! </strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/P95J8Ptwa9nz5KF78"><strong>A study of the women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ</strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/P95J8Ptwa9nz5KF78"><strong>Thursdays in Advent | 8pm ET & 6pm MT | Zoom</strong></a></p><p>How much do you know about Jesus’ great-great-great (28 greats) Grandma? Or even his mom?</p><p>The truth will definitely surprise (and maybe even shock) you.</p><p>Join Odd Grace Community and Highlands Lutheran Church as we learn about these fascinating women and what their stories can teach us today about life and faith.</p><p>This study is about women—it is NOT a “Women’s Bible Study”. Adults of all genders are encouraged to participate. But definitely adults, because we all cuss a lot and most of the women we’re studying were pretty scandalous (and amazing!). Also, if you’re uncomfortable talking about sexuality, we encourage you to come, so we can help you not be so uptight.</p><p>* Nov 13: Tamar</p><p>* Nov 20: Rahab</p><p>* Nov 27: no meeting</p><p>* Dec 4: Ruth</p><p>* Dec 11: Bathsheba (she has a name)</p><p>* Dec 18: Mary!</p><p>This study will be led by Vicar 7, with poetic works contributed by Rev. Carla Christopher, Rev. Albert Starr, and Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry. <a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/AnnPSP8ZQD1uPXDZ6">Register here</a></p><p></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/SW9bGSr37DMwSdoR9">Creating Community (with Vicar Albie Nicol)</a></p><p>Beginning Nov. 16! </p><p>3rd Sundays at 8pm ET, 6pm MTJoin Odd Grace Community for a monthly creativity circle. </p><p>November’s creative practice will be making zines. Albie will demonstrate how to make both old school paper and newfangled digital zines. We’ll do a community check-in while we create. <a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/SW9bGSr37DMwSdoR9">Click here to register</a></p><p>Coming Soon</p><p><strong>Contemplative Co-working </strong>for those who want to body-double so Vicar 7 doesn’t flunk out of God Grad School (and also so you get your stuff done).</p><p><strong>Midweek Movement for Mental Health (MMMH)</strong> a community movement practice in the middle of the week, so we all don’t lose our shit.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://oddgrace.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">oddgrace.substack.com</a>
