Liturgy for Prayer Service Lamenting Christian Nationalism Oct 14, 2025

Also a sort of pastoral letter from Vicar 7

Beloved Oddballs,

On Oct. 14, 2025, we’ll be releasing a podcast Prayer Service Lamenting Christian Nationalism for community members to pray along with. Multiple community members and co-conspirators have worked together to create a lament service that is as beautiful as it is meaningful. We are especially grateful to friends of Odd Grace Community, Rev. Albert Starr and Rev. Carla Christopher for offering their original poetry and voices. If you missed the last issue of the Oddball Bulletin, it’s worth going back to read Rev. Starr’s full poem, but here is an excerpt from For Those Monday Kind of Days¹:

Lamentation frees us to weep,
and we weep the hot, cleansing tears of anguish.
Lamentation turns our crying to crying out,
crying out to the Great One,
Creator and Giver of Life, Shaper of Justice, Maker of Mercy
Lamentation, like a shepherding wind, turning us toward God

and we resist hopelessness,
even our sorrow songs watch for the coming.

We defy the foul stench of misery.
We are bathed in the fragrance of hope.

Shit is hard right now, and we know it. As many in our community prepare to participate in No Kings Day on Oct. 18 and we all continue our work for the good of our neighbors for the sake of the gospel, taking time out to cry out grieve, feel our losses, and cry out to God, is imperative. We hope this Lament Service will support you as you continue to endure, resist, and defy the idolatry that is being passed off as the gospel by those conflating nationalism and White Supremacy with our ancient Christian faith.

We believe that wherever two or more gather, that Christ in is their midst². For those who are able to gather with others, whether family, friends, co-workers, or people you game with online, we are sending out the Worship Companion and Gathering Guide early³. We urge you to spend time in prayer and lament with others this coming Tuesday Oct. 14. We know many will have to do this alone—we are praying especially for you who are isolated from like-minded community.

Click to access the Worship Companion and Gathering Guide. Email oddgracecommunity@gmail.com with questions (or to tell me what I misspelled).

NEW Circles!

We also have some things to celebrate. Two new ongoing Circles will be starting this month. Recovering from Christian Nationalism will begin Oct. 16 and Healing Pause will start on Oct. 27. We’ll also have a 5-part Bible Study for Advent starting Nov. 13.

While the world continues to whirl around us, we have some spaces available for community and healing. We hope you’ll join us. You can learn more about these Circles and sign-up to participate below.

In order of how soon they start…

THIS THURSDAY — Oct. 16
Recovering from Christian Nationalism
1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30pm ET, 6:30 pm MT | Zoom

Thursday, Oct. 16 will be the first meeting of a new 12-step group called Recovering from Christian Nationalism, which will meet on Zoom on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8:30pm Eastern Time, 6:30pm Mountain Time.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism 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.

Recovering from Christian Nationalism is a partnership between Odd Grace Community 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 at https://linktr.ee/oddgrace. Email Pastor Lauren with questions.

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 Pastor Lauren or Vicar 7. We already have a study prepared, but need more people experienced in the steps to carry the message.

Healing Pause – begins Oct 27!
2nd & 4th Mon | 7:30pm ET, 5:30 pm MT | Zoom

Healing Pause 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.

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 https://linktr.ee/oddgrace.

Healing Pause will be led by Pastor Joel Richter – you can reach out to him with questions. He’s nice, we promise.

THE AUNTIES of Our Faith
Advent Bible Study Starts Nov. 13!
Thursdays in Advent | 8pm ET & 6pm MT | Zoom

How much do you know about Jesus’ great-great-great (28 greats) Grandma? Or even his mom?

The truth will definitely surprise (and maybe even shock) you.

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.

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.

• Nov 13: Tamar

• Nov 20: Rahab

• Nov 27: no meeting

• Dec 4: Ruth

• Dec 11: Bathsheba (she has a name)

• Dec 18: Mary!

This study will be led by Vicar 7, with poetic works contributed by Rev. Carla Christopher, Rev. Albert Starr Jr., and Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry. Register here

May God Bless You and Keep You Wonderfully Weird,

Vicar 7

PS — Coming soon…

We have two more Circles in the works:

Creating Community⁴ will be an ongoing online creatives & crafting group. Probably monthly. We’ll learn new crafts together and each share what we’re working on. You can watch Vicar 7 keep trying to make icons out of trash.

Manic Mondays⁵ will be a Zoom co-working/body-doubling group sometime on Mondays, time TBD. We’ll do pomodoros and some spiritual or mindfulness practices while we try to get stuff done⁶.

1. Used with permission from his book Late Night Offerings and Morning Prayers. You can purchase it from World Stage Press. (You should, it’s really good).

2. Matthew 18:15

3. You will note that some sections are incomplete, but the parts needed for you to plan a prayer group are done. I just still owe you pet pictures, bios, and music suggestions.

4. This name may change — the idea will not.

5. I have this song stuck in my head. If you have bipolar disorder and would rather I not name the group this, let me know and I’ll think of another name.

6. Really, help me not flunk out of God Grad School.