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If You Love Them Let Them Go | Becoming the Beloved Community

Carl Amouzou

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

Lighting of the Christ Candle

The Invitation to Pause & Become Present

Our Vision

FōS is a community creating space for everyone to find hope, beauty, and possibility in the story of Jesus by reimagining faith together. 

  • We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

  • We include because we have been included.

  • We love because we have been loved.

  • We invite because we have been invited.

  • We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

  • We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.*

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Community Scripture Reading | 1 John 3:11-18

18Children, it is the last hour. You have heard that “Antimessiah” is coming—and now many Antimessiahs have appeared! That’s how we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from among us, but they were not really of our number. If they had been of our number, you see, they would have remained with us. This happened so that it would be made crystal-clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have the anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21I am not writing to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and you know that no liar is of the truth.
—1 John 3:23-4:2*

*Wright, N. T.. The Kingdom New Testament, eBook (p. 486). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Message

Conversation Series | Becoming the Beloved Community

In the first letter of John in the New Testament, the author presents a vision of what a beloved community could be like. In this conversation series, we are delving into the concept of becoming the beloved community. This journey requires us to transcend the boundaries of being merely a benevolent community and aspire to something even greater.

Message | If You Love Them Let Them Go

This week, Glenn is wrapping up our conversation series, Becoming the Beloved Community, by exploring what a mature and non coercive love looks like.

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table. The table of remembrance, which on the night He was betrayed, in the company of friends, he took bread and broke it saying, this is my body given for you, eat this in remembrance of me. He then took the cup of wine, and gave thanks saying this is my blood of the new covenant. Drink this in remembrance of me.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: We consume the broken body of Christ becoming the broken body of Christ present in a broken world.

Formational Learning

Rules of the Table

  1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

  2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

  3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

  4. The facilitator will interject when the conversation moves too far away from our explicit topic. All questions are good but they are not all useful for this specific time.

  5. We commit to hold Brave Space with one another, meaning that we can disagree without being disagreeable, we must own our intentions and our impact, we allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share without the need to defend our own position, we show respect to one another, and never attack someone else.

(Opening Question) 

What stood out to you from the liturgy? What is one point of curiosity or a question that emerged as we walked through the liturgy together?

(Head) What do I think?

How does shifting from a gatekeeping mentality to one of trust and openness in a community affect our understanding of mature love and its role in fostering personal growth?

Where do you see hope in the potential transformation of communities from gatekeepers to spaces of trust and open-hearted acceptance? How might this shift bring about positive change and growth for individuals and the community as a whole?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

Can you share a personal experience when someone trusted you during a phase of faith transformation or maturity? What emotions and personal resonances does this memory evoke?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

What concrete actions or strategies can we implement to create a community environment where individuals are encouraged to join or leave without fear of judgment, aligning with the concept of mature love as trust and openness?

Examen

The Examen is a daily practice of reflection and prayer that helps us introspectively look at ourselves. Spend a few moments at the end of your day prayerfully reflecting. Grab a pen and journal and write your response out.

  • For what moment today am I most grateful?

    For what moment today am I least grateful?

  • When did I feel most alive today?

    When did I feel life draining out of me today?

  • What was today’s high point?

    What was today’s low point?

Announcements 

  • Just a reminder that we are resuming our weekly gatherings for our Sunday Liturgy.

  • Our Slow-Cooker Spirituality devotions will take us through the New Testament over the next year, requiring us to read for five minutes five days a week. We encourage you to walk through the Head, Heart, and Hands questions daily as you read.

  • The reading for week 25 is:

    • Philippians 3

    • Philippians 4

    • Colossians 1

    • Colossians 2

    • Colossians 3

  • We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 7pm PST every Thursday. We will read the chapter of the day and reflect together using the Head, Heart, Hands questions to write down what emerges for you. 

    • (Head) What do I think about what I read?

    • (Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

    • (Hands) What do I do to respond?

  • One of the ways we invest in the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You can give online at www.fos.church/partner. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever they may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders they have shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
Amen …

*Claiborne, Shane. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (p. 52). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.