FōS

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A Community of Real Ones | 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

11This is the message which you heard right from the start, you see—that we should love one another. 12We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one, and murdered his brother. Why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, while his brother’s were right. 13Don’t be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the family. Anyone who doesn’t love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates their brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has the life of the coming age abiding in them. 16This is how we know love: he laid down his life for us. And we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17Anyone who has the means of life in this world, and sees a brother or sister in need, and closes their heart against them—how can God’s love be abiding in them? 18Children, let us not love in word, or in speech, but in deed and in 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 | A Community of Real Ones

This week, Carl continues our conversation, Becoming the Beloved Community by exploring what 1 John tells us love is and what that 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?

What does it mean to redefine our understanding of love as a compassionate response to one another's needs, instead of attempting to define it in rigid terms?

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

How has love as a compassionate response played a role in your own life story?

Where do you find hope in the idea that love can be a compassionate response to one another's needs? How might this perspective improve relationships and foster a more empathetic and caring society?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

What actionable steps can you take to incorporate this compassionate approach to love into your daily interactions with others? How can you actively practice love as a compassionate response?

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.

  • For week 24 we will be reading:

    • Ephesians 4

    • Ephesians 5

    • Ephesians 6

    • Philippians 1

    • Philippians 2

  • 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.