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

Հայր մեր որ յերկինս ես,
Hayr mer, vor hergeens yes,
Our Father, who art in heaven,

սուրբ եղիցի անուն Քո։
Soorp yegheetsee anoon ko
hallowed be Thy name.

Եկեսցէ արքայութիւն Քո։
Yeghetze arkayootyoon ko
Thy kingdom come.

Եղիցին կամք Քո
Yegheetsee gamk ko
Thy will be done,

որպէս յերկինս և յերկրի։
Vorbes hergeens ev hergree
on earth as it is in heaven.

Զհաց մեր հանապազորդ տուր մեզ այսօր։
Z Hats mer hanabazor door mez aysor
Give us this day our daily bread;

և թող մեզ զպարտիս մեր,
Ev togh mez zbardeez mer,
Forgive us our trespasses,

որպէս և մեք թողումք մերոց պարտապանաց։
Vorbes ev menk toghoonk merotz bardabanats
as we forgive those who trespass against us;

և մի տանիր զմեզ ի փորձութիւն։
Ev mee daneer uz mezee portsootyoon
and lead us not into temptation,

այլ փրկեա զմեզ ի չարէն։
Ayl prgea zmezee chare
but deliver us from evil.

զի Քո է արքայություն և զորություն
Zee ko eh arkayootyoon ev zorootyoon
For the kingdom, the power,

և փառք յավիտյանս.
ev park haveedyants haveedeneets
and the glory forever

Ամեն: - Amen

Community Scripture Reading | 1 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have gazed at, and our hands have handled—concerning the Word of Life! That life was displayed, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and we announce to you the life of God’s coming age, which was with the father and was displayed to us. That which we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father, and with his son Jesus the Messiah.*

*Wright, N. T.. The Kingdom New Testament, eBook (p. 483). 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 | Moving from Benevolent to Beloved Community

This week, Glenn, Megan, and Carl lead a roundtable exploring the shift from a benevolent to beloved community, emphasizing the key differences between them.

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?

The movement from a benevolent community to a beloved community is not about moving from bad to good but from good to better. What comes to mind when you think about what a benevolent community is, what a beloved community is, and the difference between the two?

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

Have you ever belonged to a beloved community? What feelings emerge when you consider the possibility of forming and belonging to a beloved community?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Where have we done well in forming the beloved community, and where or what do we need to develop to become the beloved community?

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 

• Over the summer we have been holding our Sunday Liturgy bi-weekly. On September 10, 2023, we will resume with gathering weekly on Sundays at 5pm PST.

• 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 22 we will be reading:

  • Romans 10

  • Romans 11

  • Romans 12

  • Romans 13

  • Romans 14

• 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?

• Be sure to look out for the latest episode of our Continuing the Conversation Podcast. Find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify under FōS Church Continuing the Conversation, or on our website www.fos.church/continuing-the-conversation

• 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.