How Do We Become Good Allies? | Brenda Bertrand
Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023
The Call to Worship
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy.
Bring about Your kingdom.
Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven.
Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less—
And forgive us our debts as we forgive those who owe us something.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Brave Space by Micky Scott Bey Jones
Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our brave space together,
And, we will work on it side by side.
Scripture Reading
The Message
How Do We Become Good Allies? | Brenda Bertrand
The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)
Reader: This is Christ's table
The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.
All: This is Christ's table
Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.
All: This is Christ's table
Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.
All: This is Christ's table
Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.
All: This is Christ's table
Reader: 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.
Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:
All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.
Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.
Run to Christ's table.
All: “We consume the broken body of Christ
becoming the broken body of Christ
present in a broken world.”
Formational Learning
What stood out to you from the liturgy? Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as we walked through the liturgy together?
Rules of the Table
It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.
This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.
Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.
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.
Brave Space Ideals for the Conversation
Controversy with civility
Own your intentions and your impact
Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)
Respect
No Attacks
(Head)
What does good ally-ship look like? What is the difference between pity and compassion?
(Heart)
What are some ways that you experience privilege and/or powerlessness?
What was a time when you were or felt powerless, and then realized you had agency?
Or
What was a time you were able to use your privilege to partner with someone who was marginalized or had inherited powerlessness?
(Hands)
What community do I need to become a better ally to? If you need an ally, I’d there any way this community can become a better ally for you?
Examen
What led me to compassion today?
Is there a place I have recognized the privilege of myself or others today?
Is there a place I have recognized the powerlessness of myself or others today?
Where do I have agency in this area?
What are ways I can help woman live and thrive in my community? (If you are a woman, what do you or your fellow sisters need to thrive today?)
Announcements
We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Jeremiah 29:4-14
Using the Head, Heart, Hands questions, spend some time reflecting on the passage and writing 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 Christ may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders Christ has shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
*Claiborne, Shane. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (p. 52). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.