Gender | A Spiritual In(queer)y pt. 2
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, 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.
The Message
Conversation Series | A Spiritual In(queer)y
In this conversation series, we delve into queerness, the Bible, and community, exploring overlooked characters and themes through a queer theological lens to help us cultivate a better understanding of the importance of a more generous and expansive community that honors and loves all, embracing the image of God in every person.
Message | Gender
Far too often, what the Bible teaches about genderqueer persons and what gets taught in Church communities have nothing to do with one another. What if the Bible offers us a way forward towards inclusion and acceptance?
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
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.
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?
(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?
What gives you hope about finding a trajectory towards inclusivity and acceptance in our religious teachings?
What emotions arise within you as we discuss ensuring we are inclusive and accepting of genderqueer persons in our community?
(Head) What do I think?
We see that the Bible offers a trajectory that moves towards inclusion and honoring of genderqueer people in Church communities; how does that change your perspective and advocacy for an evermore inclusive, expansive, and generative community?
(Hands) What do I do to respond?
What steps will you take to educate yourself further on gender, sex, and sexuality?
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
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.
This week we will be reading:
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 6
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, which we just relaunched. Find it on Apple Podcasts under FōS Church Continuing the Conversation, or on our website https://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.