Name | The Violence of Waiting pt. 1

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

Conversation Series | The Violence of Waiting

Martin Luther King Jr was one of America's preeminent theologians. We often miss hearing MLK's deep drive towards justice amongst the many quotes popularized on social media posts. In this series, we will explore MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail together to listen for the prophetic echoes of Amos.

Message | Name

This week Glenn will lead us in exploring how Martin Luther King Jr names the injustice that he is asking his reader to confront. What does it look like to name the injustice as a first step?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the idea of naming injustice, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

What changes when the church intentionally listen to the marginalized to discover where "Justice and righteousness" do not flow?

(Heart)

How has systemic comfort closed your ears to injustice, what voices does your comfort make it hard to hear?

(Hands)

This week sit in and read MLK JR's letter from a Birmingham Jail. Maybe try using the SOAP reflection as a way of engaging the letter. Also, pledge to read a book from a marginalized community to hear how they name reality over the next four weeks. Reflect on how where you affected by the voices you read?

Recommendations for Canada:

• 21 things you didn’t know about the Indian act

• Policing black lives

Recommendations for the US:

• Strength to love By MLK

• After whiteness by Willie Jennings 

Announcements 

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. Also, if you want to follow along with SOAP, you can find the daily reading plan, an explanation of SOAP, and a link to our Thursday Morning online group https://zoom.us/j/502434122

• Every week we try to get to know our community better, and others who are connected to FōS, through our Shared Story segment in our liturgy. If you have a creative gift or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community, please send us an email at hello@fos.church

• We want to have another games night soon. What are does the last Friday of February, Feb. 26, work for everyone?

• Last, 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 he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Forgiveness | The Art of Being Basic pt. 5

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

Conversation Series | The Art of Being Basic

Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics. In this series we are exploring some of the basic practices of community.

Message | Gratitude

This week Megan leads us through the community practice of forgiveness. Why does forgiveness matter in the life of the community?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the practice of forgiveness, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

Forgive and forget is a phrase that most of us have heard, but in the message we challenged this idea. Forgetting can be a way of avoiding the truth, and we need to face the truth to forgive. If this is true, what is the relationship between forgiveness and memory?

(Heart)

Whether you were the giver or receiver, how have you personally experienced the process of forgiveness?

(Hands)

Where or from whom does the church need to ask/seek forgiveness?

Announcements 

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. Also, if you want to follow along with SOAP, you can find the daily reading plan, an explanation of SOAP, and a link to our Thursday Morning online group https://zoom.us/j/502434122

• Every week we try to get to know our community better, and others who are connected to FōS, through our Shared Story segment in our liturgy. If you have a creative gift or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community, please send us an email at hello@fos.church

• Super Bowl Sunday | On Sunday February 7th @ 3:30pm we will log on Zoom to watch the Super Bowl together. Even if you are not the biggest football fan, Glenn’s commentary on the game will still be entertaining.

• Last, 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 he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Storytelling | The Art of Being Basic pt. 3

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

Conversation Series | The Art of Being Basic

Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics. In this series we are exploring some of the basic practices of community.

Message | Storytelling

This week Carl leads us through the community practice of storytelling. How do we learn to be better storytellers?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the practice of storytelling, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

What changes when the stories we tell are not about convincing people to agree with us and becomes about creating space for us to be mutually present?

When we come from within our Christian tradition, the idea of testifying is usually presented as a monologue to convince people with absolute points, such as the four spiritual laws. What changes when we have to listen first and learn how to follow Jesus in embodying their story within our own?

(Heart)

Can you think of a time when you were invited to be present or pressured into something?

What was the difference you noticed between the stories that invited versus stories that pressured?

(Hands)

Invitational storytelling requires that we become vulnerable to create spaces of hospitality. This week, Glenn will lead us in an exercise instead of a question.

Announcements 

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. Also, if you want to follow along with SOAP, you can find the daily reading plan, an explanation of SOAP, and a link to our Thursday Morning online group https://zoom.us/j/502434122

• Every week we try to get to know our community better, and others who are connected to FōS, through our Shared Story segment in our liturgy. If you have a creative gift or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community, please send us an email at hello@fos.church

• Last, 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 he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Hospitality | The Art of Being Basic pt. 2

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

Conversation Series | The Art of Being Basic

Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics. In this series we are exploring some of the basic practices of community.

Message | Hospitality

This week Glenn leads us through the practice of Hospitality. What does it look like to be a community shaped by and through hospitality?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the practice of hospitality and the story of the Samaritan, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

Often when we read stories like this one about the benevolent Samaritan, we see ourselves as the Samaritan. We have been taught that it is better to give than to receive, but the kingdom of God seems to expand through the act of receiving. What changes when we see our role within the expanding kingdom as receiving hospitality, learning to be guests, which demands vulnerability and presence?

How does church change when we start from needing to receive hospitality from the Samaritan before “going and doing”?

(Heart)

Who do we have a hard time receiving hospitality from?

What risk is there in naming our Samaritans and recognizing we need them?

(Hands)

How do we create participatory space for the Samaritan? 

Announcements 

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. Also, if you want to follow along with SOAP, you can find the daily reading plan, an explanation of SOAP, and a link to our Thursday Morning online group https://zoom.us/j/502434122

• Every week we try to get to know our community better, and others who are connected to FōS, through our Shared Story segment in our liturgy. If you have a creative gift or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community, please send us an email at hello@fos.church

• Last, 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 he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Advent | Peace | Hope | A Christmas Story pt. 3

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

Conversation Series | A Christmas Story

Christmas is a season full of stories. Some of these narratives are complementary, and others are contradictory. As a community, we want to pause and listen. What are these stories trying to tell us, sell us, or compile us to do?

Message | Advent | Peace | Hope

This week we explore the first two themes of Advent: Peace & Hope. Megan, Glenn, and Carl sit down for a table talk about how they have come to understand and what they are learning about the Advent season.

Formational Learning:

As we explored the themes of peace and hope through the lens of Advent, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, conviction, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

What are the ways that Advent or the birth of Jesus help you reimagine peace and hope?

(Heart)

What does peace and hope look like for you in this season?

How are peace and hope related to ideas of justice?

(Hands)

As we reimagine peace and hope together in light of Advent, how do we engage in the work of peace and hope?

Announcements 

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. Also, if you want to follow along with SOAP, you can find the daily reading plan, an explanation of SOAP, and a link to our Thursday Morning online group https://zoom.us/j/502434122

• You can also follow SOAP daily on Instagram stories.

• Every week we try to get to know our community better, and others who are connected to FōS, through our Shared Story segment in our liturgy. If you have a creative gift or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community, please send us an email at hello@fos.church

• We will be hosting a Movie Night on Friday, December 18th, at 7pm PST. You can vote for and suggest a movie in the FōS Facebook Messenger Chat. Or if you don't have access to that, you can shoot us a message at hello@fos.church

• Last, 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 he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Eternity in the Present Tense | Seventeen pt. 3

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

The Shared Story

SOAP Reflection | Rauna May

Message | Eternity in the Present Tense

This week Megan Kirk leads us in a conversation about the essence of eternity. How does Jesus define eternity? What is Jesus calling us to in light of eternity?

Formational Learning:

As we explored Jesus’ prayer in John 17, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

What changes when experiencing eternity is a call to be present, in the here and now?

(Heart)

Where do you feel most of your focus is: on the past, present, or future? Has the pandemic, affected that in any way for you? 

What are different ways you encourage yourself or your community to stay grounded in the present?

(Hands)

If the eternal life is about increased quality of life in the here and now, instead of just life with no end, how does that change the way we share the good news?

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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

Exiled State of Mind | SOAP Sessions

Rhythms are the grooves in the record that allow the music of our lives to find expression. The record begins to skip when the rhythm is disrupted, but we can find ways to fix the vinyl. We are in a season where society as a collective has found their well-worn grooves skipping. Sometimes the disruption is a good thing; it creates space for us to make grooves and rediscover old ones. One of the rhythms that we have at FōS is SOAP, a daily plan for reading the Bible and journaling our reflections. SOAP is an acronym that stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. If you want to join us in our rhythm of SOAP, you can find more information here (fos.church/soapdaily-readings). Our series over the next few weeks is called "The SOAP Sessions," and will consist of messages pulled from our daily reflections. 

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Amen.

The Shared Story | Stop, Look, Go!!!

Message | Exiled State of Mind

This week Megan Kirk takes us through the story of Israel’s exile experience found the book of Ezekiel. Who is responsible for our suffering? How does the trauma of an experience shape the way we remember and respond? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in our Sunday Liturgy this week.

Formational Learning:

As we explored the story of Israel’s exile, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, or conflict that emerged as you walked through these stories?

(Head)

Today we explored the story of Israel’s exile as seen through the lens of Ezekiel. What do God’s agency and Israel’s agency look like in this story?

How does the trauma of exile affect Israel’s understanding of God, and their ability to reflect on their experience?

(Heart)

Looking over your life, has there been a time where you felt like God did not see you, or the suffering in the world? What helped you process and deal with that feeling? (it is okay if you have not yet)  

Or

 On the other hand, is there a dark moment in your life where God’s presence met you? How did God’s presence meet you during your “exile” experience?

(Hands)

Where is one place in your life where you have agency, and how can you use that agency to invest in systems that help others have an abundant life?

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*

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