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.

Message | When Hopes Collide

This week Kurt leads us through exploring the story of Balaam. It is a wild story full of angel assassins and talking donkeys. But under all of the fantasy literature level weirdness, some deeper themes are being explored that force us to look at how we create villains in the stories around us.

Formational Learning:

As we explored the two stories of Balaam, his talking donkey, and heaven’s worst assassin, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

In this story, God's mind seems to change a couple of times. God sends an assassin angel to take care of Balaam. God also speaks directly to Balaam, who was not part of God's chosen people. How does this story challenge your image of God or your expectations of how God operates.

(Heart)

When was a time you made somebody out as a villain in order to suit the narrative you needed to present? How do the stories we tell paint people in our lives, especially those different from us?

Have you ever had an experience that expanded your vision of God? How do you let God out of the boxes that are so easy to create?

(Hands)

The story of Balaam and heaven's worst assassin shows us that God can and will speak to and through people outside of our comfort zone. How can we posture ourselves to be open to listening for God in those unexpected places?

Announcements

• We have a SOAP group that meets online at 10am 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 (here)

• 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 creative gift, or something that you found meaningful to you that you would like to share with the community please send us a email hello@fos.church

• We will be hosting a Zoom Games Night in the near future, possibly November 27th. Let us know if you have any game suggestion. hello@fos.church

• Last, one of the ways we invest into the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You are able to 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.