Reconcile | The Violence of Waiting Revisited
Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023
The Call to Worship
FōS is a community creating space for everyone to find hope, beauty, and possibility in the story of Jesus.
We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity meaning, we include because we have been included. We love because we have been loved. We invite because we have been invited. We are a community that welcomes diversity through open tables, open conversations, and open arms. Becoming a big tent creates space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.
We are a community cultivating Brave Space.
We are a community that is Reduced to Love.
We are a community that is Reimagining Faith together.
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.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail | An Abridged Litany
Reader: I am not afraid of the word "tension."…
there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth…
the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice
and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.
All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Reader: Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.
The urge for freedom will eventually come (as we begin) moving with a sense of cosmic urgency toward the promised land of racial justice
All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Reader: I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist.
Was not Jesus an extremist in love?
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you."
Was not Amos an extremist for justice?
"Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Reader: So the question is not whether we will be extremist,
but what kind of extremists we will be.
Will we be extremists for hate, or will we be extremists for love?
Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice,
or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?
All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
The Message
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 | Reconcile
This week Megan will lead us in a conversation about reconciliation. We are continuing to explore Marthin Luther King Jr’s famous letter from a Birmingham Jail. What is reconciliation? What does it look like when enacted?
The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)
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.
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.
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
(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?
How do we imagine reconciliation from unjust systems while living in them? What does this look like?
How does the sacred and secular divide limit or hinder the church’s calling as against reconciliation?
(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?
When have you witnessed deconstruction as an act of reconciliation? What did it look like?
Where have you experienced performative reconciliation, and what would change it into an authentic expression of reconciliation?
(Hands) What do I do to respond?
This week we will look to the Examen as our Hands response.
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.
Where did I see the need for reconciliation today?
Where did I see reconciliation take place today?
What do I need to reconcile today?
How did I participate in the act of reconciliation 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 Isaiah 24:1-13. 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 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.