The Sacrament of Listening | Sacramental Reality pt. 2

The world around us points us towards the divine. Creation itself in the Bible is said to testify to the reality of God. Humanity is said to be created in the image of God. Thus, every encounter we have with others holds within it the possibility to reveal God present. All of this defines reality as sacramental, meaning, reality itself points us towards the God who is beyond us, with us, and within us. In this new conversation series, “Sacramental Reality,” we will explore different rhythms that help us experience and see this.

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

The Blessing | Kareem

Message | The Sacrament of Listening

This week we explore the Sacrament of Listening through the story of the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. Gentiles and Pharisees. Insiders and outsiders. How does learning to hear the voice of the other help us to expand our own stories?

Formational Learning

As we explored the Sacrament of Listening, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

How was listening used in this story to create community and open the door to the possibility of something new?

(Heart)

Sometimes we are the gentile who needs to be included, and sometimes we are the Pharisee who needs to include others. How do you see yourself in both of these characters?

(Hands)

There are a lot of conversations happening around us culturally right now. Who do you have a hard time listening to, and how can you learn to hear their voice?

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.

The Sacrament of Questioning | Sacramental Reality pt. 1

The world around us points us towards the divine. Creation itself in the Bible is said to testify to the reality of God. Humanity is said to be created in the image of God. Thus, every encounter we have with others holds within it the possibility to reveal God present. All of this defines reality as sacramental, meaning, reality itself points us towards the God who is beyond us, with us, and within us. In this new conversation series, “Sacramental Reality,” we will explore some different rhythms that help us to experience and see this.

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

If I Had a Son | Bukola

Give Me Faith | Kareem

Message | The Sacrament of Questioning

This week we will explore the Sacrament of Questioning through the story of the believing/unbelieving father found in Mark 9. How does doubt and hope help us to encounter God and each other?

Formational Learning

As we explored the Sacrament of Questioning, 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 the story found in Mark 9, we see a father desperate to see his son healed. We also see the disciples of Jesus deflated because they were not able to help this man’s son. Both the disciples and the father find themselves in the space of doubt, but find hope in Jesus. How does doubt create space for hope?

(Heart)

How have you wrestled with doubt and hope in your faith journey?

Does your faith allow for questions? And how can these questions help you encounter God and others in a more profound way?

(Hands)

How do we create space for questions within the community?

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.

FōS at the Movies | Blue Like Jazz

Sometimes it is good to pause our normal rhythms to allow things to decompress a bit. So this Sunday we are going to the movies, not really, but you get the point.

Stories are at the center of how we engage in cultural dialogues at FōS. Movies offer us a great medium to reflect and respond. This week we will watch Blue Like Jazz, which is based on the book of the same name by Donald Miller. After we will spend some time responding to the movie together.

1. Let the story be told. What is the director/writer trying to say in this story? Listen to the story before you agree/disagree with the point of the story.

2. Invite the story to speak to you. Moving beyon the moral behavior of the characters, what is the story saying to you? I could be about you, others, your life with/without God, your relationships, your goals.

3. Identify transformation. Where is change taking place in the character’s life, in a relationship or situation? What kind of change occurred? How was change brought about? By whom, and why?

4. Observe redemption. Where is repair, restoration, and reconciliation in the chacter’s life? Who and what brought this about, and at what cost? Why was there either openness or resistance?

5. Look for the Christ figure. What characters remind you most of Jesus, and why?

6. Embracing our human condition. What does the story say about what it means to be human? About character? About values?

7. Your take home. How will I live better and become a better follower of Jesus because of these reflections?

Empire State of Mind | Genesis: Primeval Atoms & Adams pt. 5

The book of Genesis takes us from the primeval atom to Adam and narratively carries us through some of the most formational stories of our faith. So many of us grew up hearing these stories in ways that captured our imaginations as children but left us wanting as we began to engage them critically. Over the next few weeks, our community will engage in a conversation that takes a fresh look at these stories to create space for them to be subverted and reimagined as they offer us a new way forward. 

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

FōS’ Reading Rainbow by Glenn Collins

Finding Faith written by Peter Rollins

Message | Empire State of Mind | Dr. Randy Furishima

This week in our final conversation from Genesis, we are exploring the story of Joseph. This story has become one of the quintessential narratives we tell about overcoming obstacles in life. Many find inspiration in the meteoric rise of Joseph from slave to second in command in all of Egypt. Yet, we often fail to talk about the impact these shooting stars have when they finally land.

Formational Learning

As we explored the story of Joseph in Genesis, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

How does the story of Joseph change when viewed through different perspectives?

Each conversation in this series opened up new ways of seeing the stories of Genesis. How have these shifting perspectives affected the way we engage these stories?

(Heart)

Joseph was sold into slavery, and when Joseph found power, he ended up enslaving others. Joseph ends up repeating the trauma he experienced at the hands of his brothers. How do we break cycles of abuse?

(Hands)

Joseph’s policies left people with little choice manipulating them to make choices that were against their best interests. How do we lead in ways that empower instead of oppress others?

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.

Hagar's Manifesto | Genesis: Primeval Atoms & Adams pt. 4

The book of Genesis takes us from the primeval atom to Adam and narratively carries us through some of the most formational stories of our faith. So many of us grew up hearing these stories in ways that captured our imaginations as children but left us wanting as we began to engage them critically. Over the next few weeks, our community will engage in a conversation that takes a fresh look at these stories to create space for them to be subverted and reimagined as they offer us a new way forward. 

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

Sunday Morning poem by D. Fretter

Great Is Your Faithfulness sung by Kareem Adly

Message | Ishmael, the God Who Hears

In the stories of Genesis, a character shows up twice and is only given two lines. In these two lines, Hagar, an enslaved Egyptian, gives a name to the God of Israel. This name will affect how God could be understood. It is in the strength of these quiet voices that Genesis shifts, creating space for those outside the controlling narrative.  Join us as we sit in Genesis 16 to experience the wisdom of Hagar.

Formational Learning

As we explored the story of Hagar in Genesis, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

Hagar has two lines in the entire Bible, and yet, her experience names God. How does naming God from personal experience affect your understanding of God’s name?

What systems kept her wisdom from effecting the main story?

(Heart)

Often, we only pay attention to Abram, or the commonly heard, narrative. Can you name a time when your understanding was affected by those outside the main or commonly heard narrative? How did it challenge or change you? Did it affect your view of Jesus?

(Hands)

How can we intentionally engage Hagar’s voice? Where do we hear her in people today?

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.

Flooded with Regret | Genesis: Primeval Atoms & Adams pt. 3

The book of Genesis takes us from the primeval atom to Adam and narratively carries us through some of the most formational stories of our faith. So many of us grew up hearing these stories in ways that captured our imaginations as children but left us wanting as we began to engage them critically. Over the next few weeks, our community will engage in a conversation that takes a fresh look at these stories to create space for them to be subverted and reimagined as they offer us a new way forward. 

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 | Mikhaila Tobin

Coffee Roasting | Ryan Tang

Message | Flooded with Regret

This week we stop and explore the story of the flood in Genesis. It is one of the most ancient stories told around the world. It is another story we have heard so often from childhood that we think we know it by heart. It is a story of un-creation that is told intentionally contrasted to the creation stories we read earlier in Genesis. Today, however, we will explore a theme in the story that is not often brought to the surface. What happens when God repents?

Formational Learning

As we explored the story of the Flood in Genesis, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

The story of "Noah and the Flood" is a story in which all of creation is broken, and God, the creator, also seems to be facing brokenness. In this story, the creator of all things becomes the destroyer of all things. What are some images of God that this story challenges for you? Why?

In this story, we see God go from creator to destroyer, and at the end of the story, we see God repent of the destruction God brought about. What does the idea of God repenting provoke in you? Why?

(Heart)

How do you wrestle with the tension of creation, un-creation, and new-creation in your own life?

Does the image of the waters of chaos barely held at bay, and at times seeping into the world resonate with you? If so, where does chaos, or un-creation threaten to flow into your life?

(Hands)

How does repentance open the door for new possibilities in your 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.

Blessed Mother | Genesis: Primeval Atoms & Adams pt. 2

The book of Genesis takes us from the primeval atom to Adam and narratively carries us through some of the most formational stories of our faith. So many of us grew up hearing these stories in ways that captured our imaginations as children but left us wanting as we began to engage them critically. Over the next few weeks, our community will engage in a conversation that takes a fresh look at these stories to create space for them to be subverted and reimagined as they offer us a new way forward. 

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

I Just Wanna Live | Keedron Byrant ft. Jonny Tobin

I Can’t Breathe | Sunia Gibbs

Poetry | Drew Jackson

At Your Name | Kareem Adly

Message | Blessed Mother

Our stories shape us, giving our imagination material to dream about possible futures. However, there are times when other people assume the right to control our narrative and delimit our hopes. This is what happened to Eve. The Church fathers, men in the early Church, used Eve's story to inhibit a woman's ability to lead within Christianity. Join us as we walk through Eden to discover Eve's wisdom through the voices of her daughters.

Formational Learning

As we explored the story of Eve in Genesis, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

Eve's story has been used to limit the role of women throughout the history of the Church, inhibiting their ability to influence groups. How have you seen this shape or playout within your experience of the Church?

How do we wrestle with 1 Timothy using Eve to delimit women?

(Heart)

Have you ever missed someone's voice, unable to hear what they are saying because you were trying to speak for them rather than listen to them?

(Hands)

Genesis and 1 Timothy are two examples of telling Eve's story. How do we create space to listen to both while protecting the vulnerable in the community?

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.

The Stories In-Between Chaos & Creation | Genesis: Primeval Atoms & Adams pt. 1

The book of Genesis takes us from the primeval atom to Adam and narratively carries us through some of the most formational stories of our faith. So many of us grew up hearing these stories in ways that captured our imaginations as children but left us wanting as we began to engage them critically. Over the next few weeks, our community will engage in a conversation that takes a fresh look at these stories to create space for them to be subverted and reimagined as they offer us a new way forward. 

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 Synopsis

This week we look at the creation narratives of Genesis. We explore how the poetry of Genesis one creates space for us to imagine God hovering over the primordial waters of chaos, bringing forth life. At the same time, the story found in Genesis two introduces us to the intimacy of God, who creates humanity with intention and purpose.

Formational Learning

As we explored these two ancient stories of creation in Genesis one and two, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

Many stories that seek to answer the questions of “where do we come from, and what is our purpose?” How do the two stories found in Genesis chapters one and two answer those questions?

(Heart)

The idea that our stories expand when encountering other stories is one that challenges our need to defend our story as the sole story. How has your story been expanded by encounter new and other stories around you?

(Hands)

Genesis two invites us to find our purpose in this world as co-creators with God who help create the conditions for life to flourish. How can you participate in creating space/s where life flourishes because of your presence?

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.

I'm Upset | Started from the Bottom pt. 4

In the biblical narrative, we often see God use the unexpected and unimportant to bring about change in the world. The story of Jesus, his birth, life, death, and resurrection, is no different. Our new conversation, Started from the Bottom, is an exploration of the good news according to Matthew. Over the next few weeks, we will look at snapshots from the book of Matthew that exemplify the good news found in the story of Jesus.

This week we explore how the stories we carry with us shape the kind of world we can inhabit. Yet, their ability to shape us is not overly determined. Our ability to listen to different stories helps our own story remain malleable, which allows new voices to affect how they are understood and lived out. Walking through the last days of Jesus, we will reveal how Matthew's Jesus reshaped their ancient hope to reveal a better way forward.

Formational Learning:

As we explored this scene from Matthew’s telling of the Jesus story, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, or conflict that emerged as you walked through this passage today?

(Head)

Jesus challenged the widely believed story that fighting culture, be it Jerusalem or Rome, was inevitable. Jesus did this while celebrating the parts of their shared stories that recognized their common humanity. What stories do we need to rethink or stop carrying with us, to free us to follow Jesus' way forward?

John Caputo says that we must learn to own our tradition so that it no longer owns us, what parts of our tradition can we celebrate?

(Heart)

Have you experienced a moment like Peter, where you sacrificed so much, only to discover that you were chasing Barabbas and not Christ? How did you respond to this discovery?

(Hands)

Jesus never left his tradition. He stayed connected in vulnerability to show a better ending. How can we stay connected while honoring the call to vulnerability and our need for healthy relationships/systems?

God's Plan | Started from the Bottom pt. 3

In the biblical narrative, we often see God use the unexpected and unimportant to bring about change in the world. The story of Jesus, his birth, life, death, and resurrection, is no different. Our new conversation, Started from the Bottom, is an exploration of the good news according to Matthew. Over the next few weeks, we will look at snapshots from the book of Matthew that exemplify the good news found in the story of Jesus.

This week we join in on an ancient conversation about the kingdom of heaven. In the book of Matthew, the good news is that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, as seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. What is the kingdom of heaven, and how do we participate in it? 

Formational Learning:

As we explored wisdom today, what stood out to you?

Were there any points of curiosity, clarity, confusion, or conflict that emerged as you walked through this passage today?

(Head)

John, Jesus, and the disciples all proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is near, how do we wrestle with the reality that it is easy to miss? 

(Heart)

Where have you experienced or seen the kingdom of heaven around you?

How has this influenced the way you understood faith or live?

(Hands)

How can we proclaim and participate in the kingdom of heaven here and now?