Beyond the Static | Sordid Tales of Faith

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 Glenn leads us through an exploration of how to hear old stories through new voices. We look at how the act of re-authoring our stories helps us to move into the new places by looking at how the Apostle Paul does it in the New Testament.

Formational Learning:

As we explored Paul re-authoring old stories, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

Does Paul’s creative use of scripture cause any conflict for how you’ve read the text before?

Does seeing hope promising our future rather than defining our past affect how we engage Bible, community building, and faith?

(Heart)

When have you been positively effected by a new voice reading old stories?

What is the biggest obstacle to hearing different readings and accepting that those voices also belong with us at Christ’s table?

(Hands)

What can we do to make it easier to see that these other voices also have a place with us at the table of Christ?

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 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.

Thwarted By A Donkey | Sordid Tales of Faith

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.

When Hopes Collide | Sordid Tales of Faith

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 Glenn continues our conversation series, “Sordid Tales of Faith: Yep … That’s in the Bible.” We will explore how there are different and competing narratives in the Bible. How do we read both stories faithfully? How do we navigate our sacred writings when they conflict?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the two stories of Zachariah and Nehemiah, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

We’ve often approached sacred stories as a single story with one meaning; how do Nehemiah and Zechariah affect the way we see scripture?

(Heart)

When have you come into conflict over or with competing stories within scripture? How did you respond?

(Hands)

How do we create space to hold onto both readings, rather than pick our favorite and forget the other?

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

• This Friday we will be hosting a movie night in Zoom at 7pm PST. We are still nailing down what movie we will watch so feel free to send in a suggestion to 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.

The Story of Hosea and Gomer | Sordid Tales of Faith

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 | The Story of Hosea & Gomer

This week Glenn and Carl sit-down for a table talk to introduce our new conversation series, “Sordid Tales of Faith: Yep … That’s in the Bible.” We look at the story of Hosea and Gomer as an introduction into some of the harder tales we find in the pages of the Bible. How do we sit with the story and critique at the same time?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the story of Hosea and Gomer, what stood out to you?

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

(Head)

We all have parts of the bible that we would rather gloss over or edit out. For example when we read the story of Abraham, we conclude he was a great guy, because we gloss over and edit how we hear that story. But the story of Hosea from start to finish is a story we would rather not read, but because of its brokenness we are able to see beauty. What happens when we allow the broken parts of the bible to read us as we read them?

How do we learn to listen to the story without reading our moral assumptions and expectations into it?

(Heart)

What was the first story in the Bible that you read and realized it was different from the version of the story you thought you knew? How did feel about it or process it? 

(Hands)

How do we ensure that we engage the parts of the bible that trouble us and not just our favorites?

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

• 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.

Join the Divine Dance | Seventeen pt. 4

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 | Join the Divine Dance

This week Glenn and Carl sit-down for a table talk based our time in Jesus’ prayer in John 17. One of the main themes of John 17 is the oneness of Jesus and the Father; this oneness has been called the Divine dance by some of the earliest followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus we are invited to join this Divine dance.

Formational Learning:

As we explored the concept of the Divine dance 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 does it look like when salvation is connected to being present within a particular community and not a sinner’s prayer?

What does it look like to join the divine dance with Jesus and the father?

(Heart)

One of the side effects of consumeristic Christianity is when something inevitably comes that we don’t like, it becomes Jesus & me instead of Jesus & we. How have you experienced this tendency?

(Hands)

How can we invest ourselves in and expand the areas we are rooted in and the family of FōS?

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.

The Fulfillment of Joy | Seventeen 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.

Message | The Fulfillment of Joy

This week Glenn Collins walks us through the implications of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. It is a prayer that challenges our narrative of fear and lets us know that we are the fulfillment of God’s joy.

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 we begin the story with "we are the fulfilment of Jesus Joy" rather than inherently broken sinners?

(Heart)

How does moving from Jesus' hope challenge our narrative of fear?

How have you experienced being "the fulfilment of Jesus' joy?"

(Hands)

How can you show people they are the "fulfilment Jesus Joy?"

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.

One | Seventeen 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.

Message | One

This week Carl Amouzou opens up our new series “Seventeen.” What does Jesus’ prayer for his followers say about hyper-individualism? What is it that we are called too? What is it that Jesus prays we become?

Formational Learning:

As we explored the story of 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 does “oneness” mean? Beyond the word “one,” what is it that Jesus is praying his followers will become?

(Heart)

In your own life what does the “Narcissus-Jesus-me” look like?

How have you experienced oneness within Christ? What did that look like?

(Hands)

How do we actively listen to the words of Jesus’ prayer and become one in practical ways?

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 | We Are Not Troubled Guests

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. Rob Bell is one of this generation’s greatest storytellers. His new tour film “An Introduction to Joy” just released a couple weeks ago, and we thought it would be a great break in-between conversation series. After we will spend some time responding to the movie together.

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.

Movie | We Are Not Troubled Guests

1. Let the story be told. What is Scott Erickson trying to say in this this film through the stories he told? Listen to the story before you agree/disagree with the point of the story.

2. Invite the story to speak to you. What stood out or spoke to you? It could be about you, others, your life with/without God, your relationships, your goals.

3. Embracing our human condition. What does this film say about what it means to be human? About character? About values?

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

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.