The Gift of Shame & Solidarity | The Great Cloud of Ancestors pt. 2

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.

The Table by Heather Beamish

I'm trying
I'm trying to let the love be
Louder than all this hate
But it's hard to stand tall
When with their words they emasculate
They denigrate
They try to negate
My place at Your table
My place in this pew
My place in the front-lines
Doing ministry for You
They say,
Well, I'm told to hate the sin and love the sinner"
But with their actions
They cheapen their words and make them thinner
They say,
"Go back into the closet and lose the key,"
With each careless slur
Throwing further judgment on me
But I say to them
It's not your table
You don't have the right to block my way
It's not your table
You can't keep me out, just because I'm gay
It's not your table
You won't have the final say because
It's.
Not.
Your.
Table.

After I've taken the time To vent and feel
And I've allowed the defences
Of my heart to unsteel In stillness and reflection
I find Your peace
Allowing me to let go of the control And just cease
Cease striving
And defending
And trying to prove that I belong
Cease performing
And cowering
And dancing along to their song
Because Your invitation
Has been extended to me
All along
For you prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows
Surely Your goodness and mercy
Will follow me all the days of my life And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever!

The Message

Conversation Series | The Great Cloud of Ancestors

A Great Cloud of Ancestors | Learning from the Stories We Never Hear." We will be using Hebrews 12:1 as a lens for reading other stories in the Bible that can help us learn from those who don't usually get the spotlight. 

Message | The Gift of Shame & Solidarity

This week, Glenn will be leading us in a conversation about bearing witness to how our ancestors lead us through troubling texts and stories. 

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

The story of Jephthah turns from victory to shame with the inclusion of the last line where the women stand together to help shame the chieftains who scapegoat women. The Scribes sat close to power but by their inclusion of the women’s protest enabled their actions to confront power structures for three thousand years. How does seeing the scribes as subversive affect how you hear troubling passages in the Bible? How does actively highlighting feminine voices affect how you interact with the Bible?  

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

The daughter of Jephthah is nameless, yet her sisters standing with her keeps her story alive. Have you ever experienced your sisters or allies standing with you? Were you shocked by who became an ally, and what did it teach you?

If you were the ally, what did you learn about your friend’s experience from standing with them?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

How can we become like the scribes and create space to tell subversive stories as a central part of FōS? 

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.

• What is something that made me feel hopeful today? 

• What is something that diminished hope for you today? 

• What is something that causes you to have hope for  tomorrow? 

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Acts 9:26-28, 15:36-41. 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?

• Our next Mental Health Check-in will be Wednesday, February 1, at 7pm (pacific time). It will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together.

• 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.

Building on the Legacy of Our Ancestors | The Great Cloud of Ancestors pt. 1

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

Brave Space by Micky Scott Bey Jones

Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our brave space together,
And, we will work on it side by side.

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.

The Table by Heather Beamish

I'm trying
I'm trying to let the love be
Louder than all this hate
But it's hard to stand tall
When with their words they emasculate
They denigrate
They try to negate
My place at Your table
My place in this pew
My place in the front-lines
Doing ministry for You
They say,
Well, I'm told to hate the sin and love the sinner"
But with their actions
They cheapen their words and make them thinner
They say,
"Go back into the closet and lose the key,"
With each careless slur
Throwing further judgment on me
But I say to them
It's not your table
You don't have the right to block my way
It's not your table
You can't keep me out, just because I'm gay
It's not your table
You won't have the final say because
It's.
Not.
Your.
Table.

After I've taken the time To vent and feel
And I've allowed the defences
Of my heart to unsteel In stillness and reflection
I find Your peace
Allowing me to let go of the control And just cease
Cease striving
And defending
And trying to prove that I belong
Cease performing
And cowering
And dancing along to their song
Because Your invitation
Has been extended to me
All along
For you prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows
Surely Your goodness and mercy
Will follow me all the days of my life And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever!

The Message

Conversation Series | The Great Cloud of Ancestors

A Great Cloud of Ancestors | Learning from the Stories We Never Hear." We will be using Hebrews 12:1 as a lens for reading other stories in the Bible that can help us learn from those who don't usually get the spotlight. 

Message | Building on the Legacy of Our Ancestors

This week, Carl explores the story of Shiphrah and Puah, and how their legacy as our ancestors has rippled down through the biblical narrative.

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

What changes when we believe that we are not just building on the foundation of our ancestors but that we, too, are ancestors continuing the foundation for those who will come after us? 

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

Were ancestors a vital part of your tradition? If yes, tell us what that looked like and how it shaped you. If not, what do you think you missed out on by not having ancestors as a vital part of your tradition? 

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

How can we as a community live into the legacy of Shiphrah and Puah and be good ancestors? 

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.

• What is something that made me feel hopeful today? 

• What is something that diminished hope for you today? 

• What is something that causes you to have hope for  tomorrow? 

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Judges 11:29-40. 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?

• We held our monthly Mental Health Check-in this past Wednesday. What a great way to start the new year together. Thank you, Sam, for holding that space and for everyone who was there to make it a meaningful experience for all.

  Our next Mental Health Check-in will be Wednesday, February 1, at 7pm (pacific time). It will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together.

• 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.

Happy New Year!

This week our Sunday Liturgy will not be meeting online, but you can utilize these conversation notes to walk through a liturgy by yourself, with family, or friends.

The Call to Worship

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.

Jesus’ Prayer of Arrival (Revelation 22:17)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

Amen.

Scripture Reading

Revelation 22:1-5.

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table

The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.

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.

Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.

Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.

Run to Christ's table.

All: We consume the broken body of Christ becoming the broken body of Christ present in a broken world.

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.

• What is something that made me feel hopeful today? 

• What is something that diminished hope for you today? 

• What is something that causes you to have hope for  tomorrow? 

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Hebrews 11:39-12:3. 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?

• Our monthly Mental Health Check-in resumes this Wednesday, January 4th, at 7pm (pacific time). The holiday season can be hectic, but this will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together.

• This Sunday, January 8th, 2023, we will be holding our first Sunday Liturgy of the year. In addition, we will be starting a new conversation series called, A Great Cloud of Ancestors | Learning from the Stories We Never Hear. Looking forward to getting everyone back together. 

• 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.*

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

A Christmas Liturgy

This week our Sunday Liturgy will not be meeting online, but you can utilize these conversation notes to walk through a liturgy by yourself, with family, or friends.

The Call to Worship

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.

Jesus’ Prayer of Arrival (Revelation 22:17)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

Amen.

Scripture Reading

 Luke 2

Song | O Come O Come Emmanuel | Monivoi Vataiki & Andy Park

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table

The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.

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.

Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.

Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.

Run to Christ's table.

All: We consume the broken body of Christ becoming the broken body of Christ present in a broken world.

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.

• What is something from this Christmas season that made you feel blessed today? 

• What is something from this Christmas season that was hard for you today? 

• How can you bless someone tomorrow? 

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Revelation 22:1-5. 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?

• A reminder that We will pause until January 8th, 2023. We want to ensure that we allow space for gathering with family and friends. We will continue our other weekly rhythms like Slow-Cooker Spirituality and the Examen. So, definitely keep an eye out for that. 

  A reminder that we will resume our monthly Mental Health Check-in on Wednesday, January 4th, at 7pm (pacific time). The holiday season can be hectic, but this will be an opportunity to just talk and explore wholeness and grounding together.

• 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.*

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

Give Me Children, or I Shall Die: Stories of the Barren | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises pt. 4

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

A Prayer of Process (adapted from bell hooks)

Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid,
It has tried to make us choose safety instead of risk,
It has tried to make us choose sameness instead of diversity.
Moving through that fear,
finding out what connects us,
revelling in our differences;
this is the process that brings us closer,
the process that gives us a world of shared values,
the process of meaningful community.
Amen.

The Message

Conversation Series | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises

All birth is generative. It speaks to the possibility that yet exists in this world. As we move into the Advent season, we wanted to explore various birth narratives from within the biblical text read in light of Jesus’ birth in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. What possibilities do these stories still hold for us today?

Message | Give Me Children, or I Shall Die: Stories of the Barren

As we move into the fourth and final week of our Advent conversation series, Megan leads us in a provocative and needed conversation about barrenness. Christmas is always a season full of contrasts that seem to get overlooked in service of a singular narrative. But Megan asks us to stop and listen to the other stories being told.

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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 can we converse and grapple with the stories of women and child-bearing in the Bible, including the stories of Mary’s pregnancy and Christ’s birth? Can we hold on to these stories and still create an inclusive and liberating space for women to be fully human?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

What feelings, if any, came up for you during this message?
Or
How have stories of barrenness or pregnancy in the Bible been used in your past traditions, and was there any physical or emotional response you had to those approaches?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

How can we better expand our male-centric stories and language in our faith traditions and communities?

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.

• Is there a place where I have experienced an unanswered prayer or painful waiting today? What are ways I respond to that feeling and experience?

• Was there a place I noticed male-centric language or the inclusion and empowerment of women today?

• How can I name both what is terrible and what is bringing me life today?

• Where is a place I find hope in the story and season of Advent?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Luke 2. 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?

• A reminder that we will resume our monthly Mental Health Check-in on Wednesday January 4th at 7pm (pacific time). The holiday season can be hectic, this will be an opportunity to just talk, and to explore wholeness and grounding together.

• This week, Sunday, December 18th, 2022, will be our last Sunday Liturgy of the year. We will pause until January 8th, 2023. We want to ensure that we allow space for gathering with family and friends. We will continue our other weekly rhythms like Slow-Cooker Spirituality and the Examen. So, definitely keep an eye out for that.

• 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.*

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

One for My Baby & One More for the Road | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises pt. 3

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

A Prayer of Process (adapted from bell hooks)

Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid,

It has tried to make us choose safety instead of risk,

It has tried to make us choose sameness instead of diversity.

Moving through that fear,

finding out what connects us,

revelling in our differences;

this is the process that brings us closer,

the process that gives us a world of shared values,

the process of meaningful community.

Amen.

Scripture

Genesis 2:4-7, John 1:1-14, John 20:19-23

The Message

Conversation Series | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises

All birth is generative. It speaks to the possibility that yet exists in this world. As we move into the Advent season, we wanted to explore various birth narratives from within the biblical text read in light of Jesus’ birth in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. What possibilities do these stories still hold for us today?

Message | One for My Baby & One More for the Road

As we move into the third week of our Advent series, Glenn and Carl will lead us in a conversation that explores hope and possibility. Deeply encoded in the biblical text are stories that help us to think and become more expansive. These stories often bleed into each other and find new ways of being told. Glenn and Carl take this theme of retelling to offer us a contextual platform from which we can dream together about the future of FōS while celebrating what has come before. 

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table

The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.

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.

Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.

Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.

Run to Christ's table.

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

Retelling stories from the past can often catalyze our imaginations to think about what is possible for the future. Glenn and Carl used stories from both the Old and New Testaments to set the stage for where they saw hope and possibility for the future of FōS. Where can you see hope and possibility for the future of FōS or the Church at large?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

What story (personal, historical, biblical) from the past helps you have a more expansive and hopeful view of the future? 

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

There is an axiom that says, "What gets celebrated gets repeated." So what is one way you can intentionally celebrate the good and beautiful in your life and community in order to create space for more of it in the future? 

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.

• What is something from today that you can celebrate?

• What is something from today that inspired you to have hope? 

• How does what you want to celebrate today create space for hope tomorrow? 

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Exodus 1:15-21 & Matthew 2:13-18. 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?

• A reminder that we will resume our monthly Mental Health Check-in on Wednesday January 4th at 7pm (pacific time). The holiday season can be hectic, this will be an opportunity to just talk, and to explore wholeness and grounding together.

• Next week, Sunday, December 18th, 2022, will be our last Sunday Liturgy of the year. We will pause until January 8th, 2023. We want to ensure that we allow space for gathering with family and friends. We will continue our other weekly rhythms like Slow-Cooker Spirituality and the Examen. So, definitely keep an eye out for that. 

• 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.*

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

Hit Me Baby One More Time | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises pt. 2

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

A Prayer of Process (adapted from bell hooks)

Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid,

It has tried to make us choose safety instead of risk,

It has tried to make us choose sameness instead of diversity.

Moving through that fear,

finding out what connects us,

revelling in our differences;

this is the process that brings us closer,

the process that gives us a world of shared values,

the process of meaningful community.

Amen.

Scripture

Isaiah 7:1-16, Matthew 1:18-25

The Message

Conversation Series | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises

All birth is generative. It speaks to the possibility that yet exists in this world. As we move into the Advent season, we wanted to explore various birth narratives from within the biblical text read in light of Jesus’ birth in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. What possibilities do these stories still hold for us today?

Message | Hit Me Baby One More Time

This week, Glenn leads us in a conversation about Immanuel. Even when some passages seem simple when you read them, there can be a much deeper meaning upon reflecting on them. So we make an effort to keep reflecting, trying to find not just a literal sense of the scriptures but a profound and deeper message that can be overlooked at first sight.

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table

The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.

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.

Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.

Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.

Run to Christ's table.

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

What is at risk when we let our experience name god? What do we gain?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

When have you allowed experience to shape your view of God? What was it like?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Rereading the text can be overwhelming at times. Learning to see something new can upset what we have been taught to see. How can we hold space to intentionally create room to reread the text in light of our own experience of community, compassion, and acts of mercy?

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 embody mercy/compassion today?

• Where did I receive mercy/compassion today?

• How did it affect that moment?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Genesis 2:4-7, John 1:1-14, John 20:19-23 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?

• A reminder that we will resume our monthly Mental Health Check-in on Wednesday January 4th at 7pm (pacific time). The holiday season can be hectic, this will be an opportunity to just talk, and to explore wholeness and grounding together.

• Thank you to everyone who came out to the FōS Very Merry Christmas Party! Thank you to Lu and Kurt for being such wonderful hosts. Thank you Jerry for helping us all sing Christmas carols and exercise our beautiful voices. And Thank you to Megan for planning this wonderful event for our community.

• 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.*

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

It's Just A Sweet, Sweet Fantasy Baby | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises pt. 1

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

A Prayer of Process (adapted from bell hooks)

Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid,

It has tried to make us choose safety instead of risk,

It has tried to make us choose sameness instead of diversity.

Moving through that fear,

finding out what connects us,

revelling in our differences;

this is the process that brings us closer,

the process that gives us a world of shared values,

the process of meaningful community.

Amen.

Scripture

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

—Luke 1:46-55

The Message

Conversation Series | Oh Baby! God's Happy Lil' Surprises

All birth is generative. It speaks to the possibility that yet exists in this world. As we move into the Advent season, we wanted to explore various birth narratives from within the biblical text read in light of Jesus’ birth in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. What possibilities do these stories still hold for us today?

Message | It’s Just A Sweet, Sweet Fantasy Baby

This week, Carl opens our new conversation series by exploring the birth of the child in Revelation 12. In literature that could easily be compared with contemporary fantasy, we see a story that confronts the fantasy we create in the service of oppression and Empire. So what does a baby have to say about liberation in the face of imperial oppression?

The Eucharist Litany (portions of this litany were written by Naomi Lippett)

Reader: This is Christ's table

The table of communion and relationship, where through the work of Christ and the power the Holy Spirit as we feast together on this single loaf and single cup, we are brought into union with the Triune God.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of shared human life, where no one is excluded and no one unwelcome, where unity is found in difference, where the other is embraced and seen.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of mystery, where this food nourishes more than just our physical hunger.

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of thanksgiving and joy, where we lift up our lives in response to God's outrageous goodness.

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.

Remembering, therefore, this command of the Saviour, and all that came to pass, we pray:

All: Come Holy Spirit and transform these gifts into the means of grace that we need in this moment.

Reader: The gifts of god for the people of God.

Run to Christ's table.

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

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

What changes when we see the gift of Christmas is healing, liberation, and restoration?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

Christmas for many has been a time of cultivating life long memories. What is your favorite Christmas memory, and how does it intersect with the themes of healing, liberation, and restoration?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

This Advent season what is one thing you can do that contributes to the healing, liberation, and restoration needed in this world?

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 experience or participate in healing, liberation, or restoration today?

• Where did I receive healing, liberation, or restoration as gift today?

• How can I orient myself to better witness and participate in the healing, liberation, and restoration needed in the world?

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 7:1-17.  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?

• Thank you, Sam, for helping us to hold space with our Mental-Health Check-ins. With the hectic nature of the Christmas season for many people, we will need to get back to you with the next Check-in date.

• We are getting ready for a very merry FōS Christmas Party. It will be held at 6pm on Saturday, December 3, at Kurt and Lu's place. We will post the address in the FB Messenger chat, and you can also email us at hello@fos.church to get the address. Looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it. 

• 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.*

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

Welcome to the Listening Room

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

The Listening Party

This week we are pausing for our "Palette Cleanser Sunday," where we switch things up to reset and create space for a new conversation. We will be hosting a listening party where some of us will be sharing songs that are meaningful to us.

• I Shall Not Want | Audrey Assad (Marisa)

• All that I Got is You | Ghostface (Carl)

• The Darkest Hour | Jerry Paladino (Rauna) (click to download)

• Gonna Be Okay | Brent Morgan (Mariana)

• Old Church Basement | Elevation Worship and Maverick City (Sam)

• Beauty in the World | Macy Gray (Kurt)

• If I Believe You | The 1975 (Megan)

• Keep Your Eyes Open | NEEDTOBREATHE (Brittany)

Just Another Day in Paradise | Phil Vassar (Glenn)

Spotify Playlist

Youtube Playlist

Examen

Become aware of God’s presence. Review the day with gratitude. Pay attention to your emotions. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Look toward tomorrow.

• For what moment today am I most grateful?

• For what moment today am I least grateful?

• How can I create space for gratitude in my daily life?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Revelation 12. 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?

• Next week we will be starting our Advent Conversation as we move towards Christmas. 

• This past Wednesday, we had our Mental Health Check-in. It was such a great time of holding space to process, listen, and ground ourselves together. Thank you, Sam, for helping us to hold that space together. With the hectic nature of the Christmas season for many people, we will need to get back to you with the next Check-in date. 

• We are getting ready for a very merry FōS Christmas Party. It will be held at 6pm on Saturday, December 3, at Kurt and Lu's place. We will post the address in the FB Messenger chat, and you can also email us at hello@fos.church to get the address. Looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it. 

• 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.*

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

The Discipline of Gratitude, Thoughts on Gratitude in and for My Tradition | The Thank You Economy pt. 4

Zoom Link for The Sunday Liturgy | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89752784023

The Call to Worship

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.

A Prayer of Gratitude by Saint Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Amen

Scripture

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

—1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

The Message

Conversation Series | The Thank You Economy

We have all heard the old axiom, an attitude of gratitude, but what does gratitude actually look like in our lives? What are the benefits of gratitude? What do we do when we just don’t feel grateful? There has been a lot to complain about over these past few years. But there have also been plenty of things that have stoked the fire of thankfulness.

Message | The Discipline of Gratitude, Thoughts on Gratitude in and for My Tradition

This week, Glenn helps us explore the idea of gratitude through learning to understand our story and how we grow.

The Eucharist Litany (from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals)

Reader: The table of bread is now to be made ready.

It is the table of company with Jesus,

and all who love him.

It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world,

with whom Jesus identified himself.

It is the table of communion with the earth,

in which Christ became incarnate.

So come to this table,

you who have much faith

and you who would like to have more;

you who have been here often

and you who have not been for a long time;

you who have tried to follow Jesus,

and you who have failed;

come.

It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.

All: Loving God, through your goodness

we have this bread and wine to offer,

which has come forth from the earth

and human hands have made.

May we know your presence

in the sharing,

so that we may know your touch

and presence in all things.

We celebrate the life that Jesus has shared

among his community through the centuries,

and shares with us now.

Made one in Christ

and one with each other,

we offer these gifts and with them ourselves,

a single, living act of praise.

“We consume the broken body of Christ

becoming the broken body of Christ

present in a broken world.”*

Formational Learning

Rules of the Table

1. It’s Christ’s table, and we are all guests, a good guest makes sure everyone present can stay at the table.

2. This is a place to process together. Questions of curiosity and process are encouraged, not questions to force agreement or coerce a specific answer.

3. Keep answers to 1-2 minutes so everyone has room to share.

4. 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

1. Controversy with civility

2. Own your intentions and your impact

3. Challenge by choice (allow ourselves to be challenged by what others share)

4. Respect

5. 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?

What changes when we name gratitude a discipline that enables us to see beauty rather than a disposition or way to pay back nice acts?

(Heart) What do I feel as I am reflecting?

How does the story you’re telling yourself expand or delimit your ability to find hope, beauty, and purpose in the story of Jesus?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

When new things come, or new people approach us, note whether you experience the possibility as a threat or a promise. At Fos, let’s practice seeing people and difference as the promise of life developing.

Examen

Become aware of God’s presence. Review the day with gratitude. Pay attention to your emotions. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Look toward tomorrow.

• Where did I experience something or someone unexpected today?

• What was the story I was telling myself about the experience?

• Did the story I told myself frame the experience as a possibility or threat?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Luke 17:11-19.  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?

• Wednesday, November 16, at 7pm we will be holding space for a mental health check-in. It will be an opportunity to just talk, to explore wholeness and grounding together.

• Saturday, December 3, we will be hosting a Christmas Party. More details to come, but save the date! Also if anyone would like to be part of planning the evening connect with Megan.

• 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.*

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