Turndown & Amplify | There is No Safe Space pt. 2

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

The Call to Worship

Lighting of the Christ Candle

The Invitation to Pause & Become Present

Our Vision

FōS is a community creating space for everyone to find hope, beauty, and possibility in the story of Jesus by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

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 Message

Conversation Series | There is No Safe Space

In this conversation series, There is No Safe Space, we are diving deeper into the Brave Space Litany together. We have used this litany in FōS for the past few years as a way of helping us show up and imagine what a Brave Space could be for us as a community. We wanted to take the opportunity to explore and expand the different lines of the poem in order to help us embody and enact those words together here in FōS.

Message | Turndown & Amplify

This week, Glenn leads us into the second portion of The Brave Space Litany through the story of the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7. Our liturgy at FōS calls us to pause so that we can interrupt our normal patterns and hear voices fighting to be heard. These can come from within our fractured selves or from the margins of society. Everyone has had to learn how to practice this by having their ordered lives disrupted, even Jesus.

In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere.

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 see the purpose of weekly gatherings as provocation for the religiously and socially comfortable but elevation for the religiously and socially displaced?

Every week, we pause as we enter into our Sunday Liturgy. How does this intentional moment of pausing help open up the possibility that we can hear the invitation to provocation and embrace?

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

In your experience, who has the microphone? What feelings emerge when you hear them speak?

What is the difference you experience when marginalized voices speak compared to the voices of the dominator culture [Remember bell hooks]?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Do you have a practice or ritual of pausing in your everyday life? If yes, what does it look like? If not, how could you practice pausing in your daily life?

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.

• When did you intentionally turndown the volume of the outside world today?

• When did you amplify voices that fight to be heard today?

• How can you cultivate courage to create Brave Space 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 1 Corinthians 14:1-25. 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?

• Be sure to look out for the latest episode of our Continuing the Conversation Podcast, which we just relaunched. Find it on Apple Podcasts under FōS Church or on our website under the Podcasts tab. www.fos.church/podcast

• Our next Mental Health Check-in will be Mental Health Check-in, April 26, at 7pm (pacific time). It will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together. We will use the same link as The Sunday Liturgy

• 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.

Together We Will Create Brave Space | There is No Safe Space pt. 1

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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

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 Message

Conversation Series | There is No Safe Space

In this conversation series, There is No Safe Space, we are diving deeper into the Brave Space Litany together. We have used this litany in FōS for the past few years as a way of helping us show up and imagine what a Brave Space could be for us as a community. We wanted to take the opportunity to explore and expand the different lines of the poem in order to help us embody and enact those words together here in FōS.

Message | Together We Will Create Brave Space

This week, Carl starts off our new conversation series, There is No Safe Space, by inviting us to ask the question, what is Brave Space?

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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?

For so long, our culture has taught us to seek out safe spaces as a response to fear. What changes when we realize there is no such thing as a safe space and instead choose to courageously create Brave Space together?

What does it mean to own our intent and our impact?

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

What feelings emerged for you when you heard, or first heard, the words, "there is no such thing as a safe space?"

What feelings show up for you, and what is your response to Sam's words, "We were hurt in community, and we will find our healing in community?"

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Sister Souljah offers us sage advice when she says, "counsel me; don't cancel me." What is a situation where you needed to be counseled and not canceled? How can you extend the grace needed to counsel instead of cancel others?

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.

• When did you notice that you needed courage to enter into a space today?

• When did you notice fear causing you to step out of a space today?

• How can you cultivate courage to create Brave Space 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 Mark 7:26-37. 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?

• Be sure to look out for the latest episode of our Continuing the Conversation Podcast, which we just relaunched with an episode wrapping up our most recent series, This Land. Find it on Apple Podcasts under FōS Church or on our website under the Podcasts tab. www.fos.church/podcast

• Our next Mental Health Check-in will be Mental Health Check-in, April 26, at 7pm (pacific time). It will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together. We will use the same link as The Sunday Liturgy

• 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.

Series Recap | This Land

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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

Blessing of the Land*

God of the Universe,
you made the heavens and the earth,
so we do not call our home merely “planet earth.”
We call it your creation, a divine mystery,
a gift from your most blessed hand.
The world itself is your miracle.
Bread and vegetables from earth are thus also from heaven.
Help us to see in our daily bread your presence.

Upon this [land]
may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
that we might become more human,
that we might mend our rift from your creation,
that we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
that we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden.

*Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma. Common Prayer Pocket Edition (pp. 561-562). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Series Recap

Conversation Series | This Land

In this conversation series, This Land, we will explore Land as a character in the Bible and the ways that the Land speaks and guides us as a witness to God and justice.

Messages

1. A Desperate Longing

2. God of the Oppressed Land

3. Co-Creating with the Land

4. The Earth Consumes Our Violence

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 is one thing that stood out to you, a point of curiosity, or a question that emerged as we walked through this past conversation series together?

(Head) What do I think?

What changed or challenged your thinking as we read scripture with the Land as a central character with voice?

What are some inherent views you have about the Land? Which ones would you like to preserve, and which beliefs do you want to change?

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

Did you experience any felt response, positive or negative, to the way we experienced the Land?

Did the notion of the Land experiencing oppression from our hands stir any specific feelings?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

How can we begin to hear the voice of the Land as a critique or call in our daily life?

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.

• When did I feel connected or disconnected from the Land today?

• When did my actions have an impact on the Land today?

• How can I continue to grow a sense of roots in my community, land, or place 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 Micah 6:6-8. Using the Head, Heart, Hands questions, spend some time reflecting on the passage and writing down what emerges for you.

  • (Head) What do I think about what I read?

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

  • (Hands) What do I do to respond?

• One of the ways we invest in the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You can give online at www.fos.church/partner. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever they may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders they have shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
Amen …

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

The Earth Consumes Our Violence | This Land pt. 4

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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

Blessing of the Land*

God of the Universe,
you made the heavens and the earth,
so we do not call our home merely “planet earth.”
We call it your creation, a divine mystery,
a gift from your most blessed hand.
The world itself is your miracle.
Bread and vegetables from earth are thus also from heaven.
Help us to see in our daily bread your presence.

Upon this [land]
may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
that we might become more human,
that we might mend our rift from your creation,
that we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
that we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden.

*Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma. Common Prayer Pocket Edition (pp. 561-562). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Message

Conversation Series | This Land

In this conversation series, This Land, we will explore Land as a character in the Bible and the ways that the Land speaks and guides us as a witness to God and justice.

Message | The Earth Consumes Our Violence

This week, Megan guides us in exploring the Land’s response to violence.

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 have a theology (or faith) that starts with a connection with the land? What changes when our faith traditions and belief systems are rooted in a sense of place, social location, and land identity?

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

Were there any feelings (or embodied reactions) that emerged for you through this teaching?

Is there a time you remember feeling displaced, dislocated, or severed from a place that was important to you?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

What’s something that you can do this week to feel more connected to or more aware of the particular land and place you are in?

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.

• When did I feel connected or disconnected from my local environment or sense of place today?

  When did my actions have an impact on the land or environment today?

  How can I continue to grow a sense of roots in my community, land, or place 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 Psalm 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?

• Our next Mental Health Check-in will be Thursday, March 16, at 7pm (pacific time). It will be an opportunity to talk and explore wholeness and grounding together. We will use the same link as The Sunday Liturgy

• 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.

Co-Creating with the Land | This Land pt. 3

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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

Blessing of the Land*

God of the Universe,
you made the heavens and the earth,
so we do not call our home merely “planet earth.”
We call it your creation, a divine mystery,
a gift from your most blessed hand.
The world itself is your miracle.
Bread and vegetables from earth are thus also from heaven.
Help us to see in our daily bread your presence.

Upon this [land]
may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
that we might become more human,
that we might mend our rift from your creation,
that we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
that we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden.

*Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma. Common Prayer Pocket Edition (pp. 561-562). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Message

Conversation Series | This Land

In this conversation series, This Land, we will explore Land as a character in the Bible and the ways that the Land speaks and guides us as a witness to God and justice.

Message | Co-Creating with the Land

Our inherited categories of land and culture are often seen as natural and drawn out of an objective view of our world. This Week, Glenn will help us trace the way the Bible constructs a view of land, which allows it to become a guide for us.

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 create space for the land to critique our actions? What does that critique look like for you?

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

Saying that we construct and the Bible constructs a way of living means it wasn’t just revealed from heaven; it was built up from the ground. What did you feel when you heard spirituality framed as construction? Was it experienced as a promise or a threat?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Examine your relationship to land and name the sources from which you inherited this view.

Do you want to keep or change this view?

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.

• When did I find myself connected to the land today?

• What story informed the way I experienced the land?

• How did this story/experience connect me to or distance me from the land?

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 4:1-16. Using the Head, Heart, Hands questions, spend some time reflecting on the passage and writing down what emerges for you.

  • (Head) What do I think about what I read?

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

  • (Hands) What do I do to respond?

• One of the ways we invest in the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You can give online at www.fos.church/partner. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever they may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders they have shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
Amen …

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

God of the Oppressed Land | This Land 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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• We include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

Blessing of the Land*

God of the Universe,
you made the heavens and the earth,
so we do not call our home merely “planet earth.”
We call it your creation, a divine mystery,
a gift from your most blessed hand.
The world itself is your miracle.
Bread and vegetables from earth are thus also from heaven.
Help us to see in our daily bread your presence.

Upon this [land]
may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
that we might become more human,
that we might mend our rift from your creation,
that we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
that we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden.

*Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma. Common Prayer Pocket Edition (pp. 561-562). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Message

Conversation Series | This Land

In this conversation series, This Land, we will explore Land as a character in the Bible and the ways that the Land speaks and guides us as a witness to God and justice.

Message | God of the Oppressed Land

This week, Carl invites us to explore what the Land teaches us about justice and reciprocity through Revelation 11:18.

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 for you if we see creation care as a primary tenet of salvation and eschatology (putting things to rights)?

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

Revelation 11:18 has a few theological trigger words; how did you notice yourself responding to those words (mind and body)?

The word wrath carries a lot of theological baggage for many people. How have you understood the word wrath in the past? How did you respond to a more expansive understanding of the word wrath?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

How can you become more aware of how you actively or passively participate in the oppression of the Land, and what is one thing you can do to actively care for it?

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 did I do today to actively care for creation?

• What did I do today that was actively or passively part of destroying the earth?

• What can I do tomorrow to be more aware of how I am treating creation?

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 4:1-16. Using the Head, Heart, Hands questions, spend some time reflecting on the passage and writing down what emerges for you.

  • (Head) What do I think about what I read?

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

  • (Hands) What do I do to respond?

• One of the ways we invest in the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You can give online at www.fos.church/partner. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever they may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders they have shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
Amen …

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

A Desperate Longing | This Land pt. 1

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 by reimagining faith together. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity.

• we include because we have been included.

• We love because we have been loved.

• We invite because we have been invited.

• We welcome diversity through open tables and open conversations.

• We create space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

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.

Blessing of the Land*

God of the Universe,
you made the heavens and the earth,
so we do not call our home merely “planet earth.”
We call it your creation, a divine mystery,
a gift from your most blessed hand.
The world itself is your miracle.
Bread and vegetables from earth are thus also from heaven.
Help us to see in our daily bread your presence.

Upon this [land]
may your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
that we might become more human,
that we might mend our rift from your creation,
that we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life,
that we might truly experience life from your hand.
For you planted humanity in a garden
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden.

*Claiborne, Shane; Wilson-Hartgrove, Jonathan; Okoro, Enuma. Common Prayer Pocket Edition (pp. 561-562). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Message

Conversation Series | This Land

In this conversation series, This Land, we will explore Land as a character in the Bible and the ways that the Land speaks and guides us as a witness to God and justice.

Message | A Desperate Longing

This week, Carl will be opening the series with a conversation that takes a few snapshots from the biblical text in order to help tell the story of Land. 

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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 see the Land as a teacher?

What does the Land teach us about our sacred vocation to care for it as children of God?

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

How have you been taught to see the Land and creation? In what ways have you participated in the land's oppression, and in what ways have you worked for the land's liberation? 

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

What is one way that you can try to connect with the Land and creation this week? 

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.

• When did I find myself connected to the land today?

• When did I feel disconnected from the land today? What was happening that caused the feeling of disconnection?

• What can I do to intentionally be present to the land 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 Psalm 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?

• Ash Wednesday officially starts off the Lenten season. This year, we will partner with Coast Hills Community Church to explore and hold space for Ash Wednesday. We will be meeting in-person Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 7:30pm at Coast Hills. We will also be holding space online on Zoom (our Sunday Liturgy link) for those who cannot make it in person. The address is: 

  #108 - 17828 65A Ave 

  Surrey, BC 

  V3S 1Z3

• 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.

Reconcile | The Violence of Waiting Revisited

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

The Call to Worship

FōS is a community creating space for everyone to find hope, beauty, and possibility in the story of Jesus. 

• We are a community practicing Big Tent Christianity meaning, we include because we have been included. We love because we have been loved. We invite because we have been invited. We are a community that welcomes diversity through open tables, open conversations, and open arms. Becoming a big tent creates space for God's generous guest list to be present and to participate fully.

• We are a community cultivating Brave Space.

• We are a community that is Reduced to Love.

• We are a community that is Reimagining Faith together.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy.
Bring about Your kingdom.
Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven.
Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less—
And forgive us our debts as we forgive those who owe us something.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail | An Abridged Litany

Reader: I am not afraid of the word "tension."…
there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth…
the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice
and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.  

All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Reader: Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.
The urge for freedom will eventually come (as we begin) moving with a sense of cosmic urgency toward the promised land of racial justice 

All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Reader: I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist.
Was not Jesus an extremist in love?
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you."
Was not Amos an extremist for justice?
"Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Reader: So the question is not whether we will be extremist,
but what kind of extremists we will be.
Will we be extremists for hate, or will we be extremists for love?
Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice,
or will we be extremists for the cause of justice? 

All: Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

The Message

Conversation Series | The Violence of Waiting

Martin Luther King Jr was one of America's preeminent theologians. We often miss hearing MLK's deep drive towards justice amongst the many quotes popularized on social media posts. In this series, we will explore MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail together to listen for the prophetic echoes of Amos.

Message | Reconcile

This week Megan will lead us in a conversation about reconciliation. We are continuing to explore Marthin Luther King Jr’s famous letter from a Birmingham Jail. What is reconciliation? What does it look like when enacted?

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

All: This is Christ's table

Reader: The table of remembrance, which on the night He was betrayed, in the company of friends, he took bread and broke it saying, this is my body given for you, eat this in remembrance of me. He then took the cup of wine, and gave thanks saying this is my blood of the new covenant. Drink this in remembrance of me.

All: This is Christ's table

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

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

Formational Learning

Rules of the Table

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 do we imagine reconciliation from unjust systems while living in them? What does this look like?

How does the sacred and secular divide limit or hinder the church’s calling as against reconciliation?

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

When have you witnessed deconstruction as an act of reconciliation? What did it look like?

Where have you experienced performative reconciliation, and what would change it into an authentic expression of reconciliation?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

This week we will look to the Examen as our Hands response.

Examen

The Examen is a daily practice of reflection and prayer that helps us introspectively look at ourselves. Spend a few moments at the end of your day prayerfully reflecting. Grab a pen and journal and write your response out.

• Where did I see the need for reconciliation today?

• Where did I see reconciliation take place today?

• What do I need to reconcile today?

• How did I participate in the act of reconciliation today?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be Isaiah 24:1-13. Using the Head, Heart, Hands questions, spend some time reflecting on the passage and writing down what emerges for you.

  • (Head) What do I think about what I read?

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

  • (Hands) What do I do to respond?

• One of the ways we invest in the future of FōS is through tithes and offering, generous giving. You can give online at www.fos.church/partner. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Our Benediction

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever they may send you;
may Christ guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders they have shown you;
may Christ bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.*
Amen …

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

The Challenge of Michal | The Great Cloud of Ancestors pt. 4

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 Challenge of Michal

This week, Glenn helps us explore our ancestor Michal, who was a strong, intelligent, and powerful woman. Yet, she was used as a pawn in the games of men seeking power. What happens when she had enough and speaks truth to power?

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

Reader: This is Christ's table. 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?

There are two different stories told in the Bible about Michal: Samuel and Chronicles. How does reading 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles against each other affect the way you approach scripture?

Some commentaries ask, “should we believe Michal?” Why do you think we have so much trouble trusting her perspective?

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

When Michal speaks up, the next generation of scribes silenced her. How have you seen divergent voices treated? What did it teach you about speaking out?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

What habits can we practice or checks can we put in place to make sure we stand with Michal before editing the story to defend David?

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 hear a divergent voice today?

• Did I trust them or try to find a weakness in them?

• Where was I a divergent voice today?

• Was I trusted or dismissed?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be the book of Philemon. 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. We will use the same link as The Sunday Liturgy

• Every week we put out a newsletter that has community updates, reflections from the community, and all sorts of other things that will help you stay connected with FōS. If you do not already receive it in your inbox please sign up with this link, https://mailchi.mp/2b6239ca32e4/sign-up-for-fs-newsletter

• 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.

The Risk of Inclusion | The Great Cloud of Ancestors pt. 3

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 Risk of Inclusion

This week, Carl helps us explore our ancestor Barnabas in a conversation about inclusion, encouragement, and the courage it takes for both.

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 see inclusion as a central tenant of our faith instead of something we may or may not do? Why do you think that it is so hard to include others?

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

Has there been a time when you were excluded? What did that feel like? Tell us about a time when you were included. What did that feel like?

(Hands) What do I do to respond?

Most of us have been tempted to exclude others, and all of us do things, intentional or unintentional, that make others feel excluded or at least marginalized. So what is one thing you can do to help create an inclusive space for everyone?

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 included today? 

• What is something that made me feel unincluded for you today? 

• When did I include others today? 

• When did I exclude others today?

Announcements 

• We have a Slow-Cooker Spirituality group that meets online at 9:30am PST every Thursday. This coming week’s reading will be 1 Samuel 14:49, 18:17-29, 19:11-17, 25:44, 2 Samuel 3:12-16, 6:16, 6:20-23 (it looks long, but is only 28 verses). 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. We will use the same link as The Sunday Liturgy

• Every week we put out a newsletter that has community updates, reflections from the community, and all sorts of other things that will help you stay connected with FōS. If you do not already receive it in your inbox please sign up with this link, https://mailchi.mp/2b6239ca32e4/sign-up-for-fs-newsletter

• 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.