We’ll conclude our worship series, Way of Love, this week with reflection on the hope found in Christianity. Norman Wirzba writes, “Christian hope rests in the ultimate victory of love over hate, a victory that is signaled in Jesus’s own overcoming of violence and death with his resurrection from the dead on Easter” (Way of Love, 200).
Way of Love Outline
•Sept 11: Christianity as School in the Ways of Love. (Psalm 86.11, 1 John 3.14, 1 John 4.8)
•Sept 18: Fall. Redemption. Original sin. Atonement. (Jeremiah 8.18, Romans 5.12, John 10.10, 1 John 3.14)
•Sept 25: Hope. (2 Corinthians 5.17)
In the sanctuary is an art piece, Love Wins, by Joe Zaniker. An image of the painting is below. Take time to wonder about this message of love.
“Baptism signifies a person’s cleansing and entrance into community, and the Eucharist is the regular meal that nurtures people in the ways of love. Think of these ritual practices as learning exercises or apprenticeship disciplines in the school of love” (Way of Love, 177). What roles do baptism and the Eucharist play at The Table? How would you describe the impact that these two “ritual practices” have had in your own formation as a follower of Jesus? How do you understand these two “ritual practices” to be shaping the formation of The Table as a school for love?
Take time in prayer to consider how you would like to practice love this week.
