Love Feast

Sunday, October 5, 2014
5:00 pm



As Chuck Denlinger wrote in A Dunker Guide to Brethren Beliefs, “The Love Feast is one of the most distinctive practices of the Church of the Brethren. It is a service of worship held in obedience to the teaching of Jesus as understood by the early Brethren from their study of the New Testament. Those who attend love feast celebrate together the gift of God’s love, the sac-rifice of the Son, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.”

“The Bible tells us that on the same evening that he was betrayed and arrested, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come, shared an intimate Last Supper with his closest companions.”

Love Feast will be held on World Communion Sunday, October 5, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center. For this Love Feast we will sit at long tables, in order to encourage community building and fellowship. Men and women may sit together. This will allow for family members and friends to sit together. There will be four stations for feet washing—one for men, one for women, one for married couples, and one for families to teach their children by word and example about this important practice. Some persons find it difficult or impossible to stoop to wash feet. As usual, hand washing will be offered for those who choose it.

In the Deacon Manual for Caring Ministries we learn that “The earliest Christian communions probably resembled the typical church carry-in meal, with individuals bringing food for the Love Feast.” ii 

We are very excited to return once again to this tradition; there will be a full meal. Please bring a dish of food for the common table. Place settings will be provided. Come prepared to share fellowship in love with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Although the actual form has evolved over the years,” there are “five major components of the love feast:” “Examination and preparation, the agape fellowship meal, feet washing or hand washing, bread and cup communion, closing prayer and hymn.” iii Even though we are returning to an earlier form for the meal, we will still observe all five components of the Love Feast. In celebration of it being World Communion Sunday, we are using a style for the meal that is used by our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world.

School-age children are welcome to participate in the meal and to observe the feet washing and communion. Childcare will be provided for small children. If you want this service please telephone Jamie Nace at 940-1790 or email her at jnace77@gmail.com.

“The earliest Brethren understood the message Jesus gave loud and clear: ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’” iv 

Plan now to be part of this Love Feast. Invite and bring your family and friends.
–Pastor Jeff Rill

i Charles G. Denlinger in A Dunker Guide to Brethren Beliefs, (Elgin, IL: Brethren Press, 2012), p. 77.

ii Deacon Manual for Caring Ministries, (Elgin, IL: Association of Brethren Caregivers, 1998), p. 215.

iii Charles G. Denlinger in A Dunker Guide to Brethren Beliefs, (Elgin, IL: Brethren Press, 2012), p. 78.

iv Deacon Manual for Caring Ministries, (Elgin, IL: Association of Brethren Caregivers, 1998), p. 215.