This book looks at the New Testament texts that teach about the sacrament of Holy Communion and challenges many modern assumptions that the Lord's Supper is just a memorial meal or symbolic ceremony.

This is the first of three volumes for Ordinary Time in the Christian year. For the weekday readings at Mass there is a two-year cycle: Year A and Year B. Over the two years there is a different first reading from the Scriptures while both years share the same Gospel readings. On Sundays there is a three-year cycle. Each year concentrates on a different synoptic gospel: cycle A, Matthew; cycle B, Mark; and cycle C, Luke.

During Ordinary Time we can focus more on knowing the Scriptures and how they inspire and teach us. There is not another book that has such a collection of history, drama, prose, poetry, autobiography, folklore, pathos, joy, achievement and loss as our Bible. There is always some passage that will suit our need and emotion every day.

Meditating on the Scriptures opens the door to search for more knowledge about it and what it reveals of Jewish history and the beginnings of Christianity. "Angels Celebrate" will help you undertake a wonderful and fascinating journey to discover more behind the scenes. You will discover how much of Scripture is dictated by various editors in the Old Testament and the authors of the New Testament books from their living experiences within various Christian communities.

This series for Ordinary Time completes the series of daily meditations for the entire Christian year by author Marianne Dorman. The series begins with "Angels Rejoice" from Advent to Lent, followed by "Living Lent," and then "Angels Welcome" from Easter to Corpus Christi.

The book discusses similarities and differences between Jewish tevila and Christian baptism. The question is whether baptism is a gradual evolution from the Jewish rite into a Christian form. Or is baptism an entirely new mode of initiation unique to the Christian faith. Is it a novum?

Since the time of the Reformation, most of Protestantism has celebrated two sacraments - "baptism and supper." And while the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church celebrate five more, almost all Christians celebrate baptism and communion. This book will provide a brief history into the practice of those two sacraments, and show how those practices diverged over time between denominations. Part One discusses the celebration of the Lord's Supper (also known as the Eucharist, communion, etc.) Part Two will discuss baptism, and provides a chapter on the question of "Infant verses Believers' Baptism." Both sections discuss references in the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Early Church Fathers, the Reformation, and the practice of the sacraments today. An appendix discusses the question of whether the baptism practiced by John the Baptist might have had Essene roots. A Brief History of the Sacraments: Baptism and Communion

This premier work considers the development of the doctrine of baptism in the Reformed tradition. John Riggs studies the major early Reformers, concentrating on Calvin's views, and then traces the development of the doctrine through the Reformed Confessions, Reformed Orthodoxy, and into Schleiermacher's thought. Twentieth-century debates are discussed as they illuminate earlier tensions and differing views from the past.

Baptism has been a contested practice from the very beginning of the church. In this volume, Ben Witherington rethinks the theology of baptism and does so in constant conversation with the classic theological positions and central New Testament texts. By placing baptism in the context of the covenant, Witherington shows how advocates of both believer's baptism and infant baptism have added some water to both their theology and practice of baptism.

Of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, matrimony is the most discussed, debated, disputed, and adjudicated in all of canon law. In this book, Brendan Killeen employs the fundamental question "What brings a marriage into existence?" as the legal and scholarly means to explore the very nature of marriage within the framework of the canon law of the Catholic Church. Killeen conducts his exploration in two phases. First he scrutinizes the canon law's primary sources--texts dating as far back as the Roman Empire--and gives readers a fresh perspective of the law's historical progression. He then examines the papers from the Second Vatican Council and offers both an objective evaluation of the law at present and some possible amendments for its future. Noteworthy for its diligent research and in-depth analysis, "What Brings a Marriage into Existence?" will be useful to both newcomers to the canon law of marriage as well as seasoned scholars.

"Angels Welcome: The Risen Lord" is the third in a series of meditations for the entire Christian year. This book focuses on the great fifty days that celebrate the empty tomb and its significance.

About the Author

Other books by Marianne Dorman include: "Angels Rejoice: The Christ Has Come Mark Frank: (1612-1664) His Contribution to the Caroline Church Living Lent Lancelot Andrewes: Teacher and Preacher"

This book is the House of Faith Theological Seminarian guide to the sacraments and duties performed my minister's of the gospel. The House of Faith Church is a Bible believing, Christ centered community of believers, and as such, this book was designed around the Holy Word of God and it's instruction.

What are the sacraments, really?

For centuries, the religious lives of Catholics and other Christians have revolved around church rituals with generally accepted individual and social effects. What, precisely, are those effects, and how are they produced? Traditional theology used Greek philosophy to understand the sacraments and how they work. But is there no other way to understand them? In fact, there are a number of ways, and this book invites you to look at the sacraments through a variety of lenses: psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, theology, morality, and spirituality.

As the introduction to this volume challenges, If you read this book, and especially if you engage in the interactive study to which it invites you, your understanding of sacraments will be changed forever."

To help personalize your investigation, the author has created a web site with thought-provoking questions that encourage you to interact with the ideas being proposed in this volume. To engage these topics more deeply, see www.TheSacraments.org.

"Joseph Martos is author of "Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church," which for more than a quarter of a century has been the most widely read book on the subject. Recently retired from full-time teaching, he has been a visiting professor in universities and theology schools in Canada and Australia as well as around the United States.""

"I have seen water move rocks. I have seen thistles break through boulders." "If water and flowers can move stones, surely love can." Becca Stevens, from "Funeral for a Stranger" In this meditation on living and dying, Becca Stevens shares moving and hilarious stories about her life, love, friends, and our many families. This delicately formed narrative is also a window into the soul of a priest. I loved it and will hold it in my heart with gratitude for years to come. -Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why Loneliness finds connections, depair meets celebration, and fear discovers faith. Join Becca on her journey to a funeral for a stranger. God will be there. -Don Schlitz, Hall of Fame songwriter of The Gambler With elegant simplicity Becca Stevens escorts the reader to the banks of the deepest spiritual wellspring. Surely she ranks among our most gifted teachers on the things that matter most of all. -Stephen Bauman, author of Simple Truths: On Values, Civility, and Our Common Good

This work examines the history, theology, and praxis of the use of sacramental bread in traditional Christianity. From the Last Supper to the Great Schism, and from Christology to ecclesiology and Christian anthropology-the symbolism of bread has dominated Christian history and belief. What kind of bread did Christ offer to His disciples at the Last Supper? Why do Roman Catholics and the Orthodox disagree on how to bake bread? What is the significance of the symbolism of bread for Christian theology and praxis? This book addresses these and many other questions. Scholars and bakers, clergy and lay folk alike-all are invited to take a closer look at that which speaks of our unity-one loaf to represent one Body.

Since its publication, Christian Weddings has become the necessary tool for engaged couples and pastors to plan unique and meaningful wedding services. It allows users to select the different elements from their wedding liturgy from a menu of choices in ceremonies from over twenty denominational traditions around the world. Christian Weddings serves many purposes. Pastors can offer new options in planning Christian weddings; couples of mixed religious denominations or traditions can celebrate a wedding day that meets their Christian needs; and couples who want a special service can successfully create a beautiful, personalized ceremony. This new edition includes additional ceremonies from an expanded range of sources, giving couples even greater freedom to plan a ceremony that fits their needs. The enclosed CDROM makes choosing the separate elements and arranging them into a single service simple and enjoyable.

A collection of seventy-five meditations, Lest We Forget-Meditations at the Meal of Remembrance utilizes anecdotes, family life, historical references, familiar hymns, and more to relate the ancient practice of the Lord's Supper in ways that are both applicable and uplifting for the modern community of faith. In the tradition of the free churches that regularly observe the Lord's Supper, communion is often presided over by the laity, or members of the congregation, rather than strictly being the function of the ministerial staff. These brief meditations are intended to provide those who direct the thoughts of a congregation during the Lord's Supper with words that focus on the body and blood of Jesus Christ and the centrality of the meal of remembrance in Christian worship. In addition, a brief introduction gives practical tools and helpful insights into the preparation of the communion time, building confidence in those who are called upon to speak the words of Truth.

What better way to commemorate the Year, of the Eucharist than to pray and meditate on each of the thirty-one scriptural reflections in this book! The well-known author Msgr. David Rosage offers a Scripture passage and short commentary for each meditation to guide the reader into prayer, along with suggestions for additional Scripture passages to pray. As readers progress through the book, they will be preparing their hearts to more fully appreciate the wondrous gift of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The subject of infant baptism is undoubtedly a delicate and difficult one ... But this must not make members of the Church of England shrink from holding decided opinions on the subject. That church has declared plainly in its Articles that 'the baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.' To this opinion we need not be afraid to adhere." J. C. Ryle This book aims to help Anglican Evangelicals recover that same gracious yet unashamed confidence shown by Bishop Ryle in the nineteenth century. The authors defend biblically the doctrine of infant baptism and its proper evangelical practice within the Church of England. They expound a covenantal understanding which has impeccable evangelical credentials in order to reassure a new generation of Anglican Evangelical 'paedobaptists' that theirs is no new or peculiar doctrine, and to persuade those who may not have fully appreciated the Reformed heritage we in the Church of England enjoy. Dr. John R. W. Stott CBE is Rector Emeritus of All Souls, Langham Place in London and over the last 60 years has been one of the most influential leaders of evangelicalism worldwide. Dr. J. Alec Motyer is the former Principal of Trinity College, Bristol, and was for many years incumbent of St. Luke's, West Hampstead and later minister of Christ Church, Westbourne Lee Gatiss is Associate Minister of St. Helen's Bishopsgate and Editor of The Theologian (www.theologian.org.uk).

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Designed for use with any group of adults interested in learning more about how United Methodists understand and practice the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. United Methodists and the Sacraments is designed for use with any group of adults interested in learning more about how United Methodists understand and practice the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Writer, Gayle Felton, guides us through the rituals and practices of both these sacraments in order to help us understand their life-enriching value. She reminds us that our lives in Christ are grounded in baptism and sustained by holy communion. In baptism God claims us and makes us members of Christ s body, the church. In Holy Communion God offers grace and strength for our spiritual journey. We are truly called to live the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, as well as to receive them.

Each chapter offers a comprehensive look at what United Methodists believe and how United Methodists practice the sacraments. Chapters and contents: Chapter one The Sacraments, gives an overview of the meaning of the sacraments in Christian faith and in the United Methodist Church. Chapters two through five, Holy Baptism, Questions About Baptism, Holy Communion, and Questions About Holy Communion, review United Methodist beliefs about these sacraments and questions people have about them. Chapter six Living as Baptized and Communing Christians helps the reader to explore what it means to live out the sacraments in daily Christian life.

Questions for discussion and reflectionwith helpsfor how to use the book in small group settingsare provided.

GAYLE CARLTON FELTON is an elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has served on the faculties of Meredith College and Duke Divinity School. She was the principal writer for the committees that developed By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism and This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion. These documents were approved by the 1996 and 2004 General Conferences as the denomination s official interpretive positions on the sacraments.

Gayle is the author of This Gift of Water: The Practice and Theology of Baptism Among Methodists in America (1992), By Water and the Spirit: Making Connections for Identity and Ministry (1997,1998), The Coming of Jesus (2000), This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, and a variety of articles on Methodism, sacraments, and the teaching ministry of the church. She is the editor of How United Methodists Study Scripture (1999) and a regular contributor to The New International Lesson Annual.

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