'What Christ Jesus taught is not what is most important, but rather what he has given humanity. His resurrection is the birth of a new faculty within human nature.' -- Rudolf Steiner In this book experienced Christian Community priest and teacher, Michael Debus, helps readers to understand the heart of religious consciousness and practical life -- the sacraments. He does so by exploring the following questions and more: -- Is baptism merely a symbolic act, or is it a reality that affects one's life? -- How should we understand the transformation of bread and wine? -- How can rituals express spiritual realities? Debus makes these complex concepts accessible to anyone who wants to understand the background and sacraments of The Christian Community. He also weaves together a discussion of historical theological developments with the evolution of consciousness. This is an insightful book for readers looking to understand the spiritual foundations of The Christian Community and its place in theological history, and its role in Christianity today.

In a sacramental ecology, divine grace is to be found in the evolutionary emergence of life. The 'Epic of Evolution' is the scientific story that reveals that we live in an approximately 14 billion year old universe on a planet that is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that we are a part of the ongoing process of life that has existed on Earth for roughly 4 billion years. Nature's Sacrament focuses on the religious and ecological significance of the evolutionary epic in an effort to seamlessly connect the ecological value attributed as a part of an understanding of the evolutionary connectedness of life on Earth, with the Divine grace understood to be present in Christian sacramental worship. David C. McDuffie is a faculty member in the Religious Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where his primary teaching schedule includes courses in World Religions, Religion in America, Christian History, Religion and Environment, and Religion and Politics. Broadly, his research and teaching interests involve the subject area of Religion and Culture, which includes but is not limited to the relationships between religion and politics, science, and health care. This is his first book.

The most solemn, majestic, and beautiful gifts that Jesus Christ gave to the world are His sacraments. He endowed them with unprecedented and unparalleled power--power to change lives, save souls, and share God's very life. The sacraments are the ordinary means by which God directs the course of each human life and all of world history.
The Church celebrates seven sacraments: baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, matrimony, holy orders, confession, and anointing of the sick. Each was established by Jesus for the sake of salvation. When Jesus spoke of the sacraments, He made clear that they were essential: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3:5) . . . unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you (Jn 6: 53).
In "Swear to God," Dr. Scott Hahn explores the richness of Christ's sacraments--their doctrine, history, symbols, and rituals. Drawing upon the Bible and the Church's tradition, he shows how God's covenants--with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David--became the driving forces in history. When Jesus came to fulfill all these covenants, He established a new covenant, with greater power than ever before. Christians are God's children now. Joined to Christ by baptism, we can already share in the eternal life of the Trinity, a life we hope to know fully in heaven. But heaven is with us, even now, in the sacraments.

As Christians, we are called to seek the unity of the one body of Christ. But when it comes to the sacraments, the church has often been-and remains-divided. What are we to do? Can we still gather together at the same table? Based on the lectures from the 2017 Wheaton Theology Conference, this volume brings together the reflections of Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox theologians, who jointly consider what it means to proclaim the unity of the body of Christ in light of the sacraments. Without avoiding or downplaying the genuine theological and sacramental differences that exist between Christian traditions, what emerges is a thoughtful consideration of what it means to live with the difficult, elusive command to be one as the Father and the Son are one.

For a new Christian, or even someone who has followed the Lord for years, the Lord's Supper can feel somewhat mysterious. In this short booklet, pastor Aubrey Sequeira unpacks what the Bible says about the Lord's Supper, exploring 5 ways the Lord's Supper is important for the local church.

The second edition of a classic designed for baptismal preparation and relevant to all Christians. A program for adult Episcopalians that can easily be adapted to other denominations, one-on-one spiritual mentoring, children, young adult, or intergenerational groups, and even to individuals for private meditation. The eight group sessions in this book focus repeatedly on water, first as a natural element necessary to life, then as a symbolic element necessary to spirituality. Gradually, through prayer, song, scripture, silence, poetry, visual arts, storytelling, group discussion, and personal reflection, water-as a baptismal element-gains ascendancy. No longer merely occasional refreshment, Living Water inundates, becoming life's very medium.

First published in 1901, this book traces the development of the Sacrament of Confession from the earliest days of Christianity to 1215, when public penance and confession was replaced by the more intimate Auricular format. The text is rigorously annotated with citations from the original sources and in the original languages. Although written primarily for Anglican clergymen, this book will be of value to anyone interested in the implementation and evolution of Sacraments and in Church history more generally.

Each chapter gives material for the members of the group to read in advance. There is a framework or plan for a group meeting, with detailed ideas for activities and discussion. There is also general advice about group processes, including recruiting and running such groups. There is a framework for prayer, and biblical themes to be considered in context. The sessions are equally for seekers and confirmation candidates, and for teenagers as well as adults.

Having set aside the Catholic liturgical books, the Protestant Church of England then found itself on occasion obliged to recreate certain rites as necessity arose. The volume aims at presenting a considerable number of these from manuscript and printed sources, and is furnished with ample appendices. The complexity of material involved suggests the usefulness of listing the acts and the sources drawn upon. Twenty-nine main texts are printed, together with a large number of other relevant documents.

A collection of essays issued under the direction of the Standing Liturgical Commission (SLC) on baptism and ministry. Topics addressed are welcoming new ministers, reaffirmation of ordination vows, confirmation/reception, and baptismal ministry. (116 pp)

Water for Life is an illustrated activity book for 8-11 year olds (although adults will also find it informative) and families. It can be used in an educational or devotional setting at home, church, or school. Water connects all physical and spiritual life. Besides being essential for life, water is the visible sign of Baptism, which calls us to serve others in the world. Having clean water for all God s children is an act of justice, love, respect and a core value of what it means to be a Christian. These illustrated workbook activities tap into multiple learning levels and offer a variety of ways for children to interact with this core value of our faith, making a direct connection for young people between their faith and daily life. Activities also connect clean water and the Millennium Development Goals."

Help children understand the sacrament of Baptism with this scrapbook record of the day they were welcomed into the Church. An introduction for elementary school children, along with pages for photographs, prayers, and memories, make this an excellent gift for your child and a helpful teaching tool.