Read:

How can it be?  We’re at the end of our book!  For today we’re completing the second half of Part Four, pages 229-258.  Shauna comes charging out of the gate with a proclamation over us girls in Swimsuit, Ready or Not, but it’s the last two chapters that bring a strong word about Communion, the sacredness of the table, and the Divine in the everyday, common things.

Some excerpts that will compel you to buy the book  if you haven’t been convinced before:

Swimsuit, Ready or Not ~ “That’s what shame does, though.  It whispers to us that everyone is as obsessed with our failings as we are.” (p. 230)

“I’m not going to let a lifetime of shame about my body get in the way of living in a rich, wild, grateful, wide-open way.” (p. 231)

Pont Neuf ~ “That’s how it felt, like we were a part of something lovely and otherworldly, not like we went to a place but like we were a part of a thing–a rich and gorgeous thing, a happening, a moment in time that we’d keep with us all our lives….” (p. 246)

Take This Bread ~ “Food matters because it’s one of the things that forces us to live in this world–tactile, physical, messy, and beautiful world–no matter how hard we try to escape into our minds and our ideals.” (p. 250)

“To those of us who believe that all of life is sacred, every crumb of bread and sip of wine is a Eucharist, a remembrance, a call to awareness of holiness right where we are.” (p. 252)

Come to the Table ~ “[The table] is about showing up in person, a while and present person, instead of a fragmented, frantic, phone in one hand and to-do list in the other.  Pub them down, both of them, twin symbols of the modern age, and pic up a knife and a fork.  The table is where time stops.” (p. 257)

So, so, good, yes?

 

Watch:

 {Subscribers, please click here to view video.}

 

Discuss

Raise your hand if you cheered on as Shauna “ranted”?  How has reading Bread & Wine helped you to become more attentive to the Presence of God in our extraordinary world?   During her conversation with Jessica and Angie, Shauna suggests “…it happens here and now with the things that we taste and we touch and we smell and the way that we nourish each other along the way.”  How have you nourished those around you since beginning our study?  Has it helped you become more intentional?  If so, how?

Has reading Bread & Wine changed how you view of Communion?  Please explain.

Last, as always, the girls are able to only discuss a fraction of the content covered; what chapters or passages struck a chord in your heart?  We’d love to hear in comments!

Share

Okay, faithful Bloom friends–tomorrow (Tuesday not Wednesday) we’ll wrap up the videos with our final cooking installment!  For fun, we’ll make the jump to (in)courage’s Main Page so everyone can see what we’ve been up to!  You will not want to miss that!  Guesses as to what we’ll be featuring?

Remember, everyone is invited to link up on Friday, August 2nd!!  Please, please, PLEASE plan to participate! Write a new post, link one that’s gathering dust, share a new recipe you’ve tried (or if you’re not a blogger, simply comment your thoughts)–just be sure to connect with others and contribute your thoughts and experiences on Food and Community.

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One last time, in case you need reminding:

• You have a few more days to receive 25% off store-wide at DaySpring.com!!  Just use code Summer25 at checkout!  (Perfect timing to pick up gift copies of Bread & Wine at DaySpring’s great price just $9.99!)
• Be sure to add our NEW Bloom button on your site.  Check out the right sidebar for the image and code.
• Sign up for exclusive emails for Bloom (in)courage so you’ll receive notice for Recommended Reads and when our new study is announced.
• Join Bloom (in)courage on Facebook!  Be sure to invite your friends, too!
• Tweet your thoughts, Instagram your pictures, Facebook share Bloom!  Just be sure to use the #inbooks hashtag so we can find your updates.
• Author Shauna Niequist’s site
• Jessica’s site, The Mom Creative
• Angie’s site, Bring the Rain

Please invite your online community to join us for Friday’s Community-wide Link-up; this is definitely the case of the more, the merrier.

On Monday, we have something fun for you…so don’t think our summer session is over this week.  Also, we’ll continue to share a few of our favorite Guest Post submissions as Facebook Notes–we were serious when we said we were flooded with contributions.

Lovies, it has been a joy to read through Bread & Wine with you; we’re grateful for your faithful participation.  I know I speak for the entire Bloom team when I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

~ Robin

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