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
Leave a Comment
Helen Washington says
Sorry to see this book club end!
Fun to read the posts and watch the videos after reading the book awhile ago.
My guess is bacon wrapped dates!
Robin Dance says
Helen,
I’m GLAD you followed along despite previously reading the book :). It’s always nice to know.
I won’t let on as to whether or not we’ll be making Bacon-wrapped Dates, but I CAN tell you I’ve made them three times! And the crazy thing is I’ve seen them on THREE restaurant menus since reading Bread & Wine…after never noticing them before.
Lyli @ 3-D Lessons for Life says
Final thoughts:
As a result of your video ministry, my husband bought a new pair of shorts and has promised me that we are going to the beach… May the Lord bless you for your kindness. 🙂
I think we should all take a book club field trip to Paris with Shauna as tour guide… 🙂
Favorite sentence from “Take this Bread” — “When you offer peace instead of division, when you offer faith instead of fear, when you offer someone a place at your table instead of keeping them out because the’re different or messy or somehow wrong, you represent the heart of Christ.” (p. 250).
I made the blueberry crisp on Saturday night, and my husband wants me to make it every weekend….
Thank you, Shauna. (I asked him to get me Bittersweet for my birthday).
Lori Harris says
A million little words of thanks from me to all of you. I have loved this book selection, the videos, all the many posts shared, and of course the recipes. This book has absolutely changed my view of communion, in the sense that I believe that Christ should be remembered each time we break bread, no matter the time or place.
You ladies have made me want to get off my hiney and invite my people to my table- more often and with much less fuss.
Thank you for beginning the conversation towards more authentic community and for inviting us to always set the table for one more.
Much love~
Jen says
This book has changed my life in several ways. I have since read her previous books and connected with Shauna in several ways. It has brought me more in touch with my cooking “skills” and helped me make our meal times more of a celebration. I have gone as far as becoming the coordinator of our Sunday coffee hour after service to continue the celebration of communion with others. Finally, Shauna has inspired me to begin blogging myself.
Thanks for the inspiration
Apryl says
I am also sad this has come to an end. I love, love, love this book! It was inspirational on too many levels. Shauna’s proposition that we view communion every time we break bread was an “a ha” moment for me because I more often than not, don’t sense God in church, but in nature – in moments. So this was astounding to me – the idea that communion is not in any sense limited to the church. Going with that – her words in the video about God wanting us to enjoy the world and all it has to offer is completely in line with my heart. I think we miss the boat so often because we are caught up in this world being temporary. Temporary or not, it’s ours – to explore, enjoy, experience and dive into!
debbie S says
reading Bread and wine really confirmed for me already what I have been feeling and experiencing in the Eucharest. that it isn’t just those times that we have it at church but that we are having communion around the table in so many other ways. Love how she put words those things that are in my heart. I believe we in the church have missed that communion should be the central part of worship. There is so much mystery that surrounds this one act, we have not even plumbed the depths of how very significant it is for us. I have a community group of ladies that meets during the week usually we are going through a book, we bring food, wine and really experience that small group community. I am trying to get them to do bread and wine and for us to all cook together.
Dee Wilcox says
I absolutely loved this video and this part of the book. It gives meaning to why we gather, and the importance of gathering together. I love the bit about how we build and invest into our relationships in the fun times around the table, so that we can be nourished in the more difficult times when we are in need. That is what I want to create in my home — times of nourishment and refreshing, to sustain us in times of difficulty.
Amy Ward says
Hi all,
I wanted to share that this book and the videos have reminded me of why I love to break bread and serve wine at our family table with our adult children. Although they are our children, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, even more. We have journeyed into this season of parenting blessed by this transition that blesses us when we gather to dine and discuss, to share and be shy, and to laugh and cry…together.
My heart overflows today thanking God for His goodness towards me and my husband and our children by blood who are also our siblings in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria! / <—– me, praising God. : )