The Sacrament of the Feast of Love Beliefs and Practices of the Brethren The Feast of Love has a rich and deeply spiritual history in the Church Brothers. The event is one of the sources of the foundation and mark of the Brothers' faith. This report will study the context and history of the Feast of Love within the Church of the Brethren. It will demonstrate how Love Feast encourages a spirit of unity and supports the work of love, humility and service, as demonstrated in the life and example of Jesus Christ. The study was the result of a fellowship service that took place in a member's home. from Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis, Indiana. The service took place on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. and was held at the residence of an elderly member of the congregation, Marge Gaier. Those present, in addition to Mrs. Gaier, were Northview Brethren Church Pastor Rob Miller, Richard Propes and myself (Michael Smith). The service was an abbreviated version of Love Feast and will therefore also be discussed in the broader context of the sacrament of Love Feast. However, the service observed did not include the foot washing which is normally part of the Feast of Love. The service began with a time of invocation through prayer, receptive reading and singing evoking the presence of God. An oil-powered candle and a tray containing communion bread and grape juice were then placed in the center of a table. The invocation drew attention to the fact that we who were present were not simply gathered together as individuals. We were part of a community, of the larger body of Christians from which we came. Remarks were made that highlighted the importance of the event and the paradox of sharing middle of paper... stimony and product of the effects that Love Feast has on the church. The impact that the Feast of Love continues to have on the Church is proof that God is still alive and at work in the world through the humble example of Jesus Christ. Works Cited Brubaker, Pamela K. 1985. “The History of Women in the Church.” Brothers Life and Thought 30, no. 1:9-16. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 15, 2010). Hutchison, Sharon Cobb. 1992. “Baptism and the Feast of Love: Rites of Passage in the Church of the Brothers.” Life and Thought of the Brothers 37, no. 1:47-53. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 17, 2010). McKinnell, James C. 1962. "The Lord's Supper: Its Relevance to Faith and Worship." » Brethren Life and Thought 7, no. 2:44-59. ATLA Religion database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 17, 2010).