Holy Communion

Holy Communion Sunday

Book Club!

The History of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez

Overview of the First Three Centuries
"Martyrs, Doctrine, and Expressions of Love"
"Whoever is separated from the Church and is joined to an adulteress [a schismatic church] is separated from the promises of the Church....He cannot have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother"

Food Theme: Mediterranean Bring something Greek, Italian... or whatever! Topics Covered: Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, North Africa Epistle of Diometus Power Point on Christian expressions of love in the first 3 centuries (Agape being one expression)

~ Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, North Africa, AD 251. Cyprian was willing to accept the "relapsed" (those who had left the faith due to persecution) but not those who had been baptized by one of the splinter groups (such as the Novitians) unless they were re-baptized. Yet when the plague struck Carthage in AD 252,Cyprian instructed Christians to care for the sick and dying pagans as well as their own people, which they did, and the ministry was well noted, even by emperor Julian a century later. In 258 Cyprian was seized by the new Carthaginian governor and condemned to death. At the place of execution, he knelt in prayer and tied the bandage over his eyes with his own hand. To the executioner he gave a piece of gold. Thus he was beheaded on September 14, 258, retaining his bold confession to the end. (Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, John McManners, ©1990)

Go to Book Club page for more information, and:

1. Bring a dish, and/or
2. Bring an empty stomach, and/or
3. Bring your smiling face and a heart willing to be befriended by all of us