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 of the Brethren. The event is one of the sources of the foundation and distinctive sign of the Brothers' faith. This report will study the context and history of the Love Festival 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 by the life and example of Jesus Christ. The study resulted from a fellowship service that took place in the home of a member of the Northview Church of the Brethren congregation in Indianapolis, Indiana. The service was held on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 6:00 pm and was conducted at the residence of a senior member of the congregation, Marge Gaier. Those present, in addition to Mrs. Gaier, were the pastor of the Northview Church of the Brethren, Rob Miller, Richard Propes and myself (Michael Smith). The service was a shortened version of Love Feast, so it will also be discussed in the larger context of the sacrament of Love Feast. However, the observed service did not include the foot washing component that is normally part of the Feast of Love. The service began with a moment of invocation through prayer, responsive reading and singing that evoked the presence of God. An oil-fueled candle and a tray containing communion bread and juice were then placed in the center of the table. of grapes. The invocation brought attention to the reality that those of us present were not simply gathered as individuals. We were part of a community, the larger body of Christians from which we came. Observations were made that highlighted the significance of the event and the paradox in sharing… the medium of paper… a testimony and result of the effects Love Feast has on the church. The impact Love Feast 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, n. 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 Brethren." Brothers Life and Thought 37, n. 1:47-53. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 17, 2010). McKinnell, James C. 1962. “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 2019). 17, 2010).