I would like to know what the purpose of the Love Feast is and what is supposed to happen during the love feast from beginning to end. Thank you for your anticipated response. God Bless you and your family. Your Sister in Christ, Natasha

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2004

Answers

Ms. Stewart, It is ironic that you ask at this time. I have been selected by my Presiding Elder to be the Chief Celebrant at the Love Feast Preceding our District Conference. There is plenty of information available on the Internet. Go to the http://www.google.com, a search engine. Enter Love Feast and search. You will be pleased at the response.

BE Blessed

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2004

I did some more work on this question: Search for Love Feast "African Methodist" and you will get 100s of references to the Love Feast in AME Churches. I was pleasantly suprised, had no idea that so many of our churches held monthly love feasts.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2004

Information on Love Feasts can be found in The AMEC Book of Worship, which was published by the AMEC Sunday School Union under the direction of the Bishops of the Church in 1984©. Dr. A. Lee Henderson, Publisher.

The following definition of Love Feast is found in the Glossary on page 235.

LOVE FEAST – In the early church, a meal eaten together as a sign of Christian affection and cordiality, also called AGAPE. Water and bread are used.

The Order of Love Feasts in found in the same publication on page 40 and is outlined as follows:

LOVE FEASTS

(Love Feasts are devotional services, not sacraments such as Holy Communion or Baptism, that are customarily observed to spiritually prepare its church for Holy Communion. Love Feasts may be conducted by the Pastor, a class leader, or the Pastor’s appointee).

(The Feasts should be held in less than a week before the Communion Service).

(The Order of Service that follows is an adaptation from instructions found in Methodist Polity (1885) by Bishop H. M. Turner and popular usage in the African Methodist Church).

OPENING HYMN (all standing and singing).

PRAYER (Names of persons commended to the church for special prayer may be lifted up at this time).

SCRIPTURE LESSON (Scripture selections dealing with “Love” and “Community” such as I Corinthians 11, I Corinthians 13, or Psalm 51, should be used).

HYMN WITNESS

GENERAL RULES (The leader shall read the General Rules of Bands and Societies).

EXHORTATION (by the leader).

LOVE FEASTS (Bread and water are distributed to the Celebrants, Those present shall rise and pinch from the bread of follow Celebrants, shaking hands afterward, Water is sipped in unison when individual cups are used).

(The bread is collected and NOT eaten when it is broken and shared).

(In no instance shall bread be pinched and shared and then eaten).

BENEVOLENT OFFERING

CLOSING HYMN

BENEDICTION

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2004

Turner' s Polity (See page 209).

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2004

Good morning, First, I would like to thank you, REv. Paris for responsing to my question so quickly. The information that you provied will help me alot. Again, that you for your help. May God continue to bless you and your family.

Your Sister In Christ, Natasha Stewart St. Stephens AME Essex, Md

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2004

Good Afternoon Bro. Matthews, I appreciate your quick response to my questions. I truly appreciate you providing an Order of Service. It helps as to know how it should be done. I will research more about the Love Feast so that I get a full understanding of it meaning. Thank you again. To God be the Glory for all the things he has done.

Your Sister in Christ, Natasha Stewart St. Stephens AME Essex, Md

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2004