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Rev. Becky Zartman, one of the creators of a 30-day challenge to invite Episcopalians to grow as evangelists, notes that it takes 30 days to change a habit. With the challenge originally launched Aug. 4, 2018, on the Episcopal Evangelists’ Facebook, the new habit formed by the challenge participants is the practice of evangelism.
St. Luke's will be using The Way of Love national Episcopal curriculum prepared by Zartman as a series of daily prompts during Lent to encourage reflection and action. The dates for the Lenten small- group practices will be announced in upcoming Sunday bulletins and in our March newsletter.
Harnessing the energy of the Episcopal Church around evangelism and seizing on the spirit of experimentation encouraged by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Way of Love and its seven rule-of life practices, the game-like series of session prompts to encourage reflection and action for Jesus-centered life.
Zartman serves as an Episcopal chaplain at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Together with Rev. Patricia Lyons, the Diocese of Washington's missioner for evangelism and community engagement, Zartman was part of a team of advisers who met with the presiding bishop to discuss evangelism and who produced the framework for the Way of Life.
Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan, noted in her Aug. 16, 2018 letter the joy in her heart that comes from Presiding Bishop Curry's profound message of Jesus' gospel truth: The Way of Love is the Way of Life " (Sept. 2018 newsletter). Bishop Scanlan suggested, "In order to effect healing and wholeness--in our planet and in our relationships--and in order to share the joy of Jesus through effective evangelism, we ourselves need to be grounded, supported, and encouraged. Bishop Curry's seven-fold Way of Love offers us a pathway for our own spiritual development and preparation to be missioners in the Jesus movement."
The seven steps that the Way of Love encourages us to take in our lives include the following: Turn (Pause, listen, and choose to follow Jesus); Learn (Reflect on Scripture each day, especially on Jesus' life and teachings); Pray (Dwell intentionally with God each day); Worship (Gather in community weekly to thank, praise, and dwell with God); Bless (Share faith and unselfishly give and serve); Go (Cross boundaries, listen deeply, and live like Jesus); and Rest (Receive the gift of God's grace, peace, and restoration).
The small group facilitation guide and curriculum can be viewed on http://www.episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove.
