So often we think of the Christian faith as an obligation or as a set of beliefs that we must hold. With this outlook, we can lose sight of what is most important: the invitation to experience a loving, personal relationship with God. It’s a relationship we can trust, where we can find refuge and solid ground upon which to stand.
The Way of Love set forth by the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry is the journey of a lifetime. It’s a way of knowing God, receiving and sharing Jesus’ love, and being a blessing to the world. Mariann Edgar Budde shares her thoughts on how the reader can come to know--to receive--Jesus more deeply in practicing the Way of Love. Through the seven practices that have been put before us: to turn, to learn, to pray and to worship, to bless, to go, and to rest, she will share biblical stories, wisdom from the Christian tradition, and her own personal stories of spiritual growth.
MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE is the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and serves as president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation. Prior to this, she served as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. She earned her masters in divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary. The author of Gathering the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice, her sermons have been published in books and journals.
"If you are a long-time church-goer, eager for your faith to really come alive, a spiritual seeker who has never really felt connected to a faith community, or if you once were part of a church but have dropped out, here is a book that will help you find what matters most in the spiritual life. It's beautiful, personal, simple, practical, and understandable, and on top of that, it's honest, deep, and true. I've been looking for a book like this for years. I will recommend it every chance I get." —Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
"Life is a spiritual adventure. Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love is a beautiful and harmoniously colorful piece of tapestry. Bishop Mariann brings different threads together to help the reader journey in search of, connecting with, or rekindling their own spiritual self. Each spiritual practice is a door that invites the reader to step into to a different space of self-discovery in the love of Jesus. What a wonderful adventure! Join her, yes… you are invited!" —The Rev. Canon Jesús Reyes, Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
"Receiving Jesus is a beautifully written, simple yet deeply profound guide to the spiritual life. I was inspired, moved, challenged, and refreshed by its words. I highly recommend this book." —Adam Hamilton, author of The Walk: Five Essential Practices for the Christian Spiritual Life
