Read:

“What Money Can’t Buy”, “Last-minute Lunch Party”, “City Love”, “Better Late Than Never”–don’t the titles for this section intrigue you just on their own?  As we begin Part Four, read pages 205-228 to track with where we are.  A few morsels to whet your appetite:

What Money Can’t Buy ~ “The church is at its best, in my view, when it is more than a set of ideas and ideals, when it is a working, living, breathing, on the ground, in-the-mess force for good in our cities and towns.” (p. 208)

“It’s so easy to think that because you can’t do something extraordinary, you can’t do anything at all.” (p. 209-210)

“I want to be a part of making sure the kids in our town, and in every town, have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I want to be clearer about exactly what money can and can’t buy.” (p. 210)

Last-minute Lunch Party ~ “The meal itself wasn’t spectacular by any means, but it didn’t need to be….  It did what food is supposed to do:  it fed us, in all sorts of big and small ways.” (p. 216)

City Love ~ “We learn the hard way over and over that the sweetness of our marriage is directly related to how much time we spend together.” (p. 219)

“You never know while it’s happening what will burn in your memory, sacred and profound.” (p. 222)

Better Late Than Never ~ “I consider both leopard and sequins to be neutrals…” (p. 225) <– if that doesn’t make you want to pick up the book and read more, I don’t know what will!!

 

Watch:

{Subscribers, please click here to view video.}

Discuss:

I wish every woman intimidated by her kitchen could read the first part of Part Four and watch this video, then let the words and voices be an encouragement to TRY!  Shauna sounds convincing, doesn’t she?  What are your thoughts about her last-minute lunch party?  She tells us that “food is not the most important part” of entertaining, so what do you think is?

Though the word “mentor” wasn’t mentioned in the video, Shauna shared the example of taking a friend by the hand and teaching them how to do something.  Can you think of examples in your own life when you’ve taken someone by the hand and encouraged them to try something you’re good at?  Or has someone done the same for you?

Share:

What are some of your takeaways from the other chapters not mentioned in the video?  As we’re close to winding down this study, please tell us how your persepctive is changing, how you’re thinking and acting differently.  If you’re trying some of the Bread & Wine recipes, and if you take photos and share them online, please tag them #inbooks so we can find them!!

Remember, there are some changes and additions on our Details and Schedule Page; we’ll have our last guest post on Friday and the last Chapter study on Monday.  Then on Tuesday, Bloom will be featured on the Main Page of incourage as we share our last cooking video.  Everyone will be invited to write a post about Food and Community and link up on Friday, August 2nd!  We’re especially hopeful you, our faithful book club readers, will share how this study has impacted your life, how you see the Gospel being lived out as you serve and love those around your table.  

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Helpful links and reminders:

• Copies of Bread & Wine are still available at DaySpring’s great price for just $9.99!  Several readers have mentioned picking up copies for gifts, and that’s a great idea while you can get them at half price.
• Be sure to add our NEW Bloom button on your site!!  Check out the right sidebar for the image and code.
• Sign up for exclusive emails for Bloom (in)courage!  The easiest way to receive free book club updates as soon as they’re available (a separate subscription from regular (in)courage updates).
• Join Bloom (in)courage on Facebook!  Be sure to invite your friends, too!
• Tweet your thoughts about our study!  Just be sure to use the #inbooks hashtag so we can find you!
• Author Shauna Niequist’s site
• Jessica’s site, The Mom Creative
• Angie’s site, Bring the Rain

 

One more time with the Sofa Girls; one more visit to the kitchen; one big ol’ link-up to celebrate the end of the study.  It seems like we just began and now it’s almost over.  S i g h…I’m full and hungry :).

~ Robin for the Bloom Team

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