A School of Love in the new monastic tradition
Companions on the Way is a group of people doing church differently.
“The church, then… must be above all a school of love. If it’s not that, it’s nothing. Its goal is not simply to pump knowledge into people, but to train them in the ‘way of love,’ so they may do the ‘work of the Lord,’ empowered by the Holy Spirit, as the embodiment of Christ.”~ Brian McLaren, “A New Kind of Christianity"
Who We Are
The above concept of church as a “school of love”, by Brian McLaren, puts words to the purpose of our community. Often, Christians talk about our primary call to be people who “love like Jesus” as though this was easy to do. While we believe in this call to love, at Companions on the Way we also believe that engaging in this kind of holy relationship (like all kinds of relationships) takes practice, intentionality, constant learning, and work.
As a School of Love, Companions on the Way is a community of individuals that is dedicated to improving our practice of loving like Jesus, and committed to helping each other’s practice, too. We read the scriptures with a particular eye on seeing how Jesus models loving relationship for us, and we study the works of other faith traditions and wisdom teachers to deepen our understanding. Beyond study, we practice relational skills together, support each other through “real-life” challenges in trying to relate to people in our lives, help one another stay accountable to our Rule of Life, and keep intentional connection to one another, God, the world, and all of creation through regular prayer.
If you’re looking for a community in which to transform or maintain your faith as a way of life, rather than a set of beliefs, we hope you’ll join us to see if our community is a fit for you! All are welcome to come and see!
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~ John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Who Is This Group For?
- Those who would normally never step foot in a church, and those who happily do every Sunday – and all those in between!
- The spiritual, the religious, and the undecided
- The deeply churched, the un-churched, the poorly churched, and the church-wounded
- Believers, Doubters, Questioners, Seekers, Explorers, and Pilgrims
- Those who desire a more intentional spiritual walk in their lives
- Those who want to worship with others, not just next to them
All are welcome!
What can you expect?
Each week we'll gather together for a potluck at 5:30 pm (always optional).
Click here for more details about our gatherings.
Pot Luck Dinner
- Bring a dish to pass
- Beverages (no alcohol, please)
- Adult and kid friendly
Songs & Worship
- Christ Beside Me ♫
- All Are Welcome ♫
- Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) ♫
- Selected Readings
Sharing
- Personal Connections
- Living in Relationship
- Sharing Exercise