5 Marks of Love
Living Life Marked as Christ’s Own
In our Baptism, we were “sealed by the Holy Spirit” and “marked as Christ’s own forever” by God’s grace, we share in the Divine Life, given to us in Baptism. How does this Life express itself in and through us? If we are “marked as Christ’s own,” what are the “marks of love” that characterize the Divine Life abiding and at work within us?
Monastic Wisdom
for everyday
This six-week journey of reflection on the Anglican Marks of Mission is now available as an anytime series for individuals and groups. Observe and reflect on the ways in which the Divine Life expresses itself in and through us; individually, and in our faith communities, as well as in the world around us. Each week will explore the Anglican Marks of Mission (Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure) through videos, questions, and exercises designed to help us speak more clearly and act truthfully, motivated always by hearts marked by God’s love.
Subscribe to receive the series' video meditations from the SSJE Brothers directly in your inbox, or scroll down and view the videos below. This video offering is accompanied by a helpful workbook, and facilitation guidance for small groups from the Center for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary.
To receive this offering in your inbox, as a daily email for six weeks, add the date you would like to begin. (We recommend that you start on a Sunday to maintain the weekly sequence). If you are going to follow this series as a group, we suggest that everyone coordinate the same start date to receive the videos in sync.
The Marks of Love are not simply a list of tasks to be checked off one after the other; they are signs that our life is rooted and grounded in the Being of God. The Brothers of SSJE will draw on their own monastic spirituality to help us balance action with contemplation, so that our words and deeds proceed from the deepest places of our hearts, where God dwells. The resource encourages us to reflect on how we should live, not what we should do.
This series is designed for use by individuals or small groups. In small groups, facilitators will guide the growing process as participants discuss and learn together. For individuals, daily videos and reflections will lead them through a similar process. Ultimately participants will learn to offer themselves, body and soul, to God’s Mission, and to live for God’s glory. Facilitator’s Guides and other additional supporting materials are available online here >
Click to view and download as a Word Document Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom – Br. Nicholas Bartoli How Can I Keep From Singing? – Br. Jim Woodrum The Marks of Mission: Teaching, Baptizing, and Nurturing Believers – Br. Curtis Almquist Baptizing, Teaching and Nurturing: The Second Mark of Mission – Br. David Vryhof Marks of Mission: True Confessions – Br. Mark Brown Marks of Love (Where Nails Have Been): Reflecting on the Third Mark of Mission – Br. Keith Nelson Behold, I Make All Things New – Br. David Vryhof Radical Radishes – Br. James Koester Common Connection – Br. Luke Ditewig
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[…] This six-week series invites us to observe and reflect on the ways in which the Divine Life expresses itself in and through us; individually and in our faith communities, as well as in the world around us. Be sure to check out the online site at: http://www.ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/ […]
[…] This six-week series invites us to observe and reflect on the ways in which the Divine Life expresses itself in and through us; individually and in our faith communities, as well as in the world around us. Be sure to check out the online site at: http://www.ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/ […]
I am excited to be able to participate.
Looking forward to sharing
This looks like a wonderful and practical study.
I am pleased to once again share, ponder, question and reflect on God’s guidance and presence in my life as part of my Lenten journey. Reverend Sue made this series available, and I find the title Five Marks of Love intriguing and inspiring.
I visited the Monastery many years ago, and look forward to receiving the e-mails from the Brothers.
[…] The 5 Marks of Love (More information. Sign up form.) […]
I had the wonderful experience of attending a service with you all and my dear friend father Edmund Harris. He shared with me your website and I am so happy to be making this a part of my Lenten worship and meditation.
[…] you using the Lenten Resource 5 Marks of Love led by the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE)? If yes, what did you take […]
[…] Society of St. John the Evangelist’s Five Marks of Love This six-week series provides the opportunity to observe and to reflect on the ways in which the Divine Life expresses itself in and through us; individually and in our faith communities, as well as in the world around us. Each week will explore the Anglican Marks of Mission (Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure) through videos, questions and exercises so we can speak more clearly and act truthfully, motivated always by hearts marked by God’s love. More information here […]
I learned about the series through my Rector, I have read three emails and viewed three videos. I am happy that so far the course has been in understandable layman’s terms.
I was afraid that I it would be like my four years of EFM that took a lot of research to stay on task.
Thank you for this Lenten study
I am really excited to have this opportunity. I thank you ahead of time
[…] the free program, whether individually or in groups. Sign-up is readily accessible at the series website – just name and email (no user name, password or address needed). When you sign up, you receive […]
Thanks for leading
I’m ready to have God in my life, every minute.
I am looking forward to participate in this six-week series. I recognise that I need to grow deeper in my spiritual life because spirituality is an ongoing process and dynamic. Thank for sharing.
Fr. George
I’m looking forward to the 5 Marks of Love Lenten study.
I believe this will help me grow and broaden my spiritual perspective as I continue my journey on this earth.
I need this in my life now.
We are going to utilize this for our prayer Group during Lent.
Iam looking forward to this as a Lenten study.
I’m quite interested. I’m looking forward to the structure to help focus myself during lent
I’m looking forward to gaining a firm,er foothold in my walk with God
Looking forward to the study over the next six weeks.
I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to participate. I feel deeply called to serve to serve God. I am hopeful that this Lenten offering will add to my discernment. Thank you.
I have enjoyed utilizing the resources provided by SSJE for serveral years now. They have assisted me in growing my relationship with God through a disciplined and purposeful approach inspired by love.
Am looking forward to the series.
This will be so wonderful to
partake in. Thanking you for
this opportunity to have
our Lord as my constant love and
guide into righteousness and share his care and love to others.
After using the Rules of Life last year we were eager to participate in this years offering. Parishioners were asking in January if we we planning to participate again this year. We are looking forward to a rewarding Lenten season.
Looking forward to studying this.
With the climate of the United States being what it is at this time, the 5 Marks of Love are so appropriate. As I put down social media during Lent, I am grateful to the Society of Saint John the Evangelist for giving me the 5 Marks of Love to take up, make my own and share.
— The Rev. Emmetri Monica Beane
Deacon
Little Fork Episcopal Church
Rixeyville, VA
Am very grateful to participate in the 5 MARKS OF LOVE. Thank you.
I’ll be suggesting this 6 week series become my church men’s group focus for weekly discussion, and spiritual exploration in Lent.
Looking forward to this. My parish is doing this and that is where I got the information..
My church, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, is using this as a Lenten study. The regular noonday prayer and Bible study will be working through the series. Members & guests may also come to an evening study group. I am looking forward to yet another way to be a part of my church family.
Thank you very much for the coming series
Thank you for this gift..
Thank you!
I am very interested in this program. It was suggested by my loving and caring daughter. She was in a very bad place at one time. Suffers from Lyme Disease but finds relief in the writings of the Bible.
This is so wonderful! My whole church is looking forward to doing the series!
I have been following off & on the “daily word”.
This seems to be to good next step. This is also a wonderful opportunity to learn more how to be ministered to and to minister to others.
Also thank you for this Lenten gift to learn more of God Love and how one can shre that love with others.
Thank you,
Jim Belmont
Enjoyed last years series very much and I’m looking forward to this year’s series
I have been struggling to hold on to the Love side of life as I’m been engaged in political battles of late. I pray this series will help me to refocus on Love.
Thank you for your thoughtful work, in the tradition of the Cowley Fathers.
Enabling us all, wherever we are in the Anglican Communion to grow in Grace and Love.
Fr John West Lothian Scotland
This is a fine Lenten study. Can’t wait to start.
I want you to know how blessed I am to hold the roots of my faith, pulled up from their covering, and then replanted in my soul’s soil. I found your path through the Advent Calendar. So glad to be on this path with you and the One who draws us nearer and deeper into Truth and Grace.
I am very much looking forward to receiving this course as I found that of last year very useful.
I also enjoy being in daily touch with SSJE in the USA as I can no longer have that link here. One day perhaps I shall cross the Pond!
Many thanks
Fr Roger
Looking forward to this as I so enjoyed it last year. Our church will support the program with weekly discussions so we get the best of both I ndividial and group benefits. I will be traveling in Lent but I won’t miss a step! Thank you she.
[…] join me in this Lenten Study. Sign up with the Brothers to receive a daily email and links to other materials. Let us speak with and listen to each other […]
Thank you so much for this! On February 19, I am going to be leading an orientation to the 5 Marks of Love for our congregation. I have the books, but can you clarify the timeline of the accompanying videos? Do they begin on February 26? Does the “Tell” section start that day, or is it better saved for the first full week of Lent?
The series will start on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, February 26. The videos and activity for the week are intended as a starting point, hopefully setting the table and getting folks in the swing of the rhythm of the series and starting some thoughts and reflections.
The “Tell” section follows that week, starting with Sunday March 5. The weeks begin on Sundays with an Introduction to the week ahead as well as an overview of the activity for the week. Each Saturday, rather than a brother, a lay person who has done the activity will be presented in a video, sharing their experiences of where the activity led them and what it provoked for them.
We deliberately design these offerings in such a way that they may be adaptable, and used at any time during the year. So, we do hope that you may use the series on whatever timeframe works best for the group. We know some groups meet once a week and view all of the videos from that week together and discuss. Others meet twice a week and discuss and do the activity together. And others may have each individual in the group follow along on their own during the week and then as a group, they come together and discuss their thoughts, or perhaps they do the week’s activity together.
There really is no set timeframe required to utilize the series, so adapting it to a schedule that works best for your group should provide everyone with the most rewarding experience.
I am looking forward to participating.
[…] The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, a monastic community of the Episcopal Church, has an online, Lenten resource called “5 Marks of Love”. You can sign up for daily emails when you click here. […]
Looking forward to this resource as a reflective activity in searching for my best self.
I did not do or read the Rule of Life from last year. Do you have them archived where I could read them? I happen to be doing that right now.
SSJE is happy to now be able to offer the series to be delivered at anytime. Please complete the brief form on this page: https://ssje.org/ssje/growrule/ to sign up and select the date you would like to start receiving the meditations. Each day, a video meditation with question for reflection will be delivered to your in-box.
So looking forward to this!
I have been joining the Brothers now in these Lenten meditations for 3 years. I find them really helpful to my journey and spiritual discipline. If you are just now finding these, I recommend going to ssje website and finding the archived materials for developing a Rule of Life. They have helped me redefine my worshipping communities and practices as the Church evolves into new forms for the 21st century.
I’m just getting excitement about the series of articles, books and ministry materials, which will enhance our relationship and ministry activities with others
[…] The Marks of Love are not simply a list of tasks to be checked off one after the other; they are signs that our life is rooted and grounded in the Being of God. The Brothers of SSJE will draw on their own monastic spirituality to help us balance action with contemplation, so that our words and deeds proceed from the deepest places of our hearts, where God dwells. The resource encourages us to reflect on how we should live, not what we should do. […]
I am anxiously awaiting these inputs . God bless u.
The last two Lenten series were rich and thoughtful as to affect me all year through. “Time” raised an everlasting awareness in me, and “Growing” my rule of life gave me more clarity on change that was possible. Actually small steps in one view, but hugely important for me (and those around me.)
Thank You, may we all Love God’s Life the sooner 70 x 7 in season & out…
Dyane Hyer
Thank you.
One of the monastic wisdom series was on Time. I wanted to revisit that teaching and have had difficulty finding access to it on the webpage. Is there a simple way to access it?
Thank you for your continuing ministry, Jonathan
We will be working towards making previous Lenten offerings available for delivery, but for now, we can only do so for the 2016 “Growing A Rule of Life” series. However, all of the videos from the “Time” series can be accessed via this link to the SSJE youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlNCTk6MJbI0hdUHohUNYwtTf2ptRADuU
Please email friends@ssje.org if you would like either the workbook for the “Time” series, or the Monastic Wisdom booklet, which accompanied the series.
And for the “Love Life” series, “Praying Our Lives” and “Framework for Freedom” series’ you may use this link to access the videos for those series (keep hitting “Show More” to view the entire list): https://www.youtube.com/user/SSJEOnline/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=1
Looking at this as a Lenten study offering at our church
Last years growing a. Rule of life was really great. I’m looking forward to this years offering.
Thank you for enriching Advent for me and for those I touch.
Although I am living in Colorado I am very interested in this series. As I get older I realize I need to work harder on recognizing God’s presence my life.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to refocus – to really try loving as the center of living. Probably hard to stick to, but really worth trying.
Thank you for your many offerings of love.
I am definitely interested this sounds like it will be a great series I am working through Growing a rule of life late I might add but I have found it rewarding and helpful.