Every week at the church I pastor we come to the Table to share in communion. It is a delightfully sweet time of interaction with old and young alike partaking in the holy meal. Bread is broken and shared. Wine (or for some juice) is served and sipped. For us at Abbey Way, communion is center to our worship experience each week. The Sacred Meal is an accessibly written book on this sacred practice.
The book's author, Nora Gallagher, uses personal story to help us gaze at the wonder of the experience of the Table from many different vantage points. This is not a theological treatise of the Lord's Table nor is it meant to be. Instead we are invited to enter into the understanding of communion as a spiritual practice. Gallagher defines spiritual practice as:
A practice is something that connects us to a world much older than ourselves, something that is re-created and made new by our participation.
She challenges any cerebral understanding we have and encourages us to allow the experience of coming to the Table to be a place of meeting with God and others.
For those who are expecting more theology, this book will be a disappointment. For those who hold more traditional understandings of communion, this book will confront presuppositions in maybe some tender places. But for those who want to read a book that helps enlarge your practice of communion as you worship each week, this book is a good resource for you. It will help expand your thinking and possibly your ability to enter into the wonder and mystery of what Jesus invites us to as His people.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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