The Sacred Meal: The Ancient Practices Series

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The Sacred Meal: The Ancient Practices Series

by Nora Gallagher, Phyllis A. Tickle (Foreword)

2.91 of 5 stars 2.91 · rating details · 57 ratings · 18 reviews

The sacred meal that is part of our faith does more than connect us to the holy. It connects us to each other.
"I think Jesus wanted his disciples and everyone who came after him to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he wanted them to do could not be done alone. How the things he did could not have been do...more

Hardcover, 143 pages

Published November 3rd 2009 by Thomas Nelson Publishers (first published August 11th 2009)

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Jan 18, 2012 Kaylea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: see-blog-for-more-info

What is communion? Why is it important, let alone sacred?

Those are just two of the questions examined in Nora Gallagher's contribution to the Ancient Practice Series - The Sacred Meal.

Mixing memoir and prose, Gallagher examines the practice of communion and how it relates to the Christian faith.

I found Gallagher's writing to be authentic, warm and engaging. Her writing style pulled me into the book, while her stories helped me look at communion in a new way.

"The sacred meal that is part of our f...more

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Sep 19, 2012 John Collier rated it 1 of 5 stars

I rarely pay full cover price for a book. Some of my book cost me nothing. They are either gifts from family and friends or Christian publishers and promotional agencies send them to me. I look for books on closeout or clearance. The closest I ever pay to cover price is when I order a book from Amazon.com.

A few months ago, I picked up a copy of The Sacred Meal (2009, Thomas Nelson) by Nora Gallagher on sale somewhere. It is part of Thomas Nelson’s “The Ancient Practices Series”. Obviously, it is...more I rarely pay full cover price for a book. Some of my book cost me nothing. They are either gifts from family and friends or Christian publishers and promotional agencies send them to me. I look for books on closeout or clearance. The closest I ever pay to cover price is when I order a book from Amazon.com.

A few months ago, I picked up a copy of The Sacred Meal (2009, Thomas Nelson) by Nora Gallagher on sale somewhere. It is part of Thomas Nelson’s “The Ancient Practices Series”. Obviously, it is about the Christian practice known as Communion or the Lord’s Supper.

I truly love the practice of Communion. I think this is a practice that most Protestants do not take seriously enough. Most do not participate often enough to say they practice Communion.

I am planning a sermon on Communion in a couple of weeks, so I thought it would be helpful to give this a quick read. I was wrong.
The Sacred Meal is a quick and easy read and Gallagher is a wonderful writer. The book is less than 140 pages and incredibly readable. Any problems with the book are strictly with its contents. It is incredibly bad theology well written.

Gallagher is an Episcopalian trained for the priesthood who chose to not become a priest. For the sake of this review, I’ll reserve comments about what roles women should biblically play in ministry. In her local congregation, she has the role of a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Again, I will choose not to comment on the particulars of the composition of the elements of Communion (bread and wine or juice) in the differing denominations. Suffice it to say, referring to it as the “Eucharist” means something.

One of my biggest issues with the book is that Gallagher rarely referred to the root of the practice of Communion, namely the last Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples. How is it possible to gain insight into the practice and avoid its history?

In relation to Communion, Gallagher referenced the wedding at Cana and the feeding of the five thousand as “Communion” stories, but not the actual last supper. I found that very confusing.

The other frustrating thing about this book is the constant social references. I agree that we live in a consumption driven culture, often even in the church. But everything in the Bible is not intended to be primarily about changing culture and society. Culture and society are changed when the hearts of individuals are changed and they are renewing their minds through the work of the Holy Spirit. Somehow the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah made it into a book about Communion. I am still not sure how that happened.

"There are many versions of why they were eventually destroyed. Prevalent among them are sadistic cruelty to beggars and visitors, murder, greed. Jewish commentaries affirm that the Sodomites committed terrible and repeated economic crimes against each other and outsiders, including rape, both homosexual and heterosexual." (page 31)

That quote was pulled from a chapter called “Waiting”, about waiting in line to receive Communion in her church.

In my opinion, your time should not be wasted with this book. The writing is truly beautiful and artistic. The subject of Communion was almost completely avoided, at least from a biblical perspective.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Laura Bowman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Among the young people today there is a resurgence of observing the ancient disciplines as they realize the benefit of some of these “rituals” that the church has marginalized. Thomas Nelson has brought us a series called The Ancient Practice Series to help us understand these old truths. THE SACRED MEAL written by Nora Gallagher is one in this collection.

You might wonder how you would write a whole book on the “Eucharist” or “Communion” just as I did, however Nora Gallagher did just that. She h...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Norma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-sneeze

This is another book in the Ancient Practices Series that I have been reviewing for BookSneeze.

This series takes apart each of the different Christian practices in order to better understand what they are and why people perform them.

This book is on the Holy Communion. Throughout time, Christians have partaken in the Holy Communion. Most understand that it is representative of the blood of Christ and the body of Christ. However, many do not understand the whys or how’s of this. Nora Gallagher exp...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Jennifer Short rated it 3 of 5 stars

“The Sacred Meal” by Nora Gallagher has a definite slant towards Episcopalian theology, and some may read this and shudder at the thought that Communion should have no “rules” attached. At one point I may have said the same, and possibly I would be a “rule person” to Ms. Gallagher. Although I see a need for some control of who participates in Communion, I don't like the idea of how humans decide who can and cannot participate. What human can say if we are worthy? Worthy. Are we ever worth? As I...more

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Nov 22, 2009 Debbie rated it 1 of 5 stars

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

This book is part of a series exploring traditional spiritual disciplines. However, it's not about the historical or Biblical view of the Holy Communion since the author doesn't believe that the Bible is accurate or that the Christian religion is true. So the book is a memoir about what Communion has meant to the author.

The author wrote a lot of things that sound good or even profound, but her teachings aren't found in the Bible or in the...more I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

This book is part of a series exploring traditional spiritual disciplines. However, it's not about the historical or Biblical view of the Holy Communion since the author doesn't believe that the Bible is accurate or that the Christian religion is true. So the book is a memoir about what Communion has meant to the author.

The author wrote a lot of things that sound good or even profound, but her teachings aren't found in the Bible or in the historical understanding of Communion. When she paraphrased the Bible, she didn't do so accurately. She quoted her friends on Communion much, much more than she quoted the Bible. One time, she quoted as insightful a bishop's thought about Communion then told the story of how he, in all seriousness, gave Communion to a flock of geese (p.64). I had to wonder why the editor asked her to write about Communion. Overall, I can't recommend this book.

The following are things in the book that make me not recommend it:

The author isn't a Christian but believes a mix of religious teachings including some Christian ideas (page 72). She thinks it doesn't matter how you worship or what you believe, it only matters how you live (p. 119).

The author doesn't believe that the Bible is historically accurate or reliable (p. 110) and, at best, thinks we can only glean very generalized, symbolic teachings from it (p. 33, etc.). She thinks that Jesus was not perfect but progressively learned the perfect way to do things as he taught (p. 123) and that he changed his beliefs as he was influenced by various people he encountered (p. 62). He also was primarily focused on social justice (p. 22-24) and his resisting the Roman empire was why he was crucified (p. 18).

She also thinks that the "Kingdom of God" that Jesus taught about was merely a goal of earthly social justice and peace--an alternate earthly government or society we can bring about by our own efforts (p. 34, 38, 56, 83). "The practice of Communion reminds Christians of a meal and many meals shared by followers of a man who wanted them to see a new kingdom" (p. 55).

The author totally misses what event the Holy Communion celebrates/represents. "On the night of his life, Jesus said, 'Do this to remember me' (Luke 22:19 NLT). Many of us think these words...mean we're remembering Jesus when we drink of this cup and eat of this bread....Instead, I think Jesus wanted his disciples and everyone who came after him to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he wanted them to do could not be done alone. How the things he did could not have been done without them" (pp. 23-24).

And, according to her, Jesus was not seen in human form after he was crucified (p. 135). The gospel writers were trying to convey something more metaphysical; that he became nature itself (p. 131). "Christ is everywhere. In the beans in your garden, in the waters of the lakes and rivers and mountains..." (p. 136) and "Christ is everywhere, especially in bread and wine....By this we are to understand that God is meant to be breathed in, God is meant to be bathed in, and finally, God is meant to be eaten" (p. 136). And "If Christ is everywhere, he is in us. We are his body now, his hands and his feet. We are all the ongoing incarnation" (p. 137).

More to the topic, who should partake of Holy Communion? "Certainly, it makes sense to have some kind of relationship to the Christian story in order to take Communion" (p. 88), but "Communion is so important to me that I don't think there should be rules about who can take it and who cannot." So if you desire to take Communion, do so (p. 96).

Is the Holy Communion meant as a symbol or do the bread and wine literally become Christ's body and blood? According to the author, neither. "Holy Communion is an act of the imagination" (p. 94). Also, it is humans and their participation in the Holy Communion that make it sacred/sanctified (p. 84).

The book might be well-written in the grammatical sense, but her theology is whatever appeals to her. So I don't think she should have been the one to write on a traditional spiritual discipline even though she enjoys taking it. (less)

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May 03, 2011 Karie Hall rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nora Gallagher provides a heartfelt look at the transformational aspects of Communion. I especially liked her accounts of the eye-opening experience of fellowship among Christians from different economic backgrounds. She convincingly suggests that Jesus had intended the sacred meal to commemorate what He and the disciples “had together”.

Gallagher’s accounts of the experience of serving Communion was moving and inspiring, but I had hoped to read a book which focused on the “ancient” aspect of thi...more

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Dec 26, 2011 J.D. rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Sacred Meal is a part of the 8 book “The Ancient Practices Series” from Thomas Nelson. It is also now the third one I have read in this series, and I must say that I enjoyed this more than the others(Fasting by Douglas Leblanc and The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister). This is clearly a touchy subject but the approach of this series is not to push for the right answers or argue for the proper interpretation.

In The Sacred Meal, Nora Gallagher gives us a balance of the history of the Euchari...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Kristine Coumbe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, lds-christian, nonfiction

I am a reviewer for a book program with Thomas Nelson publishers. I am not required to give this or any book I receive a positive rating. I was attracted by the cover art as well as this book being the second book I have read in the Ancient Practices series. As I was pulled in by the cover art, I wanted to know more about the book. My favorite chapter is towards the end called "Soup Kitchen." I thought this book was strictly about sacrament, holy communion or a ritual like the Last Supper, but i...more

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Nov 18, 2009 Catrina Bradley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-nonfiction

"The Sacred Meal" is not a treatise on the sacrament of Eucharist, nor is it a theological lesson on the Last Supper. It is simply one humble woman sharing her personal experiences, remembrances, and revelations on the practice we call Communion.

Nora Gallagher makes no attempt to use scholarly terms or confusing definitions to convey her thoughts, but she does keep the Word close at hand as she reminisces about her Communion encounters. Each chapter includes quotes from Scripture that Ms. Gallag...more "The Sacred Meal" is not a treatise on the sacrament of Eucharist, nor is it a theological lesson on the Last Supper. It is simply one humble woman sharing her personal experiences, remembrances, and revelations on the practice we call Communion.

Nora Gallagher makes no attempt to use scholarly terms or confusing definitions to convey her thoughts, but she does keep the Word close at hand as she reminisces about her Communion encounters. Each chapter includes quotes from Scripture that Ms. Gallagher applies to her life. Recounting moments from Christ’s life, she speaks of His purpose, cites His teachings, and seeks to understand His heart. She examines our Savior in an intimate way.

Our author invites us to participate in a personal Communion only possible when shared with others, then gives us examples of how we might go about doing that. She remains transparent and honest while telling of her own communion experiences from both the servant and server aspects, at the altar and in the soup kitchen. In whatever circumstance, the reader is assured that, whether Ms. Gallagher is serving or being served, she is the recipient of great joy.

Ms. Gallagher shares her own inferences and interpretations without forcing her opinion on the reader. Throughout most of “The Sacred Meal” I was drawn into a deeper understanding of what I already knew, or was reassured of the promise of the Word. On more that a few occasions, though, Ms. Gallagher presented a concept I had never before considered. I didn’t always agree with her, but I can’t say how many of my disputes result from Godly wisdom and how many from what “I’ve always been taught”. What I do know is that Ms. Gallagher made my inner eyes widen and caused me to examine my own relationship with the Body of Christ and with Jesus Himself.

I’m grateful for Thomas Nelson Publishers for proving me a copy of “The Sacred Meal” and giving me the opportunity share my opinions. My education from the Holy Spirit will not be complete until God calls me home. “The Sacred Meal” has opened windows leading to new and deeper learning. If you, like me, never grow full of wisdom, I suggest you give it a read.
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Jan 11, 2013 Nicole added it

So I got this book a few years ago from booksneeze. I forgot about it until I got an email from them going if you haven’t reviewed a book your account will be suspended. Here I am, going to write some thoughts about this instead of a review.

To start I really don’t know why I actually requested it. I think I was new to Booksneeze and I just requested the first thing that seemed interesting. But when I got it. I found it completely totally utterly was not my type at all.

I have to say this was a Di...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Gregory Soderberg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: liturgy

I found Gallagher's book simultaneously illuminating and infuriating. To start on a positive note, Gallagher definitely has a gift for writing. I'm used to reading fat books by scholars on this subject, but Gallagher brings a lot of wit and earthy wisdom to this topic. And, I'll certainly agree that the scholars have muddied the waters quite a bit. Jesus told us to do something really simple, but we've managed to fragment this sacrament of unity into a hundred thorny questions. Gallagher's catch...more I found Gallagher's book simultaneously illuminating and infuriating. To start on a positive note, Gallagher definitely has a gift for writing. I'm used to reading fat books by scholars on this subject, but Gallagher brings a lot of wit and earthy wisdom to this topic. And, I'll certainly agree that the scholars have muddied the waters quite a bit. Jesus told us to do something really simple, but we've managed to fragment this sacrament of unity into a hundred thorny questions. Gallagher's catchy metaphors appropriately turn our attention away from whatever might be going on "inside" the bread, and she exhorts us to remember that "we" are the Body of Christ, when we gather as the Church. When we take communion, she exhorts us to "Look around you," something I've said when I've administered communion. Don't try to conjure up some deep, mystical experience--just look around at all other messed up people that God is in the process of healing. Gallagher has many wonderful stories about her experiences with partaking, and administering, communion--stories about real people being transformed by ancient rite. She helps us to look at this "ancient practice" from lots of new angles, and I think much of what she says is spot on and quite helpful.

But ... there were a few parts which made me gag a little. I think Gallagher is far too quick to buy into the neo-liberal reading of Jesus which highlights Jesus' supposed critique of "empire." Now, I freely confess that we should do more to care for the poor. I confess that our government is not righteous. I acknowledge that there are more than a few unsettling analogies between America hegemony and the pagan Roman Empire. But, I'm just not convinced that this is the right way to read the Jesus narratives. However, I will agree enthusiastically with one of Gallagher's conclusions: "So part of waiting in Communion is examining what we did last week to find the kingdom of heaven in our midst and to help others find it" (pg. 37).

A quibble--I didn't really buy her imaginative reconstruction of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman (Matt. 15:21-28). I find Kenneth Bailey's interpretation much more convincing (see Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, ch. 16).

Lastly, I believe Gallagher goes too far in her desire to be inclusive and welcoming. She writes: "Communion is so important to me that I don't think there should be rules about who can take it and who cannot" (pg. 88). Now, I fully applaud the motive here. I'm trying to write a dissertation on some of the reasons why churches should celebrate the Supper more often. It's important to me. But not more important than the Word of God. Gallagher doesn't want to create "rules" about who can, and who can't, take Communion (pg. 89). The only problem is that the Apostle Paul lays down some pretty tough rules in 1 Cor. 11:27-32. Perhaps Gallagher has some exegetical reasons for why Paul isn't setting up some sort of "fence" around the Table. If so, it would have been nice to have those reasons summarized. She also appears to drive off the cliff of tolerance when she writes: "Thieves are welcome here, and embezzlers; so are murderers and prostitutes and sex abusers and those who have been or are abused ... Everyone." (pg. 92). Now, I agree that no sin should keep us away from the Table, but I would add that no sin we "repent" of, should keep us away. What about 1 Cor. 5:11? When Jesus refused to condone the stoning of the woman caught in adultery, he did not just dismiss her sin. He commanded her, "Go, and from now on sin no more." (Jn. 8:11). The Eucharist is medicine for sick souls, and repentance (the process of turning away from sin) must be part of how approach the Table (Ro. 6:22).

I'm thankful to Gallagher for writing this book, and for forcing us to re-think a ritual that so many of us take for granted.

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Apr 07, 2013 Jocelyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, but I also share much of the same theological understanding of Holy Commuion and its practice (mostly) as the author. Some of the reviews I read of those who didn't like this book seemed to be because their theology and understanding of Scripture differs from that of the author, and while I respect their opinions and beliefs, I disagree. I think this would be a great book to read in a congregational setting for small groups/"Bible study"/new member class, etc.

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Jan 07, 2011 Kellyann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

I'd give the first half 1 star and the second half 5. Not the level of writing (or editing) I'd have expected from reading Practicing Resurrection, which was amazing! Still, she raises some good questions and insights, and I'd recommend reading the book just for that.

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Aug 29, 2011 Julie (julie37619) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: faith, books-i-own

I was disappointed that this book doesn't mention the death or resurrection of Christ, which is kind of the entire point of Communion. I would have rather heard the author give a view I disagree with than just avoid the topic altogether because of a fear of being controversial. Communion isn't the kind of topic that can be discussed without mentioning the cross - and it isn't, as Gallgher writes, created by humans for humans. But I won't get into my personal beliefs in my review - the book itsel...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Tiffany Schomel rated it 4 of 5 stars

We read this for book club at church, and I liked a the authors personal account of her experiences with communion. We had pretty lively discussion and some disagreement about communion. The author portrayed the communion meal as open to everyone. Most of us agreed that even if the person choosing to partake wasn't educated in the practice, this openess may lead them to ask questions and become a believer.

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Dec 30, 2009 Adam Shields rated it 3 of 5 stars

My full review at http://bookwi.se/the-sacred-meal-by-n...

Short review is that it is an interesting take. Mostly based around a memoir style of writing. I like the take of looking at the Eucharist through story, but I would have liked a bit more history and/or diversity of theological perspectives.

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Jan 12, 2010 Sara Stuckenberg added it Recommends it for: friends

Recommended to Sara by: general search of theological books

I really enjoyed this book-though the author bounced around a little in not just discussing the Meal but other aspects as well. It wasn't bad--i really enjoyed it. But sometimes it was hard to stay focused.

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