The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher purports to take the reader on a historical journey to delve into the mystery of Communion. The reader searching for a true Biblical and historical viewpoint on this topic will be sorely disappointed. The anecdotal writing style was great for another type of book, just not one in "The Ancient Practices Series." The style of Ms. Gallagher's writing was not the problem for me; however, the content and substance were. I do not discount Ms. Gallagher's talent as a writer, just her questionable handling of this topic. I enjoy reading about people's experiences, especially within the faith community. This said, the focus was more on the author's personal experience than anything else. My expectation for a book of this nature is scholarly research backing up a well presented and Biblically accurate work on a fascinating topic. That the slant was Episcopalian, and not a general Christian one or at least an overview of the major Christian groups, was frustrating. The procedures and practice of modern Episcopalian Communion tell me nothing about "the ancient practices" of Communion. In light of the title and intention of the series, it seems to me that this work missed the mark entirely. If you are interested in a well-written personal opinion story about how an ancient practice makes the writer feel more connected to her fellow man, this is the book for you. If you are interested in a Biblically sound examination of the practice of Communion both in historical and modern contexts, this work is not recommended. I am a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program. Find details at: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/