Shadow Meal

by Mcnichols, Michael; Mouw, Richard J.

• ISBN13: 9781608993604
• ISBN10: 1608993604
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-10
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

Many Protestant Evangelicals struggle to find meaning in the Lord's Supper. There may be theological positions to be held and certain religious protocols to be observed, but for many the Eucharist remains merely a symbol of remembrance and as such, An elusive connection To The table of Jesus. As new conversations take place about the emerging and missional church, The value of the ancient practices of the church are seeking new expression. However, since many in these conversations come from non-sacramental backgrounds, The Eucharist can easily become a utilitarian addendum to alternative church experiments. In reflecting on the invitation from Jesus, quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, To "do this," the question is asked, "What is this?" Shadow Meal challenges the idea that this is something containable or negotiable and suggests instead that this has much more to do with the invitation and presence of Jesus than it does with ecclesiastical practices or prescribed rituals. Shadow Meal seeks to offer Protestants some new images of the Eucharist and to foster a deeper appreciation of and connection To The presence of Jesus in the invitation to dine at his table. it offers new language to pastors and leaders who hope to find ways to frame the missional life of Christian faith for people whose lives cry out to be formed by the present reality of God's kingdom.

Author Biography

Shadow Meal seeks to offer protestants some new images of the Eucharist and to foster a deeper appreciation of and connection to the presence of Jesus in the invitation to dine at his table. It offers new language to pastors and leaders who hope to find ways to frame the missional life of Christian faith for people whose lives cry out to be formed by the present reality of God's kingdom. Michael McNichols served for ten years as a pastor and is now Director of Fuller Theological Seminary's Regional campus in Irvine, California. He is the author of the Bartender: A Fable about a Journey and a contribution to proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross: contemporary image of the Atonement.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Prologue: The Bite of Eucharist	p. xi
Lutheran Humiliation	p. 1
Necessary Symbol	p. 3
Real Bread, Real Wine, Real Jesus	p. 10
Don't Ask, Don't Tell	p. 16
Coffee Creamer Communion	p. 21
What is This?	p. 23
Identifying with Jesus	p. 26
You Had Me at Unworthy	p. 28
A Dangerous Table	p. 32
Re-Membering	p. 37
Eucharistic Chainsaw	p. 40
Same Height from the Floor	p. 44
Beer Nuts and Holy Ground	p. 49
Keeping the Porch Light On	p. 54
The Riskiness of Grace	p. 57
Primary and Secondary Signs	p. 60
Enough Offense for Everyone	p. 66
Getting My Order Right	p. 68
Resolving Dreams	p. 71
When Jesus Leaves the Table	p. 74
"What Did That Man Do? "	p. 77
Getting Sin on Us	p. 81
Priests for Everyone	p. 85
No Heretics Allowed	p. 88
Ordination	p. 91
Manners at the Table	p. 94
Eucharist and Prayer	p. 97
Coming Late to Dinner	p. 101
The Shadow Meal	p. 105
Pirate Communion	p. 109
Places at the Table	p. 112
The Eucharistic Shape of Mission	p. 117
Rules of Engagement	p. 120
Looking for Jesus at the Table	p. 123
Bibliography	p. 127
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