Eucharist: Christ's Feast With the Church

Rating:
Summary: It's Time to Reconsider the Eucharist
Review: The author writes this book in a response to a need for a single volume that brings together historical, theological, and practical matters from a variety of sources. Much of the material available on this subject is written in a technical style that is not easily read or understood by the lay person. The author also seeks to suggest new ways of understanding and conducting the Eucharist. He identifies two audiences for his book. The first audience is lay people in the local church. A second audience is identified as seminarians and church professionals. The author writes from a Wesleyan/Methodist background, but seeks to produce a work that is ecumenical in scope. Stookey wants to clear up misconceptions about the Eucharist and to help the reader develop a historical and theological understanding that will affect the way the Eucharist is observed and shared in our churches. Stookey has succeeded in his objectives. I found the book to be well laid out, fairly easy to read, and quite engaging. Especially helpful was the section about how to preach on the Eucharist, and an emphasis that the observance of the Eucharist is not a solemn occasion, but a celebrative one! This book belongs in every pastor's library.