Coming to terms with communion

I have a close friend who is a Catholic. Together we can discussed many of the similarities and differences between Catholicism and my own Protestant/Anabaptist beliefs. The latest discussion was regarding communion, aka the Eucharist. In my early learning-about-Catholicism days, and in my initial participations in mass, I did receive the Eucharist. Having done a bit more reading etc, I came to quickly realize that I inadvertently committed a sacrilege and at the same time agreed with/to the concept of “transubstantiation”.
So I got myself to thinking over the weekend, if I don’t agree with the concept of transubstantiation (and the sacrament of the Eucharist) but rather of symbolism (and the ordinance of communion) … what does this symbolism symbolize? [Wikipedia contrasts sacrament and ordinance as follows: not a channel of grace but an expression of faith and obedience of the Christian community.]
So I went back to the beginning, or at least a ways back. The Jews were in Egypt as slaves, Moses came around and announced the series of plagues. The last plague was the death of the firstborn son. The Jews could be “exempted” from this plague through the death of a blemish-free goat or lamb and its blood applied to the families doorpost. The angel of death, seeing this blood, would “pass over” the household. Thus, we have the celebration of Passover … a remembrance of how a sacrifice allow someone destined to die to actually live.
Skip forward a few years and we have Jesus and his friends celebrating Passover. Just like previously in his ministry, Jesus starts on what I seem to think is another explanation of Old Testament tradition or teaching. He takes the elements in the Passover meal – the unleavened bread and the wine and explains that while they are still a way to remember the past, they are also about to become a way to remember what is about to happen. When Jesus says the bread and the wine ARE his body and blood, I do not believe the element are or become Christ himself. I believe that it is a metaphor — Jesus saying that the sacrifice of himself, like that of the goat or lamb during the tenth Egyptian plague, would similarly “exempt” those destined to die. He is pointing out another parallel between the old and new covenant.
I also have a difference of opinion considering conference of grace via the Eucharist, i.e. “receiving Christ”, and probably also sanctification. But those are likely better for other discussions.
Please note, the above it simply my current understanding of Eucharist/Communion. I may be way off base. Please feel free to discuss these points.
Outside links:
A Mennonite perspective on Communion
A Catholic review of the Eucharist
The Wikipedia entry on Communion/Eucharist history, theology and other related bits

hunted churches – season II

Looking back at a post from two years ago, I came across these words of perspective from Bruce in relation to “church hunting”:

The challenge is to completely turn around the criteria and take a bold step of faith. Don’t look for a church that meets your needs – look for a church that needs you and the gifts that you bring. Once you find something that twigs in that way, commit to the church for the year and don’t look back.

Additions to the wish list

I’ve added a few more titles to my wish list. Don’t worry about buying them for me … I’m going to send off for several of them shortly.

I’ve been ‘tagged’

10 years ago today
-> Sometime that summer was the last time I went to camp. Maybe buying school supplies for my first year of high school.

1 year ago today
-> Trying to help with forevergirl’s wedding from a long ways away and desperately hoping my job was going to get better.

Yesterday
-> Slept in, did dishes & laundry, unpacked some more boxes, called people who weren’t home, went out for dinner with girls from work that I had little in common with except that we work together.

Tomorrow
-> Work and try to find something to pass away the evening until it’s time for bed again.

5 snacks I enjoy
-> Ruffles (coconut macaroons covered in chocolate), cherry tomatoes, homemade potatoe wedges, popcorn twists, almonds

My Best impression
-> One of my many areas of ineptitude

5 things I would do with $100 000 000
-> travel, create the job of my dreams for myself, invest, buy stuff for people, charities

5 locations I would like to run away to
-> Italy, Portugal, Australia, a cabin by a lake with a beach, where ever my friends happen to be

5 bad habits I have
-> procrastination, acceptance of my own mediocrity, taking on way too many activities, only cooking meals when company is coming, daydreaming about (a) boy(s)

5 things I love doing
-> going for coffee, listening to the wind in the trees, driving in the rain, cooking, discovering things

5 things I would never wear
-> g-string, no underwear, tapered-leg jeans, short shorts, white socks in sandals

5 movies I like
-> Love Actually, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine, Vanilla Sky, Finding Nemo

5 famous people I would love to meet
-> Menno Simons, Descartes, Newton, Gauss, Eve

5 biggest joys at the moment
-> watching the trees outside my office window, coming home to a place I “own”, talking with friends, finding my place in a new city, seeing God in the little things

5 favorite toys
-> camera, computer, new scanner/printer, Eleanor (the car) when she takes me to visit people, my new kitchen

5 people to tag
-> you are out there, I won’t name names

redesign

Well I’ve ventured into learning just enough CSS to add an extra column to the ol’ blog. Much editing and several hours later, here it is.

Please add yourself to my new guestmap (see the right side, below the weather).

I’m going to try to fiddle with the colours and design elements for your viewing pleasure.

Please let me know if something doesn’t work in your browser. I highly suggest using the Mozilla browser (Firefox).