I am a Jew by birth and a Quaker by conversion. I live in NYC and attended a service at an Episcopal Church on the national day of mourning on the Friday after the attacks of September 11. Given the emotionally wrought circumstances of the day when the priest invited all believers to take communion I thought hard about what I would do. I had never taken communion before and I recognize that Protestant communion is a symbolic remembrance of Jesus that does not invoke the "real presence." That said, I recognized that what I was about to do was unusual. I went forward, took communion and asked the priest for a blessing. At first, I feared that the roof of the church would open up and that I would be crushed by the wrath of God but realized that my acceptance of Jesus as a prophet, if not as Savior, and that "communion" on that particular day had a much broader meaning perhaps than on many others, made the spiritual and communal connection that I had to God and the others at the service that much deeper and more meaningful.

,,feared that the roof of the chuch would open up and that I would be chushed,,,..

Yea, I see that god of yours is one hell of a god!!!

Wrath of god my ass. Thanks for the laugh!

Harry - I think you gave a very beautiful post about exactly how Protestant communion services work, and it seems to me that your participation was welcomed and rightly so. I have also participated in some wonderful services at times of great sorrow and great joy -- and participated fully in the communion offering.

I have no problem viewing these communal experiences in the spirit in which they're offered and appreciating them for that.

I also recognize that The Catholic Church holds a different view of their own Sacrament of the Eucharist and so I participate differently when in a Catholic Church.

It seems respectful to follow each Church in its sincere and open expressions of faith, mystery and tenet.

Peace.

Wonderful message. May you continue to know God as He reveals Himself to you.

I see, so this response, that is maturity I take it? Real adult right? Grown up? Never mind how this person may have felt.