We arrived at an apartment we are renting in Paris on Saturday. From Iona to here required us to take two ferries, three buses, two planes, a train and the subway. No wonder we slept for 11 hours.
The week on Iona was a rich experience. As we were leaving one of the college students who is volunteering this summer as staff at Iona slipped Sue a note. Among other things it said, "What a beautiful couple you are. I so enjoyed meeting each of you. As I sat at the Thursday table service it entered my mind that if I ever get married I would have to be as lovely a pair as the two of you."
She went on to say how much she enjoyed cutting up vegetables with me and then she said of Sue, "I am thankful no one sat in the seat next to us that evening. Sharing dinner with you was a time I really felt God's presence."
Our experience on Iona taught how important food is in bringing people together. Whether it is preparing the meal together or eating at the same table the food becomes a way for community to form as we become acquainted and share parts of our lives with one another. Jesus said, "When you do this, remember I'm am in your midst."
On Thursday our worship was an Agape feast. We had a large table set up in the Abbey church. We didn't share bread and wine but nuts and fruit. It was a joyful service filled with thanksgiving. Where people gather to eat, where they break their lives open and share them with one another, it is Christ's feast and God is present.
The pictures include the agape table before the service, Sue singing with the choir on talent night and a final glance at the Abby as we head to the ferry.
0 comments:
Post a Comment