Last Sunday afternoon we were walking the quiet lanes of ancient Phillipi. I loved this site because we had it almost to ourselves and could wander everywhere. We took one path through overgrown weeds and stumbled upon the museum (which our guide book said was closed since 1991??). It is open, but it was closed. Not since 1991, but since 40 minutes earlier.
As I looked back to tell Mark the news, I saw him engaged in some silly thing at the fence. He saw me and held out his hand.
As I looked back to tell Mark the news, I saw him engaged in some silly thing at the fence. He saw me and held out his hand.
Grapes. He had been picking grapes from the fence by the closed museum of an ancient, abandoned city.
We looked at each other and realized it was Sunday. Quick calculations....it was Sunday morning in Indiana, where the three churches were gathering for joint worship to share communion together.
We stopped. We laughed. We gave thanks and ate grapes.
For years we have been saying that when we share communion, we share it not just with those in the same room with us at the time, but in a real but mysterious way, we share it with those who have ever, will ever, everywhere.
And there we stood, giving thanks for the grapes in the place where people shared communion 2000 years ago, thinking of people 5400 miles way who were sharing communion, and embracing the reality of those who are not even yet a twinkle in their mother's eye but will surely share this now, then.
Having a grape time. Glad you are here.
We looked at each other and realized it was Sunday. Quick calculations....it was Sunday morning in Indiana, where the three churches were gathering for joint worship to share communion together.
We stopped. We laughed. We gave thanks and ate grapes.
For years we have been saying that when we share communion, we share it not just with those in the same room with us at the time, but in a real but mysterious way, we share it with those who have ever, will ever, everywhere.
And there we stood, giving thanks for the grapes in the place where people shared communion 2000 years ago, thinking of people 5400 miles way who were sharing communion, and embracing the reality of those who are not even yet a twinkle in their mother's eye but will surely share this now, then.
Having a grape time. Glad you are here.