I'm sure most of us are aware of the famous statements that were recorded during the landing of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module on July 20, 1969. We've no doubt heard the first intentional declaration to mission control: "Houston...The Eagle has landed." Equally famous was Neil Armstrong's declaration: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
But in a lesser known incident Buzz Aldrin took a moment to reflect on the magnitude of the event saying, "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way."
Then you know what Aldrin did? He took communion. As an elder in the Presbyterian Church, Aldrin brought along a communion kit provided to him by the pastor of his congregation. Since NASA was still fighting a lawsuit brought by Madlyn Murray O'Hare over the public reading of Genesis on the Apollo 8 mission, Aldrin preferred to keep this ceremony to himself. He hadn't even told his wife that he had taken a communion kit with him. Only years later did Aldrin tell anyone about his personal act of worship.
There are several things to be noted regarding this incident. I'll comment on just one, because I think it fits today's message. Aldrin took communion out of the church. And I think that what he was trying to say is that communion with and celebration of the goodness of our God has a place outside of Sunday. It belongs to the entirety of our lives. Communion can be a 24/7 kind of thing.
I wish I were at NCOC to hear Bob Kiser's message. Instead, I'm travelling back from Gatlinburg with the teens. Please say a prayer for our safe travel. We hope to be in later tonight.
This morning, Bob will be talking with you about our celebration of communion. If I understand him right, he's going to be suggesting that we have made communion to small a thing and that "Do this in remembrance of me" is bigger than most of us imagine. I agree. I hope you have a big communion with our Great God this morning.
I look forward to seeing you next week.
But in a lesser known incident Buzz Aldrin took a moment to reflect on the magnitude of the event saying, "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way."
Then you know what Aldrin did? He took communion. As an elder in the Presbyterian Church, Aldrin brought along a communion kit provided to him by the pastor of his congregation. Since NASA was still fighting a lawsuit brought by Madlyn Murray O'Hare over the public reading of Genesis on the Apollo 8 mission, Aldrin preferred to keep this ceremony to himself. He hadn't even told his wife that he had taken a communion kit with him. Only years later did Aldrin tell anyone about his personal act of worship.
There are several things to be noted regarding this incident. I'll comment on just one, because I think it fits today's message. Aldrin took communion out of the church. And I think that what he was trying to say is that communion with and celebration of the goodness of our God has a place outside of Sunday. It belongs to the entirety of our lives. Communion can be a 24/7 kind of thing.
I wish I were at NCOC to hear Bob Kiser's message. Instead, I'm travelling back from Gatlinburg with the teens. Please say a prayer for our safe travel. We hope to be in later tonight.
This morning, Bob will be talking with you about our celebration of communion. If I understand him right, he's going to be suggesting that we have made communion to small a thing and that "Do this in remembrance of me" is bigger than most of us imagine. I agree. I hope you have a big communion with our Great God this morning.
I look forward to seeing you next week.