Recently, whilst presiding at a communion I had to communicate someone in a motorised wheelchair (AKA scooter). Having reached the person I proceeded to communicate them and having done so stepped back to allow the person with the wine access. As they leant forward to take the wine the control that makes the scooter move was somehow caught and the server was left sr=tanding, mouth wide open, as (beeping) the would-be communicant left the service!
Oh how we laughed and having caught and returned the lost sheep to the fold we finished the service with just a little excitement remaining.
So another lesson and a modified announcement at the beginning, "Please turn off your mobiles and put your scooters in neutral!'
I guess we could go a step (wheelbase) further and modify the sending out:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Start your engines.
Pax
ps. Talking among ourselves recently, one of the dogcollars asked what sort of churches we were in. One remarked that they had a young congregation and had a worship band. The next said they had a band and sang modern songs. The last said that they were organ and choir and an ageing congregation. More hip-op than hip hop apparently :-)
1 comment:
At a confirmation service in our Church last year, I was serving the wine at the Lady Chapel Altar.
Some helpful individual had placed a kneeler by the altar, which I didn't see and tripped. It was definitely an Abbot and Costello moment, as I struggle to regain balance, retain dignity and avoid spilling the wine.
I succeeded, but as someone said afterwards "We thought you were going to spill the blood of Christ all over again", said with a wry smile and a twinkle in their eye.
Learning moment indeed.
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