The holy isle of Iona, where St. Columba first brought Christianity to Scotland (he would, if you remember from previous blog and FB Live posts go on to preach to the Picts and convert their king in Inverness, but he came here and founded the monastic community first) is reputed to be one of the “thin places,” where only a veil separates the world from eternity.
Here some of the places and the rhythms feel the long time that they have been part of this place; things like the stone of the cloister or the church, the rhythm of communal meals and efforts, and of prayer in the morning together, prayer in the evening, the sound of chant bouncing off the abbey walls, the glow of firelight and the many candles burning while we pray.
Other things are very much up to date, revised services with inclusive language, the rainbow flag with black and brown and trans colors on it laying on the table beneath the other symbols of justice that have been shared.
We will have, starting in just a few minutes, plenary sessions addressing some of the most current thinking on worship, and exploring some of the most recent materials available for worship. We also, this morning, celebrated a meal that goes back and joins us with Christians from almost 2000 years ago.
There is both a feeling of a cutting edge contemporary-ness and a feeling of an ancient place that has long been blessed. In all, there is an understanding that new or old, tradition or change, it is here for the glory of God and to extend the work of our God on this earth. This is what surrounds me this week and blesses me every day. Amen.
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