Israel’s 1st astronaut, Ilan Ramon, sought to follow Jewish observances while in orbit. In an interview he said, “I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis.” He was the first spaceflight participant to request kosher food.

He also gathered rabbinic opinions from the local Chabad-Lubavitch representative about observing the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) while in space, since the period between sunrises in orbit is approximately 90 minutes. This later became famous by the words “Jerusalem we have a problem” (said in Rabbi Konikov’s speech at the Kennedy Space Center Memorial for Columbia on February 7, 2003[4]).

In the Presbyterian tradition, communion is essentially a “communal” event, thus, it is always taken either within the body or as an extension of the body. It is common, for example, for communion to be taken to homebound parishioners in the week(s) following a communion service held at the church. In Buzz Aldrin’s case, the communion he experienced on the moon’s surface was an extension of communion held in his home church. Buzz participated in a communion service at Webster Presbyterian Church before he left for Cape Kennedy, then the church held a special communion service on Sunday, July 20. Buzz’ communion on the moon was as close to the worship hour at Webster as could be managed, thus, he was participating in the communal act of receiving communion with his community of faith and with all believers everywhere. Presbyterians also celebrate an “open” communion, meaning that all baptized believers, wherever they may be and with whatever church they are affiliated, are welcome to share in communion with us.

Presbyterian believe that God is revealed in the common elements of everyday life. Through these common elements–bread and wine–we acknolwedge God’s presence with us every day in every way.

I have the honor of serving as senior pastor of Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster, TX. At the time of the lunar landing Aldrin was an elder in our church. A communion kit was prepared for him by the church’s pastor at the time, the Rev. Dean Woodruff. Since Presbyterians do not celebrate private communion, the communion on the moon was structured as part of a service with the congregation back at the church. Aldrin returned the chalice he used to earth. Webster Presbyterian continues to possess the chalice, which is now kept in a safety deposit box. Each year the congregation commemorates the lunar communion on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the landing.

While we have to confess some pride in his being a Presbyterian (at least at the time – I don’t know anything about his affiliation now, if any) communion is certainly not solely a Presbyterian ritual. The Presbyterian communion table is open to all Christians. We call it “communion” because in it we commune with God and with all our brothers and sisters in faith, in all times and places and of all names. Aldrin did not take communion on the moon as a Presbyterian so much as he did as a Christian. We Presbyterian, even we Webster-type Presbyterians, do not own lunar communion. The communion on the moon belongs to us all. It can, and should, serve as a powerful symbol of God’s presence everywhere, and of our unity as one family of faith.

Inspirational.

Posting it.

Came here via Deke at the Desperate Preacher Site.