*****Well, I am back from my 2 1/2 weeks in Scotland. My body is here but I find my inner clock has not quite caught up. The post below never made it through all the many difficulties I had accessing the Internet. So I offer it now knowing that the Spirit works in mysterious ways. Perhaps I was meant to be present to the moments with which I was gifted and not searching for internet hotspots.

On Iona

We arrived late afternoon by ferry to the beautiful island of Iona. As we came across the short distance, the waters were rough and rocky but we could see Iona Abbey looming on the shore. We had finally arrived! We made our way to the St. Columba Hotel where we would be staying. From the moment we stepped on the island, we began to experience the hospitality and welcome which is one of the signature qualities of the Iona Community. After an amazing dinner, we quickly made our way to the Abbey for evening worship. The community, an ecumenical gathering of all ages, lives and works in the centuries old abbey. They also worship twice a day, short services of music,prayer and scripture. It is an amazing experience to sing in this very old space. I have to say we did sound beautiful! Most of us were taken with the number of young adults in attendance, particularly in worship leadership. It was a joy.

This morning we awoke to a sunny, dry morning, something that I think was a total surprise to us. We had all prepared ourselves for the idea that it would be raining all the time.The wind was quite strong, however, when our Iona guide, Janna arrived to take us on a tour of the ruins,the abbey and to give a general overview of history plus a peek into what it is like to live on this island year round. Since she is the mother of two young children, it was fascinating to hear about the two ferry, three hour one way trip to go grocery shopping! While most people do have gardens (in fact our hotel has its own garden), there is still the need to get other staples. Janna will also lead us tomorrow on the three hour pilgrim’s walk that follows the footsteps of St. Columba.

The abbey at Iona had it’s birth in 563 when Columba and his monks established a monastery on this tiny island. From that time on pilgrims have come to this place for retreat, to serve, to worship and to be in community. Over the years the Abbey had deteriorated from wear, weather and neglect. But the sacred nature of the place continued to be the burial place of kings and those who had visited and found a spiritual home here. In 1938 the Reverend George MacLeod helped refurbish and re-establish life at Abbey church into an ecumenical community that continues to welcome pilgrims and seekers from around the world. We found the hospitality to be nothing short of remarkable.

In the afternoon, we explored on our own the small village that rests along the shore and walked the beaches that are a stone collectors dream. Up and down the shore are the gorgeous green stones for which Iona is famous. There is much to be found in the artist colony shops created by local craftspeople and artists. The Iona Community also has a shop that sells the many worship resources and books written by the leaders past and present. George McCleod. John Bell. J. Philip Newell.

Last night’s worship in the Abbey was an Agape meal. We arrived to find the sanctuary bathed in candlelight and a several long tables running down the center covered in white tablecloths. Plates lined the tables with what looked like loaves of flatbread. As we sang and prayed the leader then instructed us to pass the plates, offering it to one another along with the peace of Christ. As I took the bread, I realized it was Scottish shortbread. There was a powerful sense of unity in the room. People from all over the world, worshipping around a common table, sharing a simple common bread. The candlelight washed over the faces of those present,still bundled in their coats to ward off the chill of the stone building. There was an angelic glow that settled on their faces.

We prayed together this prayer: May the grace of the love of the stars be ours. May the grace of the love of the wind be ours. May the grace of the love of the waters be ours. In the name of the Word of all life.

And so it was…….