U2- Inchcolm- Eucharist- Its a Spiritual Washout a new start for many!
What an amazing day! I'm always inspired by so many people who work so hard and despite of the setbacks make things work. I'm not talking about the athletes who won gold medals today, although that in itself is quite marvellous. I'm talking about the behind the scenes team who took an idea like "let's put a U2 Eucharist on in Incholm Island in the middle of the River Forth" and who delivered the idea inspite of the rain.
A huge thank you to the Sanctus Media Team, especially Rae and Owen who worked like true professionals. Then there was Campbell Dye who spend hours preparing the soundtrack and came up all the way from Winchester to be with us. It was great to see you Campbell and to renew a long friendship. I was just reflecting that it must be well over 25 years since we started playing together. We've been in some unusual places like Union Street Aberdeen on the back of a huge arctic lorry leading a couple of thousand people in worship. Today will be one more story for the scrapbook. it was good to meet Eleanor and also your mum Irene it was almost like olden days. I'd also like to say how much i appreciated Iain Jamieson's singing today. What a challenge to be told you can sing your U2 songs but you have to sing the songs quietly. Yes that was the ruling from the staff of historic Scotland on the island. Not an easy thing to do, but all credit to Iain he sang Bono "quietly" . He really did, indeed the whole event couple have went pair shape but it didn't. I think it ended up a bit of a triumph.
Above all It was wonderful that Peter Neilson and David Cameron shared in the service and the other seventy people who turned up in the rain. As for the pictures Thank you to James Hogg for taking a great selection of pictures and also to Colin Jamieson who normally plays Keyboards but who turned his fingers to clicking pictures.
So what did we do I hear some of you asking? We started off singing " Still haven't found what I'm looking for?" This was to create a space for all of us to come before God as people with expectation. We are surely called to seek after God all our days. And of course we will never plumb the depth of his grace and love but in our hearts w know God always has more to give us. Peter Neilson then led us in an opening prayer with responses. When then read Psalm 40 and followed it by the U2 version of the Psalm this was followed by a dramatic reading of the "Prodigal Son" by a selection of readers from Bo'ness St Andrew's Parish Church and Queensferry Parish Church. Following this reading I was given the opportunity to reflect on the story. One of the things I said was that we are all prodigals and the Communion Service is an opportunity for us all to come back home again into our Heavenly Father's presence. I think there was something special going on this afternoon. Despite the rain those who turned up had a wonderful spirit about them. People were entering into the mood and the feeling of the service. They had come search for more ready to engage with God. Yes the rain was part of that engagement as we reminded ourselves that water is also one of the elements that speaks to us about the sacrament of baptism. So in a strange way we used the water to speak of our baptism and the bread and the wine to speak of the costly gift of our salvation. As i said some may have seen this afternoon as a complete wash out and indeed it was but for many it was a spiritual wash out. If you were one of the congregation. I'd love to hear your thoughts and reflections on the day.
Posted By: Irene On: 7 Aug 2012 At: 10:39am
Don’t think I will ever forget Inchcolm.
OK it was raining but it didn’t seem to matter. The whole day was very special - I’ve shared many communion services but this one will live in my memory forever.
Thank you to everyone