Heart Talk

There once was a church that held an Annual Communion Service. The tradition was for each adult to bring a small container of wine. During the service each person would come forward and empty their wine into a beautiful crystal bowl to be consecrated and blessed. After the ceremony there was a Pot Luck Banquet and the blessed wine was enjoyed communally.

Now not everyone brought the same kind of wine. Some folks brought expensive wines of impressive vintage. Others brought more commonplace wines. But somehow, the blending of the wines always miraculously managed to achieve a communal average enjoyed by all, despite the differences in the types of the individual contributions. One year, a member had a long week at the office and was too tired to stop by the local wine seller. Rather than showing up empty handed, she arrived early, snuck into the kitchen, filled a cup with water, and poured it into the bowl loudly, so that everyone heard her contribution. Another member was busy coaching his son’s little league team and did the same thing. As did the member who was traveling on business and the one who just sort of forgot. An old-time member who had done a lot for the church said, “I’ve been bringing wine for 50 years. This year I’ll skip.” And the super-volunteer, who takes on every task thrown his way, declared, “One more thing and I’m going to flip my lid.” They both furtively brought water. A new member was unclear about the whole concept and another felt intimidated.

They brought water as well. One brought water, just to be different. That day, when the ladle was dipped, water was served.

Each and every thing we do, or refrain from doing, touches others. If one or two bring water, everyone will still enjoy wine. That is a sort of Grace. But it's in joining together, freely, passionately, and powerfully that we grow and build something worthy of us called Unity of Vancouver.

In love and light, Bernadette

Click here to view a transcript of a recent sevice by Rev. Bernadette