Thursday, April 26, 2012

Message from Margarita Llanes, Spanish Teacher

It seems like in the last couple of weeks I had found myself praying extra hard for the problem of how to handle a teen’s occasional sarcasm- or, as what I call, “back talk.” It was during one morning reading Becky Freeman, that the Lord gave me the following sweet poem from her friend Faye Yates. I hope the words will remind you today that we are created to be loved and to love. Not to love only the smart, fast and beautiful. Simply put we need to love others at home or at school just because they belong to God’s family. Enjoy!!

 
Just Because You’re You

 They say some babies born will only be
 A heavy burden to a family
 Because they’ll never act the proper way,
 So find a place for them to stay…
 But a mother looks through tear filled eyes
 And begins to sing this lullaby…
  “I don’t love you, for what you can, or cannot do
     I love you, just because you’re you
  Though many others may question your worth
  I’ll treasure you, more than all the earth.”

And when we see our soul so scared with sin
We are surprised to find God takes us in
For all we have to give Him is our shame
And though we fail the Lord, we hear Him say,
  “Though I look at you through tear filled eyes,
       I still sing to you this lullaby,
  “I don’t love you, for what you can or cannot do
      I love you, just because you’re you,
  Though sometimes, you may question your own worth,
    I’ll love you, more than all the earth.”

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Message from Lois Leader, High School Teacher


"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."
Psalms 24:1

In honor of Earth Day on this past Sunday (April 22), I dedicate my blog entry to God’s creation.


One of the most profound duties God gives us is stewardship over His creation. Scripture tells us how much He loves this work of His hands. After every act of creation He blessed it and declared that it was good. Reading the first chapter of Genesis it is obvious that God takes delight in every aspect of the world He created. Yet He trusted us to be caretakers of His great work of art.


The creation teaches us about the attributes of God:

Psalms 104:24. How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small.

It shows His infinite compassion:

Matt 6:26. Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. And are you not worth much more than they?

God has established a relationship with us and with our environment:

Genesis 9:8-9. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living Creature on the earth."

God pays attention to the way we fulfill our role as stewards:

Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.

Luke 16:2,10,13. And He called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. You cannot serve both God and mammon.

Although Earth Day was not established as a Christian observance, I think it is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the trust that God put in us when He gave us dominion over His creation. How we fulfill that trust is an indicator of the respect we hold for the Creator.




Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Message from Monique Lara, Preschool Teacher

Proverbs 1:33

But all who listen to me will live in peace,
Untroubled by fear of harm.”


I read this poem to my sister on Sunday, she was finding her self lost and stuck in her own misery. I pray for her everyday, for the Lord to give her strength even if she does not choose to seek him. When I brought this to her attention the expression on her face seemed somewhat confused yet she felt as if relief has took the stress away. I told her to hear Him, sit and pray as hard as you can and open your door to Him. The Lord is always here to take away the pain and sorrow you are in, you just got to believe and let him in. His wonders can do much more then you can imagine. She understood why I put much faith in Him; He has helped me in everything I have been through. I am far from perfect but I do believe the Good Lord is with us through anything and I feel if I can pay it forward through prayer or words of The Lord, I’ve done my part because I am and we all are Gods children. He is part of my family and family is very important to me.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Message from Janice Koivisto, Junior High Teacher

At 8th Grade Camp last week, I was blessed to lead Chapel services each evening for our 41 junior high students…. One evening I challenged them to learn more of who God is by learning some of His Old Testament names… He reveals His character and his attributes through His interactions and His relationships with us…. A few of the names of God that rang clearly in the hearts and lives of the kids were…..
Yahweh- I Am
El Shaddai- The Covenant God, The Promise Keeper
Jehovah Jireh- The God Who Provides
Jehovah Tsidqenu- The Righteous One Jehovah Shalom- The God of Peace
Jehovah Repheka- The God Who Heals
Jehovah Nissi- God is My Banner
Jehovah Shamah- The God Who is Already There
Jehovah Tsebaoath- The God of the Armies of Heaven
Jehovah Elohim- The Three In One
Jehovah Elyon- The Lord Over All

Call upon Him by His names!

He WANTS us to know Him and call on Him! Blessings! Janice Koivisto

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Message from Gretchen Janes, Development Office

As the days fly by, I am realizing that I must be intentional in just about everything I do. This devotional helps me to sort through stuff and establish priorities. Heaven knows there's a lot of stuff going right now! I pray that your motives are pure and your priorities are aligned with God's and that this helps you to sort through your stuff!

What's Your Motive?
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Philippians 1:17; James 4:3
During my days in seminary, I formed a habit that helped me immensely throughout life. I had my artistic sister, Luci, print a simple, three-word question on a small rectangular card I placed on the wall above the desk where I spent so much of my time.

Just black letters on a white card, with a bold question mark at the end:

WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVE?

I no longer have the card, but the question is now indelibly etched on my mind. I ask it almost every day of my life. It has proven to be an essential checkpoint I now apply on a regular basis:

Why are you planning this?
What's the reason behind your doing that?
Why did you say yes (or no)?
What is the motive for writing that letter?
Why are you excited over this opportunity?
What causes you to bring up that subject?
Why did you mention his or her name?
What's your motive, Swindoll?


Searching, probing, penetrating questions.
Because the path of servanthood is so perilous, we need to cultivate a sensitive walk with God marked by obedience.


Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1981), 157--58. Copyright © 1981 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Message from Dave Huss, High School Teacher

In this election year, the leadership of our state and nation are on the forefront of our hearts and minds. Years ago, when I served in the US Army during the Vietnam era, we were trained in 7 Principles of Military Leadership which, we were told, applied particularly to combat situations when serving in a war zone. These principles were:
1. Set the example
2. Know your mission
3. Take responsibility
4. Delegate authority
5. Keep superiors informed
6. Train subordinates
7. Ensure the task is accomplished
In the intervening years after discharge from the Army, in business, in church, and particularly in family life, I have come to realize that these principles are applicable to far more than military combat situations.
1. Paul, while encouraging the leaders of the Church in Corinth said 'Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Jesus Christ' (1Cor. 11:1) Paul knew that, by the Holy Spirit, he was empowered to, and must, Set the Example to fellow believers.
2. The prophet Micah, by the Spirit, gave the all encompassing statement by which we Know our Mission ' He has shown thee, oh man. what is good. And what does the Lord require of thee? But to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.' (Micah 6:8)
3.Taking Responsibility is demonstrated by scores of biblical characters. James, to pick just one, said 'Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says..' (James 1:22-25)
4. Perhaps the clearest teaching on Delegating Authority in scripture is provided by Jethro as he watched his son-in-law, Moses, act as sole judge for most of a million Jews as they wandered in the wilderness enroute to the Promised land. He said ' What is this that you are doing?.... what you are doing is not good....you will only wear yourself out...you cannot handle it alone...... select capable men from all the people.... That will make your load lighter.... you will be able to stand the strain....and the people will go home satisfied...' (Exodus 18:13-23)
5. God is the 'Superior' of every believer, and of course, we don't have to 'inform' Him of anything. He does direct us, however, to continually keep in contact about 'everything'. 'In everything, by prayer and supplication, make your requests known unto God.' Phil 4:6
6. Training Subordinates is part of leadership. Training,(as opposed to teaching) children is a large part of our mission as parents. ' Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' (Prov. 22:6)
7. Ensure the Task is accomplished. Finish the race. Be faithful to the end, no matter what the Lord has given you to do. Paul said, probably just before he was executed '....the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.' 2Tim. 4:6-8

I never learned who formulated these 7 principles of leadership, but I expect, who ever it was, knew the Word of God and certainly understood the importance of appliying the Word to our own lives.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Message from Gena Horn, Technology & Facilities

Our Daily Bread

In August 2009, Blair and Ronna Martin lost their energetic 9-year-old son Matti when he was dragged to his death by a family cow. I had a chance to meet this Kenai, Alaska, family and share in their grief. And I know how tough this tragedy has been for them.

I also know that they are seeking God’s care and comfort for their pain. An observation made by Matti’s mom is valuable for anyone walking through one of life’s valleys. During one of her down times, Ronna was reading 2 Corinthians 1:9, which says that “we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” She felt as if Jesus were telling her, “Ronna, I know the journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.”

When the journey gets too tough to navigate, 2 Corinthians 1:9 is a reminder to us that we don’t travel alone. We have the help of the One who showed us His power in the resurrection, and who will demonstrate His power again when He raises believing loved ones of all generations to eternal life. “My strength and my hope have to be in Christ alone,” Ronna said. That’s a truth we all need as we travel the journey God has for us.

When life’s journey gets so difficult
That it feels too much to bear,
Just remember, we don’t walk alone—
Our almighty God is there. —Sper

The storms of life remind us to take shelter
in the loving arms of our Savior.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Message from Mary Hendricks, Elementary Teacher

I chose the following story to inspire and encourage the faculty and staff of PCUS, in whatever season of your career you may be serving the Lord. May He shower His blessings on us as we share His love with our students and our school families.

Forever Young
by Vicki Caruana, from Kisses of Sunshine
When our youngest child was beginning kindergarten, I didn't know much about the teachers at his school. The word was that Mrs. Sexton was the best kindergarten teacher. She was full of enthusiasm, yet maintained discipline. She loved teaching and she loved kids. I decided Mrs. Sexton was the best choice for Charles. I turned in a brief but expectant letter to the principal in hopes that he would place my son with the best.

He did.

But she turned out to be older - much older - than I expected. By the time she taught my son, Molly Sexton had taught for thirty-two years. When I found this nugget of insider information, I contemplated whether it was worth upsetting the apple cart (so to speak) and request a different teacher. How could someone still have enthusiasm after all those years? Charles was already reluctant to go to school. I didn't want him discouraged by a seasoned teacher - one seasoned with vim and vinegar instead of sweetness and spice. Finally, though, I chose not to make waves and left the assignment as it was. And boy, was I glad I did.

I knew Mrs. Sexton was a pro from the first day I stepped into her classroom. Her room was one of the most inviting classrooms I had ever been in. Not too busy with over-decoration. Not sterile like many high school classrooms. It was just right. She welcomed each and every child as if their class was her very first class. For my son, it was love at first sight. I knew it would be a good year when he slipped his hand out of mine and followed Mrs. Sexton to the activity center without looking back. I stood there, mesmerized by her confidence and her grace. I wanted to linger, but knew it was better for Charles if I didn't.

I once asked Molly Sexton what kept her going. "Loving these little ones as my own makes all the difference," she said. "And remembering how much their parents love them helps when they're driving me crazy!"
Nine hundred students and their parents later, Molly reminisced about her own growth as a teacher. "I still don't know it all," she explained. "I still have a lot to learn and I pray that I learn what I need when I need it."
All of those years of teaching helped her to quickly see the light inside each child put in her care. It was as if she cherished the time she had with them. But even with all that experience, she treated each child as an individual and drew out of them the best they had to offer. They wanted to please her. They wanted to linger. Leaving a teacher you love, even to advance to the next grade, seems both unnecessary and even painful to some children. Charles wanted Mrs. Sexton to be his teacher forever and for always. That is the greatest compliment a teacher can receive.

In the minds of our students, we are still the same as when they sat in our classes. We are, therefore, forever young. Look at yourself through their eyes, aged as they may be now, and recapture for yourself the enthusiasm and dedication you had long ago. Decide to grow into a seasoned teacher - seasoned with all the ingredients of a teacher they will never forget. And when you are faced with the prospect of working with a veteran teacher, honor him or her with the respect they have earned.

“A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd.” ECCLESIASTES 12:11 NLT

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Jay Hendricks, High School Teacher

176 years ago today, on April 11, 1836, George Mueller opened his first orphanage in Bristol England. Mueller grew up as a thief and troublemaker and even did time in jail. In 1825 he began a relationship with Christ, which led to his plan to help homeless children make better lives for themselves. George Mueller took in more than 10,000 orphans and made it a practice to never ask for money. The most amazing legacy, however, was that he recorded over 50,000 answers to prayer in his lifetime. Mueller prayed for and trusted God for his needs and the physical and spiritual needs of the children in his care, and God provided again and again.

Matthew 6:26-34

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Over 50,000 answers to prayer, why should we expect less? God answered prayer in 1836 for George Mueller in Bristol England; God answers prayer today in Phoenix Arizona.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Message from Colleen Helman, High School Teacher

Will I Let God’s Truth Make a Difference in Me Today?

As I sit down to write, I am aware that I am full of inconsistencies in my daily life and walk with the Lord. I know that He is changing me, but it doesn’t seem to go as quickly as I would like.

What encourages me is that the Words of our Lord are always the Words of Truth. And so, this is a reflection of the reminders that God has sent my way recently, along with conviction of my lack of action, and the hope of His renewal and transformation of who I am in Him.

Here is God’s Truth:

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:15-17 MSG

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

James 3:3-5 MSG

And my favorite:

And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 MSG

Have a blessed day!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Message from Brandon Harris, Development & Varsity Football Coach

2 Samuel 9:1-13

1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”
And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”
And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table[a] like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

I love these obscure stories in the Bible that basically encapsulize a person's entire life in a single chapter. This person is Mephibosheth who was the son of Johnathan whom David loved. He showed kindness to Mephibosheth after his father's death. What I like about this story is it is clear to me that there is emphasis placed on the deficiencies of this person. He was crippled, but the fact he was crippled is a metaphor for our deficiencies today. Crippled can also mean he wasn't "high class," he didn't come from the right schools or the right side of the tracks, didn't wear the finest of clothes or have the best things, he didn't have the connections or resources, didn't talk with proper English and wasn't "perfect" like all of us, but David went to Lo Debar, which means some interesting things (hiding place, no pasture, no word) ouch!!! When we are struggling--when we are down--when we are having a hard time or a rough day-- do we hide? We turn our cell phone's on silent, don't respond to email and just don't want to talk about it? This isn't a new phenomenon. It was happening before Mephibosheth. When Adam ate from the tree and God searched the garden calling out for him what did Adam do? He turned his Iphone off and hid!!

So Mephibosheth was "crippled" in a place of hiding, shame, no pasture (nothing fruitful there at all) and no Word (Bible). Basically in a place that was an afterthought. But David asked for Johnathan's remnant, sought him out and actually sent men out and got him. I can see David's men saying come on out and Mephibosheth saying "he didn't feel like it" or "didn't want to get up." How many blessings have we missed because we wouldn't just get up? But David didn't take no for an answer and sent his men for him and brought him back; restored everything to him and more and here is the real cool part…underneath that table cloth Mephibosheth was still crippled. But as you look across the table at him, he looks the same as anyone else--that table cloth hides his imperfections!!! So the question is, who is your Mephibosheth? Who do you know is hiding, ashamed and don't think God has love for them? Do you need to send for them? Actually go pick them up and bring them to church or to pray with them? Are you struggling with some Mephibosheth challenges of your own? Well Jesus is our David and he is reaching out to get us out of that hiding place where we are alone and exactly where the enemy wants us to be, isolated and without the word (Lo debar) so he can work on our minds telling us how imperfect we are and no one cares…but remember Jesus does care and is sending for us so we can take our seat with him at His table no matter what we look like under the table cloth.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Message from Harold Harmon, High School Teacher

I have always had a difficult time wrapping my finite mind around the Biblical truths regarding God’s design and plan for our lives when I have seen first-hand so much poverty and sickness in this world. I have seen malnourished children begging in the streets of Ecuador and Morelia and Jalapa and the list goes on. And these are not the poorest of the poor. Sandy and I have picked up the pieces of 60+ children who have come from abusive and neglectful homes – children we introduce to Jesus and have to explain why God allowed them to be born to parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics and who didn’t care for them. And then, the puzzling question is: Why was I born into a loving family and was given the best of everything? Why do I live in a beautiful home and have bounty, when our good friends in Rocky Point live in shanties and rarely have enough to eat?

I know in my mind that the answer lies in the profound affect that sin has had on this planet. And all I can do is thank God for the blessings that He continues to give to my family and do what I can to ease the misery of those who lie in my sphere of influence. Even though our efforts are but a drop in the ocean, we will continue to take food and clothing to Mexico and we will continue to provide foster children with a loving home who, otherwise, would be living in a shelter. Jeff will continue to bless less- fortunate children from MC Cash as well as an array of others that are blessed by the service projects and blood drives. Howard, Jan and Jim will continue to bless the refugees from Uganda. And the teachers and staff at PC will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands who are blessed by their efforts.

God blesses us so we can, in turn, be a blessing to others. Jesus’ ministry was to the poor, the lame, and the sick of this world. If we see the world through our Father’s eyes, we will be a channel of God’s love to those around us. It is far better to give than to receive.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Message from Alicia Galindo, Human Resources Manager

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice”. Philippians 4:4

This is a small but powerful verse from Philippians. Even though at times, we may choose not to “rejoice”, this is actually a commandment from our Lord to rejoice regardless of our circumstance. Not always easy but again, this is directly from the Lord. Are you rejoicing today despite what you are going through?

Have a blessed day!

(Taken from Word for the Day from Tom Nannarone)

Monday, April 2, 2012

Message from Laura Furedy, Preschool Director

Communion on the Moon: July 20, 1969
(An article by Eric Metaxas)

Forty-two years ago two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. "I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. And a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about it in my book, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about God (But Were Afraid to Ask)."

The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would
soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the
minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine.

And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon.
He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the LM pilot. I'd like
to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of
the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000
miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened:

"In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had
given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture, 'I am the
vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.'

"I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a
legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at
Christmas.
I agreed reluctantly.

"I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility.
It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."

And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon
- and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars."