Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong took communion on the moon. Did you know that? I’d never heard that story. It showed up on Snopes this week.
I don’t know why, but I really found that to be interesting. The last few years I’ve been studying a lot about the Lord’s Supper. I never read, though, about the astronauts’ lunar communion.
The Associated Press reported the incident this way back in 1969:
Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. went to the moon today with a piece of Communion bread he will use there to symbolize fellowship with his home church on earth.
When the Rev. M. Dean Woodruff [minister of the Webster Presbyterian church where Aldrin was an elder] brought out the bread for Communion, a portion of the loaf had been broken away. The minister explained that Aldrin took a portion of the loaf with him on the moon trip and at some time during the afternoon, after the moon landing is made, Aldrin would symbolically join the other parishioners in Communion during one of his rest periods.
Go over to Snopes if you’re interested in reading the astronauts’ own accounts.
This is good. I thought I had heard it all concerning the moon landing…this is interesting. Thanks!
Don
Thanks for this bit of history. It helps when others are considering Christ’s sacrifice even on the moon, rather than building the “Ark of Hope” blaspheming what God has created. If anyone is interested, here is a site about this ark. Tim, I understand if you don’t wish to include this comment, but am appalled at what God’s creatures do many times.
http://www.contenderministries.org/articles/arkofhope.php
Don: Glad it was of interest. I was unfamiliar with that.
Jeanne: I have ceased to be amazed at the things people come up with in the name of religion. I’ve been getting e-mails telling me that Jesus is here. They give me his e-mail address to contact him. Sheesh…
Tim, you can become a fan of his on Facebook. And his book. and his father. and prolly his spirit, too, but I don’t think I’ve seen that pop up in my suggestions.
So, Buzz took that bread all the way to the soundstage in LA, huh? Pretty impressive! (KIDDING!)
Tim,
Tom Hanks’ HBO series, FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON, did a marvelous job communicating the spirituality that some of the Apollo astronauts cultivated. Included was their depiction of this event in their episode on Apollo 11. I thought the producers were respectful and I found their portrayal of this incident very inspiring.
Mark Edge
That’s cool!
Hmm…wonder when the “first day of the week” is on the moon :) Or Mars, for that matter. It’s interesting to think of all the earth-specific things in the Bible and wonder how that would translate to other locations.
Did not know this. Thanks for sharing.
Tim: It is a wonder that the Athiests didn’t object with the separation of church and state. Our tax dollars being spent on 2 guys taking communion. They were lucky the ACLU didn’t raise a stink at the time.
Just taking a poke LOL…..interesting info
I especially like that Aldrin, for all his accomplishments, being among the world’s most brilliant astronauts, arguably among the world’s most brilliant and accomplished people, still saw himself as a member of a community, a community of faith. And at the moment that would mark him as among the best and brightest, he remembers to whom he belongs. And not just that he belongs to Christ, but that he belongs in a group of normal human beings.
Yes, mi amigo mendigo, I especially loved the story of what went on in his home congregation. Can’t you imagine how they felt as they took the Lord’s Supper that day?
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
i am revelation 12 and my mother is the new wonder of heaven who is cloaked in the sun and stands upon the moon and her crown of 12 stars are the zodiac and 13 is her mothers lordess number of blood days called months … and since man has no respect for woman or the earth apollo 13 never got to the surface of the moon .. and holy communion is the ultimate insalt to womans glory above man which he disgraces with his god and bible although she is the main part of revelation and that i rule this world and will incarserate the pope when the giant milstone asteroid destroys new york in rememberence of september 11 to release the woman who were marteresd against mans frightenly authorotarian language at her expense and expect mother nature to return that horror on your day of judgement in revelation 18 when i take control of all your nonsence man for ever more and new york is destroyed for ever ….skeatsy.com