Fifty Acts 2. Colleagues Communion

The presbytery had a retreat day.  Now I'm not so sure about this, as my idea of a retreat is someone in his hermitage (probably near Dunkeld) shunning modern life (insert your own cutting jibe about Dunkeld here) and contemplating the Works of God around him.  It was certainly nothing like 20 ministers sitting round with tea and biscuits.  But that's modern life for you. 

The retreat was lead by one of the west coast hospital chaplains.  Now here is someone who work at both ends of life, from the maternity ward to the hospice.  It sounds like a tough gig, especially for someone who hates hospitals and doesn't like the sight of blood. The chaplain admitted to these two failings that I would have thought would have been a barrier to his employment.  Mysterious ways etc. 

Here was someone who had a very practical approach to his theology, and genuinely brought comfort to those he met There's no place to debate the merits of infant vs believers baptism when the infant in question isn't going to last the morning. This is faith in action at the very front line, bringing Christ's comfort to those in need. 

Having spoken with another chaplain, he confided in me that baptism need not be conducted by an ordained minister/priest.  If the person is in mortal danger, as long as the baptism is in the name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and is carried out with sincerity then the baptism is valid.  After this, what happened later in the day was a bit odd.  The chaplain lead us in Communion, but because he wasn't ordained to Word and Sacrament, one of the Ministers present had to do the breaking of bread.  Odd because, in the same way as Jesus taught his followers, the chaplain had been teaching us; odd because here was someone who carried out one of the sacraments of the Church of Scotland on a regular basis, but he wasn't allowed to the other one because nobody was dying.

But the Communion, as a celebration was invigorating.  It was the first time I have gathered with my colleagues and been part of the team, rather than a prospect with ambitions to join the gang. 

And there's hope for me yet.  I don't like hospitals.  I don't like blood.  Looks like I am chaplain material then.