Hi everyone,

 Tonight was a special evening at Dayspring chapel.  It was the 10th anniversary Eucharist of Henri Nouwen's death.  Henri as I mentioned was a Dutch priest who lived in this Daybreak community from 1986-1996 when he died of a heart attack while home visiting family.  His legacy has touched so many people and many books continue to be written about his life and writings.

 Well tonight our whole house went to the celebration which was a first since I got here.  One of our core members hasn't been going but when asked by Wendy the Anglican priest who was helping to organize the celebration, he agreed which was awesome.  This also meant all of us could go and no one would have to stay behind.

 The Eucharist was celebrated by Bill Clarke, a Jesuit and friend of L'Arche Daybreak. The mood was set as the opening song which was lively enough, had an added spice when Linda Slinger stood up and began to lead the community with gestures.  It was wonderful seeing everyone open up and enter into Linda's spontanaiety. Sister Sue Mosteller preached the homily tonight which was the Gospel of the Prodigal Son.  Henri Nouwen had writen a book on this famous gospel and also on the famous painting by the same name by Rembrandt which hangs in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Her homily was focused on the challenge to enter into the relationship with God like the son did with the Father in the gospel.  It was interesting that she spoke of like the Son who left, we need to give ourselves permission to run away so as to be able to enter into relationship or reconnect with our God.  When she said that she looked at me.  We joked about it afterwards and she said she happened to look over my way (much like I do when I preached) and we locked eyes.  She though "Oh Oh!" I laughed and told her she was right.  I was that Son who gave himself permission to leave home, to what I knew so that I could try to find my way.  It is a running away from those things that can keep us rom our true selves, our relationship with God, our searching, our questions.  This year is my time to try and find my way.

 Eucharist was a huge loaf of bread, and a large flagon of wine, enough to throw a feast for the huge crowd that filled the chapel.  Again the symphony of grunts, groans and noises intertwined with the Eucharistic prayer as we gave thanks  to God for the relationship shared between Henry and this community and also for all the good things God has done in our lives. As I moved to communion, I was given community by Francis, the oldest core member at 84.  I was touched by this gesture of the core members in their brokenness, sharing the bread, broken and shared with me in my own brokenness. As I moved to the cup, it was shared by John Bloss, a core member of our house, who has not gone to our Friday nights since I came here.  It was touching that John shared the cup with me, and reminded me that in his own brokenness, he has shared his love with me, his mischevious sense of humour and tended to my own brokenness.

 The closing song was "Bring forth the kingdom" which brought forth a group to dance and sing us out.  I was excited to see David Harmon, a core member grab Caroline, another core member and start to dance.  There was clapping, dancing and singing.  Oh that our Eucharist could be that free for us when we celebrate.  We finished afterwards with a four part acapella version of "We are marching".  I joined the choir tonight for the celebration and it was a lot of fun.  We are adding more instruments which brings more life to the music.

 And so another wonderful Friday at Dayspring.  I go to sleep with great memories of another wondrous day here. Good night all.

                                         Jeff