Sunrise Epiphany

On Sunday, December 29th we ushered in the Christmas season, the Winter Solstice, and a brand New Year at 6:30 am with a Sunrise Beach Eucharist! It was a grand yet always simple celebration that gave primal witness to God's light in the world overcoming every darkness we encounter. After the service and most had left and most things were packed up, out of seemingly nowhere a young man in his mid-twenties came running up to me exclaiming, "Father, I found this dollar on the beach and I'd like to donate it to what you do here!" I was so moved and accepted his finding. But then he asked me a question that profoundly shook me, "Do you have any Communion bread left?" After quickly looking around I found the basket and rummaged through it until I found a wafer and as I turned toward him with this body of Christ, he opened his hands out in the gesture to receive, and I passed him the Holy Mystery saying, "The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven" and I blessed him. He then gave me the tightest hug and disappeared. Fr. Andrew, witnessing this all, said, "This is why we do this. This is why we take the Church out into the world. You never know who so desperately needs God." 

--The Rev. Benjamin A. Thomas Jr.