Story from a Tim Horton's at St Mary's University in Halifax

- Magdalena Jennings 

This happened a few days ago, but I thought I'd share it with you; 

Before our performance at Synod, I spent an afternoon in the cafeteria replying to emails concerning my “normal life” and typing up a monologue that I just couldn’t put my finger on quite yet. I believe, in fact, that it was the day before our performance, and here I was, desperately sorting out potential roommates for my apartment in September and trying to feign some semblance of organization concerning an event at my university in October, while trying to figure out why it was that I couldn’t memorize, or even fully understand the monologue I had written, and which I had to perform the next day. In short, I was getting very, very stressed. Father Elliot Siteman was just returning from the afternoon service, and caught sight of my distressed visage. 

Father Elliot: Magdalena, are you okay?
Me: Yes.
FE: You look stressed.
Me: Well, I am, a bit. I mean, I am stressed, but I am okay.
FE: gestures to his bag. I’ve got Jesus in my bag.
Me: What?
FE takes out a bottle of wine, a silver chalice, and some wafers
Me: Oh.
FE: Would you like to take communion?
Me: What, now?
FE: Yep.
Me: Okay... well.... let me close my laptop.
FE performs communion, with all the proper prayers. People in the cafeteria alternately stare and ignore. Me is at first very amused (perhaps too amused) but forces a straight face.
FE: There. Didn’t that make you feel better?

Basically, it did. And at first I thought it was silly (who ever heard of communion in a cafeteria?, and besides, it was the first time anyone had served me communion privately), but when I thought about it – this is what communion is about, right? It is about bringing love to those who are in need, who feel they are drowning, who need a hand, no matter how petty the matter is. We are there for each other because we belong together, and we all need to stay healthy and happy. Taking communion in the cafeteria was for me a symbol that someone cared, and that brought a calm within me. Thank you, Elliot. The monologue sorted itself out quite easily afterwards.

This is Elliott.  He doesn't always carry around consecrated communion elements in a bag, but when he does, he'll share it with you anywhere!