“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”
I thought about that Gospel verse from Mathew on my drive home from our recent Shrove Tuesday sausage and pancake dinner on Feb. 17. Not sure why.
The Vestry members once again, just as in so many years past, served up a delicious tasting menu of plump and moist sausage links, light golden pancakes, applesauce, cold and hot drinks. And of course, all while we listened to festive Mardi Gras music on the undercroft sound system.
But, in reflection I think I know the reason now, why I thought about that Gospel verse from Mathew on my drive home. It was due to the end of the evening conversation during the clean up time by several of us Vestry members. We noted that this year the final attendance was only 24 people. And in not-too-distant years past, it had been in the 30-plus head count. We reminisced that this year we missed seeing some regular Parish members at this year’s supper. Sadly, some are due to their passing away. Some due to now being permanent residents in nursing care facilities.
And some now find it uncomfortable to drive home later in the evening in the dark. For a moment, it was a sad observation of perhaps our new reality. And yet, we also noted and celebrated the fact that most of the folks attending this year stayed almost the entire evening, right up to the beginning of clean up time. The mood was relaxing and festive. And for that sense of friendship, companionship, and the presence of a loving community, we are thankful to God. And just as Mathew’s Gospel says, I think God was amongst us and smiling on our smaller group of 24 parish members who came together that night in HIS name. Thanks be to you, dear God. Amen.