During the final service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St. Michael鱿鱼视频app Cathedral on Jan. 29, Rev. Dr. Peter Holmes told the large gathering about an instance when he was asked to bring forward the gifts at Edinburgh鱿鱼视频app St. Mary鱿鱼视频app Catholic Cathedral.
Holmes had stopped in to see the historic church while on a trip to the Scottish capital and was surprised when one of the ushers asked him to bring up the gifts. He hesitated to tell the usher he was a Baptist minister because he didn鈥檛 want to make an issue of it, or seem to be emphasizing the division.
On the other hand, he didn鈥檛 want to cause offence or scandal.
His quandary left Holmes thinking about the act of presenting the gifts.
鈥淚f there鱿鱼视频app not love in our hearts, we can carry that bread to the altar but it鱿鱼视频app stale, it鱿鱼视频app mouldy,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e can carry that wine, but without love it鱿鱼视频app sour, it鱿鱼视频app vinegar.鈥�
To present our gifts to God is an essential call to all Christians, said Holmes.
鈥淚 believe we鈥檙e all called to present the gifts of God in the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we hear the voice of Christ and we are compelled by the love of Christ to share the gifts of the Lord, the saints are here with us.鈥�
The service at St. Michael鱿鱼视频app was the Toronto culmination of the global celebration of ecumenical spirit featured Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Orthodox clergy gathered behind the altar, asking forgiveness for the sins of disunity and listening to the Christian musical heritage of Armenian, Baptist and Catholic choirs.