Apollo+40: Lunar Communion

During Apollo 8's broadcast from lunar orbit, December 24, 1968, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders used the words from the book of Genesis to frame their Christmas message from the Moon. NASA promptly got sued by an atheist; the case was eventually dismissed.

Apollo 11 LMP Buzz Aldrin wished to receive Holy Communion on the Moon, but couldn't be plain about his act.

105:25:38 (Aldrin): "This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way. Over."

Aldrin had brought conscecrated bread and wine with him in his "Personal Preference Kit" that his pastor provided. Before receiving the sacrament, Aldrin read from John's Gospel, Chapter 15, Verse 5:

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (NASB)

On this, the 40th Anniversary of the first Holy Communion received on the Moon, let us all give thanks for God's blessings on the great United States of America, through His son, Jesus Christ.