St Aidan's has Visit from Bishop Prakash Yuhanna

St Aidan's has Visit from CEC Bishop, Prakash Yuhanna of Pakistan

St. Aidan's was honored to have our first Episcopal visit from Bishop Prakash Yuhanna of Pakistan on Monday, February 4, 2008! Although not an official diocesan visit, it was nevertheless an exciting and wonderful time to visit with this gentle and humble pastor from another country.

I picked him up on Monday morning and gave him the grand tour of Antioch, CA. He seemed to enjoy the beauty of our brief visit to Black Diamond Mines Regional Park located just outside the city. In the late 1800's this was the site of several coal mining towns, such as Somersville and Nortonville. There are hundreds of miles of tunnels and shafts running underneath the surrounding hills. Bishop enjoyed the beauty and quiet of the area and took several photos of us, the landscape, and some cows grazing in a nearby pasture. Its a place of personal retreat when I just need to get away for a few hours to think and pray and walk. My father often took me and my little brother, Jim, hiking here when we were children and I've been coming back ever since.

St Aidan's had a spaghetti dinner for Bishop Yuhanna Monday evening. One of our members, Cal Faria, made a Pakistani/Indian dish called Samosis which we all greatly delighted in eating. It was an awesome time of fellowship, sitting around the table, breaking bread together with Bishop, and hearing some of his stories from back home.

After dinner, Bishop celebrated an Evening Office with Reserve Sacrament with St Aidan's Church. He spoke from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, where our Lord said that we are the Light of the World.

Bishop told a story about a large black bird who had spent all day drinking and feasting. As the darkness of night was drawing closer, the bird realized it was too dark now to find his way home. So, he flew into a bush and began to cry out. After awhile, a little fire fly came along and heard the black birds cry. He told the bird, I am but a little insect but the Lord has made with with a little light and if you will follow me, I will lead you home. In just the same way, each one of us has been given a little light, the light of Christ, to shine in the world and dispel its darkness. We must each do our best to shine our lights for Christ and be the light of the world.

After serving us Communion, he blessed and prayed for each one of us personally; and we spent a little while just praising the Lord.

Truly, Bishop Yuhanna is a living example of being a light bearer. He was an encouragement and inspiration to each one of us.