Precious reunions

Monday, Clare went on the Train Regional to have lunch with a former colleague living among the vineyards at Cully, between Vevey and Lausanne. Yesterday was so eventful that I decided to do as little as possible all day. I intended to go and do some food shopping, but inertia triumphed, and not because I was terribly tired, but I felt the need just to be inward, and digest such good experiences rather than go out and do something, even something as simple as a trip to the supermarket.

When Clare returned, we walked together to her favourite little beach again at Chillon, so that she could have a swim. The large Lemanique sailing boat which seems to live in Villeneuve Port, came by, close inshore, albeit under engine power, sails furled, deck crowded with passengers rather than crew by the looks of it,and passed in front of the Chateau, offering a gorgeous photo opportunity.

Today, we had visitors, old friends from our Holy Trinity Geneva days, Gill and Claudine. It's five years since we last met. Claudine had just signed up for an apartment yet to be built in Carouge. Now she's living there, when she's in the country. She spends most of the year in Myanmar, working there as a mediator on behalf of the Swiss Government. Gill has moved from Petit Sacconex out to Cartigny, close to her daughter and grandchildren in a village that's on Geneva Canton's Route de Vignoble. For us, it was a happy reunion, having shared so many special moments together over the past 20+ years. 

It was natural for us to celebrate the Eucharist together. We did it as we did on some special occasions in times past, only this time in the lounge of Church House rather than in the church. In a predominantly Buddhist country, though not without its indigenous Anglican presence, Claudine's work schedule doesn't always allow her to join the faithful at Yangon Cathedral, and as a former chorister at Holy Trinity Geneva, she misses part-singing English language traditional hymns. 

So, our English language Mass incorporated four of her/our favourites, sung in parts. I also invited Claudine to choose scripture readings scripture that especially spoke to her. 1 Corinthians 13, Matthew 5:1-16 and Psalm 25 were her choice. That made me wonder - if someone put me on the spot, and asked me what scripture readings I'd most like to hear at a Mass, after an involuntary absence from the sacraments, what would I long to hear read?  

After our celebration, we walked down to Territet Port and enjoyed lunch on the terrace overlooking the lake at Le Contretemps restaurant. It was a perfect setting for a relaxed hour or so, before we had to bid them farewell. Claudine returns to duties in Myanmar this Friday. We'll meet Gill again next week when we visit Geneva.