Buzz Aldrin’s lunar communion

While looking into the food that the Apollo 11 astronauts ate during their lunar mission, I learned that not only did Buzz Aldrin — a Presbyterian elder — read Bible verses during journey, but also took communion once he and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.

“I would 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,” Aldrin radioed back to Earth. He then read John 15:5 silently to himself from a 3-by-5-inch notecard. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.” Once Aldrin completed his reading, he poured his wine and ate his bread.

The first food and drink on the moon was communion.

Aldrin read another Bible verse — Psalm 8:3-4 — after he and his crew finished their mission. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained; What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the Son of Man, that thou visitest Him?”