For Dinner: Taco Salad.
Mood: Very Jesuitical.
Written in the Year of our Lord 3580, March 24th,  Sunday  night.
Location: The Fel arcology on the city Vagnar on the continent of Laufey, near the Ran ocean, on Loki.

     Sunday morning.

     Glutheim escorted me to a cargo hanger in the bowels of the Fel arcology. I met Cynthia face to face...an older woman, who was represnting several business consortiums trying to scout out business opportunities here on Loki. Glutheim followed me into the hanger, where there were about two dozen humans gathered.

I'd like to tell you I remember all two dozen names, but I have a horrible confession to make for a man of the cloth...I'm absolutely terrible with names.
     I got up to do my sermon. Several had occured to me to use, but somehow the words never seemed so appropriate, as those in the most well-known Psalm of all...

"Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death,
"I will fear no evil...

    "Many times we have heard those words. Even here, in a land bereft of love, among a people to whom charity is a meaningless noise, we ourselves bring love and charity in our wake." I continued in that vein for another twenty minutes.

     Then came the Communion, for those who wanted it. I blessed the Sacraments, and distributed it to those who felt the need. We sang several hymns, and I was gratified that there were some strong singers among them, including Cynthia. Myself, I keep my singing low, save on times when I think no one can hear me. My voice is a terrific speaking voice, a horrible singing voice.

     Cynthia invited me to her home with several other church members for a small dinner party tomorrow. It was comforting to chat with humans again. Perhaps half of them were military personnel, making sure Loki abided by the terms imposed after the Loki-Cluster war. Half of the rest were scientists...xenologists, ecologists, sociologists, for instance. The remaining five, like Cynthia, were business types.

     Glutheim was thoughtful on the way home. I asked him, "What did you find most interesting about our service?"

     "You believe you eat the flesh and drink the blood of your God-made-Man?"

     "Yes. Some think it's merely symbolic. Some rather hold that an actual miracle happens when you bless the bread and wine...that, despite appearances, it is Jesus' blood and body."

     "And this happens thousands of places every worship day? There is no end to this? I think you humans may have us beat. Certainly we never dreamed of being able to eat or drink the remains of one of the Creators. What a horrible yet satisfying revenge!"

     "But it's not..." then I resolved to not say anything for a minute. Given Glutheim's instincts and frame of reference, that actually seemed reasonable...

     But at least I found some things the Lokiites would approve of in Christianity...albeit for all the wrong reasons.

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