April 8th

When Astronauts Pray

To my dear TFMC family,

I’ve been watching with great interest the progress of the Artemis II mission. Space travel has captivated me for as long as I can remember. I grew up devouring National Geographic magazines, watching NOVA specials, and nurturing a deep curiosity about the worlds beyond our own.

What has truly captured my imagination about Artemis II is that this marks the first time in two generations that such a journey has become reality. It is not fiction, nor is it merely archival footage; it is happening right now. People are travelling to the Moon and back, and I have been able to witness it live on YouTube.  As I explained to Chloe, this is something that’s never happened while she or I have been alive. The fact that something of this magnitude is occurring within my lifetime is a profound reminder of how unique and monumental this expedition truly is.  It has made me wonder if this is how it felt for my parents as they watched the Apollo space missions.

Beyond the engineering marvel, what has also drawn my attention is the frequency with which Jesus and God have been explicitly mentioned by the astronauts. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise me that the divine is invoked in such moments; history tells us that many astronauts—from the Mercury and Gemini eras to Apollo—have reported profound spiritual encounters while in space. It’s well known, for instance, that Buzz Aldrin, a Presbyterian elder, quietly partook of communion while on the lunar surface—the first and only person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon.

Last evening, while watching the live stream, I heard one of the astronauts remark that they need entirely new superlatives to describe their experience. I can only imagine the overwhelming nature of standing so close to a celestial body we have only ever viewed from a distance. While some might attribute the timing to the Easter season, I believe this frequent invocation of the divine stems from something deeper: a raw, unfiltered sense of awe.

If I were to summarize the emotions echoing from the mission, it is awe. Awe at the Creator of the universe, who crafted the celestial bodies we now orbit. Awe at the intricate design of the cosmos that allows life to exist on this fragile sphere. Awe at the human spirit that dares to reach beyond the atmosphere, not in conquest, but in humble exploration.  

And while terms like "lightspeed," "hyper-drives," and "warp travel" still tickle my imagination as a science fiction fan, there is a distinct sacredness in seeing humankind travel to our nearest celestial neighbour. Taking photographs, witnessing solar eclipses, and observing meteorites strike the Moon serve as a powerful reminder that we all live on this same "pale blue dot." In doing so, I am in awe, reminded of our shared home and our shared dependence on the One who holds the stars in place.

Yours,

Craig Janzen Neufeld, Pastor