Today was Pentecost and the celebration of the 1450th anniversary of the arrival of St. Columba to Iona.  The event was by invitation only and we were honored to be part of it. Today was also the opening worship of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in Edinburgh.  We are traveling to Edinburgh and Glasgow this week for some sightseeing and hope to stop in.
                                                              
Dignitaries and guests on Iona today were greeted by a bagpiper, of course.  (We also recognized him as a worker on the ferry when not piping for special occasions!)                                

                                                                                                                                                            
Guests were also welcomed by the children's choir from Iona Primary School.  Do you recognize the rugby team?

Rose and Dianne in their clergy attire to look "official" for the occasion.

A picture can not begin to do justice to the interior of the Abbey. It is an awesome worship space.

Guests were hosted to a buffet lunch following the service in a large tent erected in the Iona Primary School yard.  Islanders said they had  "never seen anything like it!"