I spend a lot of my time at St. John's, where my daughter sings in the choir, where we attend church, and we're I meet a good friend to help him blog and do other things with his computer. It's a beautiful 19th century Episcopalian church, the mission of which is to take care of people. Period. No questions asked. On Sunday, I sat upstairs to take pictures of the choir. Because the church across the street was closed, some homeless folks came in to get out of the cold. They did what they could to participate, but they were also comfortable just sitting there and getting warm and, in one case, reading a child's novel. There's a basic idea at work at St. John's that you don't close your doors. Because people want to come in. Or they need to. There is the beautiful and the grand about the place, but the humble and ordinary make it great.
41 Comments
'Tis indeed a gift to be simple.
ReplyDeleteThat window is grand though. So are those pipes.
I attended a Christmas Eve service at an old Episcopal church like this once and learned that I'm not nearly well conditioned or coordinated enough to be Episcopal. I couldn't keep up. It was a marvel to behold.
A bigger marvel though is a church that actually cares about the people in the community it serves. Too many of them, it seems, forget that's what they're there for.
Beautiful choir area of church. The 19th century church is very lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe Gothic doorway looks very inviting. I can almost hear the choir as the organ sends those lovely notes up the pipes. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and very moving post, Sandy! Your photos are wonderful! But more important than the beauty, is that the church does what I always thought was the main purpose of churches -- to be there with open doors to all. And while most churches today say that is what they're there for, they don't all practice what they preach. We have so many people in this country today who are in need of so much and it's wonderful and inspiring to learn that at least one church does indeed open it's arms and doors to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandy, and have a beautiful and blessed Christmas.
Sylvia
What a truly beautiful place to belong and I do not mean just the beauty you've photographed .. xo
ReplyDeleteVery nice pictures of the church. I like churches and when I'm on vacation I visite a lot of them.
ReplyDeletevery christlike, he didn't turn his back on the poor, lowly or homeless...
ReplyDeleteWhat a graet look into this church, wonderful captures.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Nice place, and nice photos too.
ReplyDeleteLovely post Tis the Season
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post and photographs. My daughter and I both sang in the Episcopal church choir I grew up in when she was coming along and it saddens me how locked up it is at this point. I don't attend much anymore but there have been a few times I've checked the church doors and they were locked (even during the day).
ReplyDeleteYour post takes me back to my childhood when my Dad (he was the Rector of the downtown Episcopal church I'm speaking about) insisted on keeping the Church unlocked. Some time in the 60s he conceded to the vestry and the main Church was locked at night but the Chapel stayed unlocked all the time. Eventually that too was locked after robberies and the vestry pushing for it. It was heartbreaking and something my father was saddened by because he felt like he'd rather the chapel be robbed if it could stay open. I wish he were alive so I could send him to this post. I know it would make him very happy.
churches should never have their doors closed.
ReplyDeletehappy christmas.
I think they lock churches for security reasons now-vandals and theives. Lovely post and I like the rose window, thanks for sharing and have a merry christmas:)
ReplyDeleteYou've expressed its beauty perfectly through words and images. It sounds like a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteWonderful church! I've often wondered why so many lock their doors during the week, kind of implying that God only cares for people during certain hours.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. Wonderful church.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, I agree that church doors should not be closed.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful church, nice captures
ReplyDeleteWish you and your Family a Merry Christmas :)
Annual Cake Show
Very beautiful church, nice captures
ReplyDeleteWish you and your Family a Merry Christmas :)
Annual Cake Show
Beautiful shots of the interiors of the church. A Very Happy Christmas to you and your near and dear ones.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandi, it must be a beautiful church from the look of your photos. They are wonderful! Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots Sandy, I love the pipe organ. This is a beautiful church.
ReplyDeleteI see the Anonymous spammer is back, it's been a while since I have seen him. For awhile I was removing his comments daily.
Beautiful shots. I love pipe organs. They fascinate me. It sounds like this church is what a church should be. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are one of it's jewels!
ReplyDeleteAloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
I must say what lovely details of what I must presume, a lovely church. I guess Episcopalian churches have similarities in appearance everywhere you go though the pipe organ here is something else. I can just imagine the music that resonates through the church especially come Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that churches close their doors maybe because of thievery. I don't suppose God keep visiting hours, does He? :D Maligayang Pasko from the tropics and God bless!
You may appear a very elegant lady to me Sandy, but in essence, you have a beautiful heart and exquisite soul. Down to earth and downright plain and simple, easy to interact with in the blogworld.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are extra-ordinarily ordinary in a sense that you speak life, real life that most of us readers can relate to.
Yes, in most churches I have known and observed, it is always the humble and the ordinary people in the congregation that makes the church grand.
I like that mosaic round window picture here.
Greetings for a safe season.
Very fine post with excellent images and words, Sandy. St John's Church has a charming atmosphere indeed.
ReplyDeleteSandy, you so beautifully highlighted why I love sacred spaces so much. We have an old mission in town that offers some of the services you describe. I'm not Catholic, but I could feel the holiness and love radiating from the very walls.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and pics!
an inspiring post. churches should not be intimidating. thanks for sharing your world.
ReplyDeleteLooks also very modern compared to the churches we have here in Belgium.
ReplyDeleteThat mixture of grand and humble is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas.
yes, open door for everyone. this is the meaning. Beautiful photography. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteSandy: Beautiful capture from a wonderful old structure, it must have so much history.
ReplyDeletea special place I can feel it..many blessings this holiday and throughout 2010
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful place and one that really understands what God wants us to do here on earth.
ReplyDeleteTo me that is what a church should be - a place where God's warmth, both spiritual and physical, is available to all. Beautful post!
ReplyDeleteChristmas blessings to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThat rose window...great shot! We also go to sunday masses and just last sunday the parish was giving out xmas good for the people.
ReplyDeleteI particular like the first photo with the stairs and the third with the organ pipes.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a great and welcoming place.
You captured things (and feelings and actions) that people don't normally see...kudos!
ReplyDeleteFellowship, feasting, giving and receiving gifts are all the buzzwords in a Christmas setting. Make your Christmas a one to cherish for years!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.