Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
So good to have the A word back! Don't forget - Easter lasts 50 days.
Attention all congregations: Make room in your schedule to visit St Johns Youngstown for the eucharist! Soon. I don't recall passing anyone who didn't smile and give some sort of greeting. Talk about feeling welcome. Wow! Those folks are friendly. And I don't think it was just because I was with someone they know or it was Easter. I took off with my camera before the service. When I walked out the front door to take a couple of photos, a woman said she hoped I wasn't leaving. I returned via another door and people from the man helping in the parking lot to mothers corraling kids greeted me. Nobody looked aside as people have elsewhere.
I chose this parish for two reasons. I knew there would be good music. I know several people in the choir from the old Youngstown Symphony Chorus. It was good to see them again. Their choir is twice the size of the others I've experienced.
A friend who is a longtime member of St John's choir lost her husband a few weeks ago. I knew she hadn't been back so I had an opportunity to experience all she had talked about and do a favor for her. She is resigning from the choir because she can't drive at night and she has trouble navigating physically. Everyone was happy to see her.
I thought the priest looked vaguely familiar. After the service we chatted briefly. He was an interim in Greenville, PA awhile back. I met him when I went to hear a deacon friend preach. Small world. St Johns gets a new rector on 1 May 2014.
The church is sort of like a cave. All stone interior. The hanging banners all have a stylized Episcopal Church banner on the reverse.
They have moved the altar down to the floor. Notice the eucharist minister taking photos with a pink camera like my old one.
They do something I've never seen before. They have a regular chalice for the wine but they also have a tiny silver cup on a stem, wider but similar to a cordial glass, that is using for intinction.
It's blurry but this little gal was "playing a trumpet" with the brass during the last hymn. I've since learned she plays trombone.
The HC candle is second from the right since the rightmost was already lit.
Below the party horns on either side are the columbariums. Columbaria?
It has been a beautiful day in so many ways.
I'm not happy with the church photos. There are some major differences between the way the old and new cameras handle lighting. I couldn't get decent photos of the windows. I need to do some reading. This one has lots of special settings which I haven't had time to investigate yet. Stay tuned.
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