St Paul's Episcopal Church, Medina, OH, 23 March 2014

As usual there were snowflakes when I left for church. They got pretty intense here and there on my journey but not dangerous. That was a concern as I left about 15 minutes later than planned. I knew I would be late but that's life. Turned out I got there at the tail end of the opening hymn. In my hurry I forgot to change glasses and also left the camera in the car. I retrieved them during the offering. 

My decision to drive two hours to church in snow was precipitated by a late night discussion during which the rector said he hadn't written a sermon yet. He and I have been internet friends but had never met. 

Since I was late, there was no usher to greet me. I slid into the penultimate pew and was immediately greeted by the man on the other end of the pew who offered to share his hymnal. I knew they were on the last verse tho. He continued to be friendly and helpful throughout the service. Afterward he introduced me to the organist who is quite good. She's his wife. My voice tends to bring people to say something and invite me to join the choir. I'm grateful that I can still sing.

I was happy to encounter Rite II, Form 3. Lent is a good time for that. I've done it fewer than a half dozen times and like it. It was also good to hear a good choir again. Nobody walked on by during the peace. Everyone was cordial tho nobody invited me to coffee hour until after. It was interesting to see the choir process to the back and sing the hymns until everyone else had communed at which point they did. The church isn't very large so that was good leadership for the music.

The priest is a good preacher. He had obviously spent some time either very late or very early thinking about what he would say. He was asked by the Plain Dealer to comment on some questions in writing which he read to us. His responses were thoughtful. I hope I can see them in "print" eventually. He even related them to the Gospel. He also reads the Gospel like a story. I loved it! 

After church he gave me a tour of the facilities which are undergoing some rearranging. I had followed the addition project online which was completed last year. It seems to have been a major improvement uniting the two buildings by more than a bridge. The congregation is almost 200 years old.

Many people sat at tables during coffee hour and talked a long while after the liturgy. A number of them introduced themselves to me. Some wore nametags. There is a four sided stand which contains nametags for everyone. This is a large congregation - at least by our standards. And a friendly one.

The website for St Pauls's is here. There are photos of the windows here as well as lots of other church pictures. I can't find a history of the church on their blog. It is interesting. Go and ask.

The kneelers at the altar are lovely. Each has a patch saying who did it and the back edge has the name of the people to whom each is dedicated.

There are four sides to this nametag kiosk. This is a large congregation. And the building is just the right size for them.

The Ohio church people have been much friendlier overall than Pennsylvania people. I'm not surprised. In my moving back and forth I've found that true in general. It starts at the border. I used to describe it by saying Ohioans care more about how much money you have while Pennsylvanians care who your family is. Pennsylvanians seem more reserved. While the two Ohio churches are in areas which have much larger populations than we do, they just feel healthier, more relaxed, more active. I'll return to both eventually.

Last gasp maybe?

Spring is late this year

There are hundreds of ducks on the open water in our bay.

Obviously it snowed today. Again.

The gulls are hanging out by the dam.

Caturday

On Facebook we call it Caturday. This is where Tim spent the day. She came for breakfast then never appeared again. I checked up on her a couple of times but she didn't even acknowledge I was there. The heat wasn't on but it is for the night.

Jellico hang around most of the day. He ate several cans of catfood. I caught him as he was bathing.

I haven't seen Slate all day. 

Last night a raccoon got caught in the trap but by morning s/he had figured out how to get out. I emailed Havahart and asked if there is a way I can stop that. The trap is pretty flimsy. I didn't really expect it to hold a raccoon. I didn't look closely to see if anything is bent. I'll check it out later. I don't try to trap on Saturday night. Or when it is really cold or really wet. Unless the raccoons have me really furious.

St James Episcopal Church, Painesville, OH, 16 March 2014

Altho this is a parish I have been planning to visit, it is not the one I intended to visit this morning. After checking the website, I decided my intended destination was not one I care to visit. Dumb me, I checked to see how far St James Painesville is - 1:08. If I went Rt 6 rather than the recommended Rt 322 I just might be able to make it. After picking up 10 minutes on Google's plan, I realized I hadn't checked the start time. It was a relief to see 10:30. I'd have time to stop at McD's, use the rest room and get a coffee which I did.

I was surprised that the doors are not red. Neither are they particularly inviting at the top of steps. I used a side door which I saw someone else use. I didn't see any handicapped access at all tho there may have been one on the parking lot side. The lot was full when I got there but there was plenty of other parking. The usher was very friendly and welcoming. He recognized that I was a visitor and made light conversation. He kept up the recognition even at coffee hour. There were very few people in the pews but the procession was already waiting. After I sat down many more streamed in from a side door at the front.

The choir processed to Taize - "O Lord, hear my prayer". Nice idea during Lent. Only the procession seemed to be singing so I didn't. Well, loudly. I didn't need the music. The words were in the bulletin but I didn't need them either. The psalm tone was in the bulletin too but I couldn't hear anyone other than the choir singing so I didn't either. I sang the hymns and other responses but felt pretty alone.

St James has a Rite I early service. Yea! Two Rite II weeks in a row. I was happy! Tho they did stand for the eucharist. I prefer to kneel but I do what the everyone else does unless there is a mixture.

There were almost as many people in the choir and in vestments as in the congregation.  The organist was good. It was great to hear a decent choir again. The procession includes a children's segment so it was quite lengthy. The usher told me they ran out of bulletins which is always a good sign. At the Peace, the people around me shook my hand. Several walked right by without even looking at me. I'm always tempted to give them a raspberry. I didn't. Nobody invited me to coffee hour.

After the service I was happy to see two choir members listening to the postlude. That made me feel a tiny bit guilty about talking to a lady who had spoken to me. I had a probably too long conversation with the priest given the folks waiting. She was surprised to learn why I was interested in going there. The usher had asked me to sign the register which I did. At that point a woman spoke and invited me to coffee hour. She also led the way. Several people spoke to me downstairs but no conversation. I spoke to one of the choir who had listened to the postlude. She was friendly and eventually led me out since the upstairs was locked. Nobody seemed to know how to get out. It was just a little weird. I may return during Lent.

The organ is right there in the chancel. I didn't get a chance to talk to him.

You already know about my thing with candles. These are too tall. They should be about six inches shorter.

As always I lit the bottom right candle for Holy Cross. They request a dollar for a candle. Some places don't give a cost. Their loss.

This is the main reason I've wanted to go to St James. This icon is barely visible - hidden behind the veiled cross above the votives at the moment. I really like it and was given permission to move everything to get a good photo but I didn't. It was written by Luiz Coelho, a Brazilian priest friend, during the diocesan convention a few weeks ago. I wish I could have attended his talks but couldn't. We met online via Mad Priest and in person in Georgia thanks to mutual friends. The priest was amazed to learn I know him.

Their columbarium is on the back wall under the balcony.

Yes, as usual the photos are embiggenable.

Winter continues

Deep ruts in the mud are filled with slush. Less than good tires makes getting in and out a little scary. So far I haven't been stuck probably because there is still frozen ground under the mud. My boot prints will probably be frozen into the slush as the temperature is dropping.

Rain and melting snow on the field across the road drain into the ditch then runs under the road to a little pond - behind the bushes on the right. Several times each year there is enough runoff to fill the pond which overflows onto the driveway.

The water runs along the driveway until it gets to a low spot where it crosses the neighbors' yard and heads toward my barn.

Before it gets to the barn it veers again alongside the trees.

Eventually it empties into the large pond on our side of the tracks.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Corry, PA, 9 March 2014

This morning I visited Emmanuel in Corry, PA, about an hour and twenty minutes from home in the snowbelt. There was a pretty sunrise but I couldn't get a decent photo of it. Yes, snow and ice were on the roads here and there but they had melted in most places. After all it is Sunday. The drive up Rt 77 is always interesting even in grey weather. Lots of hills and woods and farms. Typical northwestern Pennsylvania. I only passed one Amish buggy which would be unusual on a weekday. When I made the left turn at Rt 89 I remembered the trips the family made to Chautauqua years ago. The inn/bar there used to have a 40's clever name. I'm not sure but I think it may have once been the Dew Drop Inn or something similar.

I arrived in Corry early enough to stop at Tim Horton's and claim a free donut I'd won last week. It has to hang out till tomorrow tho because I'm "fasting" today - the 500 calorie fast. 

 I parked near a very friendly woman who greeted me as we approached the church and led me in thru the sacristy. I'm embarrassed that I've forgotten her name. It is always encouraging to be greeted by someone who acts as if s/he is glad to see you. She introduced me to a few others before the service. This is one of the most friendly parishes I've visited so far. Several people invited me to coffee hour and started conversations or responded. Good on them! I was THRILLED to see we would be doing Rite II. Yea. I'll probably return during Lent unless I find a whole bunch of others doing Rite II. 

This is the front entrance to the church. The steps are daunting. I don't know if anyone uses it. It didn't look like it. I don't think there are door handles.

This is the elevator entrance to the left of the other one. Yes, they have an elevator. I was told few use it but it is there when needed. The inside steps go up and down from there. The church is upstairs, the parish hall is downstairs.

The first thing I noticed was the rood screen. I'm not fond of rood screens. They get in the way. I feel they divide the clergy and servers from the riffraff or so it seems. Being a huge foe of clericalism, I find rood screens very off-putting. Despite the screen Emmanuel is a lovely building.

This is a little chapel to the left of the chancel.

I should have taken a better photo of the figures on the front of the altar.

See the intrusive rood screen on the left. Ugh.

The organ and piano are to the right of the chancel.

The window at the back is especially lovely. The baptismal font is behind the priest. The wooden crosses on the wall are the stations. You can see two more in the photo with the piano.

Their columbarium is to the right of the font.

As I do whenever I have the opportunity, I lit the bottom right candle for Holy Cross after I took this photo. This is between the columbarium and the entrance which is on the side. The next time I go I'm going to ask what the back of the church looked like originally.

Other than the front and back windows, this is the only one I took a photo of. It was given in honor of the people who gave the elevator and is in that hallway. The side windows are being restored by Tirpak. They will be protected by glass rather than the current cloudy plastic. I'll take pictures of them when they are finished.

The next time I go I will take a photo of the columns. I didn't ask anyone but it looks like they still have gaslight fittings. If you look carefully at the photo with the piano you can see one of them to the left of the wooden cross.

I could get very jealous of this church! It suffers from poor lighting which I was told will be replaced soon as will the carpet and flooring. They are air-conditioning the church which will include some painting. And they are getting new kitchen equipment. It is a right-sized church for the location. It has lots of wonderful people who have a helpful, hopeful attitude. And a priest who is friend from when we sang together in Christ Church's choir. I'm happy she will be closer.

I'm still musing about whom I encourage and who encourages me. Hmmm.

Transfiguration at St Mary's, Lawrence Park, PA

This visit to St Mary's was quite different from the last. I sat with one of the same friends but had the opportunity to interact with more people. They are indeed very friendly. I was there because a friend was supplying. I just wish they weren't doing Rite I. I am not a cradle Episcopalian and I see no reason to use obsolete language which annoys me. I'm not fond of the"me" emphasis either. Is anyone in the diocese doing Rite II during Lent?

The Episcopal Cathedral of St Paul, Erie, PA

I attended the 10 am eucharist at the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania this morning. The only thing missing was bells. Otherwise it was worship as it should be in an Episcopal cathedral. Verger, dean, lots of clergy, acolytes, organ, full choir and incense. 

Our cathedral is hardly a huge imposing awe-inspiring stone structure, at least on the inside. The wood and the colors make it warmer, more welcoming in my opinion, than many churches, let alone cathedrals. I especially enjoyed hearing a really good choir and organ for a change. So many of our parishes are too small to have choirs large enough to sing and chant well. One thing bothered me and that was during the Prayers of the People.  The bulletin said "Silence" but the reader did not allow any time for private intercessions. I know too many people to say how friendly the people are.

This photo was taken during the postlude from the back of the church between the slightly raised divided choir loft. Incense lingering. It was good to see so many people staying to listen to the postlude. As you can see there is no super long center aisle. The cathedral is rather small, perhaps even intimate for a cathedral.

This is a closer photo of the cancel. It is rather large. Well, it's huge compared to the rest of the church. The "haze" is glare from the window. The sun would not allow a good photo of that.

There are more photos taken in 2008, I believe, here.

The photos are embiggenable.

Missing? on 2.16.2014

This is one of my favorite scenes but not today. This was the view from I-90 this morning. Normally Lake Erie wraps from dead ahead around to the left. Not today.

And this was the view from the road headed south toward Chautauqua Institution. There really is a lake there.

Surprise! It was snowing. As usual on Sunday lately.  Yesterday friends suggested I see the Ice Castle in Mayville, NY. There haven't been many years lately with this much ice. A drive-by would be enough for me.

Well, I knew where to attend church - St Peter's in Westfield, NY, one of my favorite parishes. No photos tho because they are here. I even took a few notes during the sermon. "Lizard's Brain" was new to me. I won't forget that homily soon. 

 Diane and Jim sat in my row. Friendly nice folks, somewhat new to the church. Hmmm. Newbies seem to be especially friendly. Remember St David's? But St Peter's folks are infinitely friendlier than those. 

Note to congregations: Everyone has to take an interest in visitors - especially ones who come back. Unless you don't want them to return. 

And while I'm at it another note to congregations: If you have a website or a Facebook page, PUT SERVICE TIME(S) WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND IT EASILY!!! At least include it with your phone message. It is right on the front page of St Peter's.

Christ Church, Oil City, PA, 9 February 2014

Perhaps this was not the best day to drive approximately 50 miles to Oil City via 358 and 60 for church but it turned out to be the best day.  As I tried to keep within the already driven-in path I thought about how I seem to choose far away parishes on snowy Sundays. Well, if I was going to be late, I could take I-79 when I got to it and go somewhere else. Google said I wouldn't be late so I kept going. I encountered two VERY slow scared people a few miles out of Franklin and thought I could spend an hour at McD's or something and attend St John's if I would be late. But Google said I was ok so I continued. As I walked up the steps the bell rang. Thank you, guardian angel! 

Christ Church Oil City is beautiful. And the overall friendliest parish I've attended so far. Of course I knew several people. But others actually were conversational after the service. They don't mix it up much at the Peace but several made sure I would go to Coffee Hour. A big difference from last Sunday! I wish the organist, who seems quite competent, would not add an extra beat at the end of middle phrases and an extra measure at the end of each verse. I didn't hear anyone else singing much but there weren't many there. They are very active in community despite their small numbers. I think I would be comfortable there. I certainly felt that way today.

The church is not as dark as it looks in some of the photos. I have to use flash to get the windows to show. Obviously the flash on my tiny Panasonic point and shoot will not illuminate large spaces.
By the way, the candles are real tho I learned they use gas candles in summer to keep them from blowing out in the wind tho I didn't ask the source of the wind. Yea.