With the Autumnal Equinox having occurred last week, the summer season is over as the heavenly bodies dictate.
Looking back on the summer, I recall to mind periods with abundant moisture, storms, and temperatures on the cool side.
After some fits and starts throughout March, April, and May, it finally felt like summer come mid-June. The upper-air patterns shifted from their positions they had been in for months, and opened the pathway for moisture to be transported from the Gulf of Mexico right into our area. This made for a wet, stormy string of days. I remember a notable line of storms that crossed the area of Saturday, June 21, and, for a time, rained out an outdoor graduation party I attended for some of my cousins. The abundant moisture also created a string of days with dense fog.
Then there was Monday, June 30, which brought two different derecho events. A derecho is basically a severe thunderstorm event that lasts for several hours, travels over several hundred miles, and causes damage mainly because of high winds. One derecho came through in the evening hours, and another much later at night.
Following these storms, the weather cooled off heading into July. And there were some noticeably cool days in July. Pieces of the air pattern circulation stationed near the Arctic, the Polar Vortex, broke off and brought cooler air to the Great Lakes region. The air was also quite dry, with long stretches of time with dewpoints in the 40s, which is more typical of the northern United States autumn weather.
After another warm-up at the end of July and start of August, there was another string of cooler days in the middle of the month. At one point, cool temperatures combined with a significant amount of moisture created very low cloud ceilings, the level of the base of clouds covering 60% of the sky or more, which caused cancellations of the airplane acrobatics at the Chicago Air and Water Show.
Overall, this summer season wasn't overly warm, but wasn't too cool. It was a run of the mill kind of summer regarding temperatures, with a good dose of precipitation here and there.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
In a Show of Dignity
We are at the start of the annual observance of the 40 Days of Life. This comes days after an annual occasion in which we remember why we stand up for the unborn.
September 13, 2014, marked the annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
To mark the occasion, I joined a prayer service at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL, at the gravesite of two thousand aborted children. Over 20 years ago, pro-lifers rescued their remains from garbage containers.
The prayer service featured a number of speakers, including Joe and Ann Scheidler, the founders of the Pro-Life Action League; Cardinal George; John Morales, who created the film 40; and Mary Griffith, founder of Woman's Choice Services.
There was the sharing of personal experiences, including the process of rescuing the remains of aborted children from garbage containers to receive the dignity of burial, and both John and Meredith shared about overcoming a past scarred by being personally involved in having an abortion. I sensed powerful emotions in me as I heard these stories of those who faced the evils of abortion.
It was touching to see Cardinal George there. He remarked that he has been running with a heavy schedule, and dealing with heavy traffic, which was why he showed up late and left early, all this while not in the best state of health. But it meant a lot for him to be at this prayer service, and just his presence was inspiring given his health and his frailty, evident in the manner he walked. He offered some great words speaking to the injustice of abortion that has arisen because of the decline of moral values in government and society. And he advocated for the continued work of caring for and protecting all life, starting from conception. (And how notable to have seen him a week before his successor's appointment was announced.)
Indeed, all the words spoken at the prayer service were inspiring, uniting us together in mourning for the victims of abortion, both the unborn children and their parents, and urging us on to continue the work of caring for the vulnerable, precious lives of the unborn, until the day when abortion is regarded as a scar on the past.
As a moving gesture at the end of the prayer service, with flowers in hand that had been distributed at the beginning of the service, while the choir sang, we came to the grave marker of the aborted children and laid the flowers down. It was a sign that we are moved by the agony of the circumstances in which they died, and firm in our commitment to make sure no more must die this way.
The Pro-Life Action League blog has a wonderful post about this prayer service, including pictures, and you can view it here: http://prolifeaction.org/hotline/2014/hillside2014/
September 13, 2014, marked the annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
To mark the occasion, I joined a prayer service at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL, at the gravesite of two thousand aborted children. Over 20 years ago, pro-lifers rescued their remains from garbage containers.
The prayer service featured a number of speakers, including Joe and Ann Scheidler, the founders of the Pro-Life Action League; Cardinal George; John Morales, who created the film 40; and Mary Griffith, founder of Woman's Choice Services.
There was the sharing of personal experiences, including the process of rescuing the remains of aborted children from garbage containers to receive the dignity of burial, and both John and Meredith shared about overcoming a past scarred by being personally involved in having an abortion. I sensed powerful emotions in me as I heard these stories of those who faced the evils of abortion.
It was touching to see Cardinal George there. He remarked that he has been running with a heavy schedule, and dealing with heavy traffic, which was why he showed up late and left early, all this while not in the best state of health. But it meant a lot for him to be at this prayer service, and just his presence was inspiring given his health and his frailty, evident in the manner he walked. He offered some great words speaking to the injustice of abortion that has arisen because of the decline of moral values in government and society. And he advocated for the continued work of caring for and protecting all life, starting from conception. (And how notable to have seen him a week before his successor's appointment was announced.)
Indeed, all the words spoken at the prayer service were inspiring, uniting us together in mourning for the victims of abortion, both the unborn children and their parents, and urging us on to continue the work of caring for the vulnerable, precious lives of the unborn, until the day when abortion is regarded as a scar on the past.
As a moving gesture at the end of the prayer service, with flowers in hand that had been distributed at the beginning of the service, while the choir sang, we came to the grave marker of the aborted children and laid the flowers down. It was a sign that we are moved by the agony of the circumstances in which they died, and firm in our commitment to make sure no more must die this way.
The Pro-Life Action League blog has a wonderful post about this prayer service, including pictures, and you can view it here: http://prolifeaction.org/hotline/2014/hillside2014/
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Our Star-Spangled Symbol
It's the 200th Anniversary of the composition of "The Star-Spangled Banner". Francis Scott Key, a Georgetown lawyer, wrote it in ecstasy at seeing the Stars and Stripes flying above Fort McHenry in the early morning light of September 14, 1814, as the British abandoned an assault on Baltimore, MD. He was being held aboard a British ship at that moment after successfully negotiating the release of a prisoner, Dr. Beanes a few days earlier.
We in general are familiar with the first verse of the song, which is the verse usually sung when it's performed. But I always feel that singing the first verse only cuts off the narrative that all four verses tell together about "Defense of Fort McHenry", which was the title first given to the poem when it was first printed. The lyrics tell about the triumph that comes in a bleak time in the War of 1812, just weeks after the British burned Washington, D.C.
The song speaks of the US flag as the illustrious symbol of our country. There was much joy to be had when Mr. Key saw the flag still flying above Fort McHenry, sensing the triumph of the nation against its enemy. It is a triumph that continues in each generation of Americans as we strive against and overcome the evils within and beyond us so that what is noble and right prevails proudly above as does the flag flying high.
Here's to our Star-Spangled Symbol...
Here I am with my Mom in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In the background is an artistic representation of the American flag, at the entrance to a special gallery displaying the original Star-Spangled Banner that Francis Scott Key saw that morning 200 years ago. It's quite a thing to see. (Just outside the gallery, an interpreter portrayed Mary Pickersgill, the woman who helped make the flag.)
We in general are familiar with the first verse of the song, which is the verse usually sung when it's performed. But I always feel that singing the first verse only cuts off the narrative that all four verses tell together about "Defense of Fort McHenry", which was the title first given to the poem when it was first printed. The lyrics tell about the triumph that comes in a bleak time in the War of 1812, just weeks after the British burned Washington, D.C.
The song speaks of the US flag as the illustrious symbol of our country. There was much joy to be had when Mr. Key saw the flag still flying above Fort McHenry, sensing the triumph of the nation against its enemy. It is a triumph that continues in each generation of Americans as we strive against and overcome the evils within and beyond us so that what is noble and right prevails proudly above as does the flag flying high.
Here's to our Star-Spangled Symbol...
Here I am with my Mom in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In the background is an artistic representation of the American flag, at the entrance to a special gallery displaying the original Star-Spangled Banner that Francis Scott Key saw that morning 200 years ago. It's quite a thing to see. (Just outside the gallery, an interpreter portrayed Mary Pickersgill, the woman who helped make the flag.)
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Some Thoughts on the United States
September 3 was the day in 1783 when the Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed, marking the end of the American Revolution, and making official the independence of the United States. It's a day that I feel is as important as July 2 and July 4, 1776.
So I wish to hearken back to those July days to offer some thoughts on this day.
For all but two of the past 12 years (including this one), I have gone to the annual July 4 ceremony at the Chicago History Museum (formerly the Chicago Historical Society). There's patriotic and American music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, remarks by a public official or other significant community figure, and the firing of muskets by reenactors of a British regiment.
The past couple of years have featured some great speakers, and I wish to share some of their thoughts for my blog audience's ponderings on this occasion.
In 2012, Alderwoman Michele Smith, who represents the ward that includes the museum, spoke about the American idea of government being important in the local sense. The local level is most in tune with the interests of the people, being based in their communities and neighborhoods. It's important for us to get involved in our local governments as an essential part of our experience as citizens, as local governments most affect what happens around us.
In 2013, Carlos Tortolero, president of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, spoke about his experiences as an immigrant to the US from Mexico. His family made the journey in a "junky" car, but he then acclaimed that America is not a "junky" place. Indeed, it is a place that has a special regard for the highest ideals of freedom and liberty, creating a society of substantially good quality, which draws people from all over.
This year, 2014, the speaker was Randall Dunn, the Head of the Latin School of Chicago, right across North Avenue from the history museum. He noted that the US is unique in listing "the pursuit of happiness" among the three most important rights of the nation. He shared about how we can pursue happiness: by being curious, sharing happiness with others, and living with a purpose. Indeed, as part of our American experience, we are driven to attain those high ideals. So happiness is not merely about feeling good, but seeking a greater good.
Every year, Gary Johnson, the President of the Chicago History Museum, shares some thoughts about some line that stood out to him from the Declaration of Independence, which is something different every year. He shared some thoughts about the political ties that connect us. He noted that we all share the common experience of being Americans, regardless of our opinions or perspectives. He urged us to move beyond our disagreement and unite around the experience of being Americans. Those are great words of wisdom, especially at a time when politics can get divisive in a heated and nasty way. It's important for us to remember we're all Americans, and we have it in our power to collaborate in the midst of our differences for he betterment of our beloved country.
May these thoughts renew us Americans in the spirit of what our country is about, and urge us on to make it a righteous nation, this day, and every day.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
A Matter of Rights
When the Supreme Court announced its much-anticipated decision on the Hobby Lobby abortifacient contraceptives case back at the end of June, I thought back to the end of my first semester of senior year at ValpU. I was to write an essay, worth 50% of my grade, analyzing some issue pertaining to themes in my Justice seminar class in Christ College.
On my mind as a particularly good topic for this essay was the hot-button news item of the numerous lawsuits filed against the Department of Health and Human Services on account of the HHS mandate requiring faith-based employers to cover contraceptives in the healthcare plans for their employees, particularly those contraceptives that cause abortions.
As I thought over how I would present my arguments regarding this case, I remembered something I once read in The Governor, the book Rod Blagojevich wrote as his defense in the months-long period between his arrest/removal from the Illinois governor's office, and his first trial for corruption charges. He writes that healthcare really is a matter of life and death, because if a person can't get coverage for healthcare procedures for conditions, especially serious ones, it could mean death. That was why he advocated so strongly for increased healthcare coverage for Illinoisans during his tenure as governor.
That statement really gave me pause when I read it. It wasn't so much that I agreed with it per se, but it was a striking way to frame the idea of healthcare coverage.
It's true that there are many people who lack access to healthcare coverage, and can't get the treatments they need for all kinds of conditions, even serious ones. So it's undeniably clear we need a way to help those who can't get coverage for treatment, which can be a matter of life and death.
But the Affordable Care Act has proven itself to be an unsuitable solution to this grave problem, and the HHS mandate is one example of how problematic the healthcare law is in regards to the government's control over providing coverage.
In an effort to make available abortion-inducing contraceptive coverage, the government is forcing people of Christian faith to go against their principles of faith, which makes abortion an act of murder, thereby making the coverage of these contraceptives complicit with inducing the death of an unborn human person.
So at stake here is the rights of healthcare versus religious freedom, the latter of which is steeped into our existence as the United States.
Way back at the start of this country, the Founding Fathers were aware of the problems caused when government meddled with religion. The government would officially recognize one religion, and could require attendance at officially-sanctioned churches, or citizens could face fines. Other religious groups that were not of the official state church could have their activities banned or strictly monitored. This is why the Foudning Fathers wanted there to be a separation of church and state, so that religion could be a matter left to the conscience of individuals, not something that government dictated for them.
Unfortunately, many misinterpret this idea of the separation of church and state to mean that people in government can't make any religious expressions, and even furthermore, that people can't make religious expressions out in public at all.
And now, the government is encroaching on religious liberty to enforce this mandate. People are no longer allowed to abide by their deeply-held beliefs as they are being forced to acknowledge the right to have healthcare, and in this case, the right to contraceptives and abortions.
Quite frankly, the idea of reproductive health rights is really nothing more than a fabrication designed to promote the left-leaning agenda of people who want totally unrestricted abortions to suit their own desires. So really, a newly-fabricated rights are bullying long-held religious freedom. The author the Chicago Catholic Examiner column, William Leubscher, puts it well in this column he wrote about the decision. His words toward the end about contraceptives are well put, because they are ultimately not about treating health conditions, but more involved in one's personal lifestyle choices, thereby making the government's actions regarding them preposterous.
And there's still more action that must be taken to preserve religious freedom. The thing about this decision is that it's based more on a technicality, that the government can go through other means to provide coverage for abortifacient contraceptives. So the preservation of the religious liberty of those who are against abortion and abortion-causing agents is still going to need further protection. The fight still goes on, and we pray that religious liberty prevails in the court cases that remain and in the battle in society at large.
P.S. Here are some other good articles offering commentary on the decision:
This one critiques the reactions on the left: http://liveactionnews.org/disappointment-or-deceit-analyzing-reactions-to-the-hobby-lobby-decision/
In regards to this article, when I watched the NBC Nightly News report on the decision at the top of the broadcast the day it was announced, I was intrigued by the use of the phrase "controversial ruling". Last year, when the Supreme Court made a ruling on provisions in DOMA, the word "controversial" was not used, even though many opposed it--opposition which didn't get much airtime in the reporting. Perhaps "controversial" refers to how the people in the liberal mainstream media didn't like the outcome in the Hobby Lobby decision.
This one further addresses the matter of reproductive health rights: http://liveactionnews.org/theres-no-right-to-sex-in-the-constitution/
On my mind as a particularly good topic for this essay was the hot-button news item of the numerous lawsuits filed against the Department of Health and Human Services on account of the HHS mandate requiring faith-based employers to cover contraceptives in the healthcare plans for their employees, particularly those contraceptives that cause abortions.
As I thought over how I would present my arguments regarding this case, I remembered something I once read in The Governor, the book Rod Blagojevich wrote as his defense in the months-long period between his arrest/removal from the Illinois governor's office, and his first trial for corruption charges. He writes that healthcare really is a matter of life and death, because if a person can't get coverage for healthcare procedures for conditions, especially serious ones, it could mean death. That was why he advocated so strongly for increased healthcare coverage for Illinoisans during his tenure as governor.
That statement really gave me pause when I read it. It wasn't so much that I agreed with it per se, but it was a striking way to frame the idea of healthcare coverage.
It's true that there are many people who lack access to healthcare coverage, and can't get the treatments they need for all kinds of conditions, even serious ones. So it's undeniably clear we need a way to help those who can't get coverage for treatment, which can be a matter of life and death.
But the Affordable Care Act has proven itself to be an unsuitable solution to this grave problem, and the HHS mandate is one example of how problematic the healthcare law is in regards to the government's control over providing coverage.
In an effort to make available abortion-inducing contraceptive coverage, the government is forcing people of Christian faith to go against their principles of faith, which makes abortion an act of murder, thereby making the coverage of these contraceptives complicit with inducing the death of an unborn human person.
So at stake here is the rights of healthcare versus religious freedom, the latter of which is steeped into our existence as the United States.
Way back at the start of this country, the Founding Fathers were aware of the problems caused when government meddled with religion. The government would officially recognize one religion, and could require attendance at officially-sanctioned churches, or citizens could face fines. Other religious groups that were not of the official state church could have their activities banned or strictly monitored. This is why the Foudning Fathers wanted there to be a separation of church and state, so that religion could be a matter left to the conscience of individuals, not something that government dictated for them.
Unfortunately, many misinterpret this idea of the separation of church and state to mean that people in government can't make any religious expressions, and even furthermore, that people can't make religious expressions out in public at all.
And now, the government is encroaching on religious liberty to enforce this mandate. People are no longer allowed to abide by their deeply-held beliefs as they are being forced to acknowledge the right to have healthcare, and in this case, the right to contraceptives and abortions.
Quite frankly, the idea of reproductive health rights is really nothing more than a fabrication designed to promote the left-leaning agenda of people who want totally unrestricted abortions to suit their own desires. So really, a newly-fabricated rights are bullying long-held religious freedom. The author the Chicago Catholic Examiner column, William Leubscher, puts it well in this column he wrote about the decision. His words toward the end about contraceptives are well put, because they are ultimately not about treating health conditions, but more involved in one's personal lifestyle choices, thereby making the government's actions regarding them preposterous.
And there's still more action that must be taken to preserve religious freedom. The thing about this decision is that it's based more on a technicality, that the government can go through other means to provide coverage for abortifacient contraceptives. So the preservation of the religious liberty of those who are against abortion and abortion-causing agents is still going to need further protection. The fight still goes on, and we pray that religious liberty prevails in the court cases that remain and in the battle in society at large.
P.S. Here are some other good articles offering commentary on the decision:
This one critiques the reactions on the left: http://liveactionnews.org/disappointment-or-deceit-analyzing-reactions-to-the-hobby-lobby-decision/
In regards to this article, when I watched the NBC Nightly News report on the decision at the top of the broadcast the day it was announced, I was intrigued by the use of the phrase "controversial ruling". Last year, when the Supreme Court made a ruling on provisions in DOMA, the word "controversial" was not used, even though many opposed it--opposition which didn't get much airtime in the reporting. Perhaps "controversial" refers to how the people in the liberal mainstream media didn't like the outcome in the Hobby Lobby decision.
This one further addresses the matter of reproductive health rights: http://liveactionnews.org/theres-no-right-to-sex-in-the-constitution/
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
No Longer Strangers, but Saints
I wanted to share with my blog audience this wonderful documentary about St. Teresa of Avila (Roman) Catholic Student Center at Valparaiso University. I was actively involved in this center's ministry throughout my four years as a student at ValpU.
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU8SuXDHvVE
(This video is approximately 20 minutes long.)
Kudos to Amanda Master for her job well done in producing it. She is a current a ValpU student, and also a friend of mine from my days there.
This documentary is masterful in telling what St. Teresa's is about through a variety of perspectives. There's Kaitie, a current ValpU student, who has been at St. Teresa's with her family for years as part of the larger group of adults and families from the local area who are part of the community. She has been witness to its growth.
Father Doug Mayer, former chaplain, also offers some unique perspective on the growth of St. Teresa's, and how its ministry to students has changed.
And, of course, Father Kevin shares about some of the major changes the center has undergone in the past couple of decades, and what it's like today.
Then, there's Zach, a recent graduate of ValpU, who was involved in at the center as Peer Minister, one of 4 students selected for the program that basically functions like an internship. He offers perspective on the person who came to ValpU and became engaged in its ministry--and I have actually been of witness of his involvement from when he came as a freshman.
While St. Teresa's serves a ministry to nourish the faith of Roman Catholic students at ValpU, it also ministers to students who are not Roman Catholic. And Nathan Albert represents the effects of that beyond-Roman Catholic outreach that St. Teresa's engages in. This kind of outreach is so masterfully done with the Annual Advent Student Mass and Dinner, which is brought up in the video, and is a memorable evening for the students at a hectic time of the first semester.
Ultimately, no matter the background of a student at ValpU, St. Teresa's provides a welcoming environment that comes alongside the students and enriches their college experience. This comes through spiritual experiences, but also opening up a space like the student lounge for people to hang out.
The song played in the video, "No Longer Strangers", is extremely fitting, as it describes how we, the people of God, are drawn together from many different places and backgrounds, and are made one people, one family, joined together as the Church, the Body of Christ. St. Teresa's, in its ministry to college students, both Roman Catholic and non-Roman Catholic, as well as adults and families in the local area, richly exemplifies this tenet of the Christian faith.
As I watched this documentary, as a recent graduate, I smiled inwardly, realizing that I was, and still am, part of something very special at ValpU.
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU8SuXDHvVE
(This video is approximately 20 minutes long.)
Kudos to Amanda Master for her job well done in producing it. She is a current a ValpU student, and also a friend of mine from my days there.
This documentary is masterful in telling what St. Teresa's is about through a variety of perspectives. There's Kaitie, a current ValpU student, who has been at St. Teresa's with her family for years as part of the larger group of adults and families from the local area who are part of the community. She has been witness to its growth.
Father Doug Mayer, former chaplain, also offers some unique perspective on the growth of St. Teresa's, and how its ministry to students has changed.
And, of course, Father Kevin shares about some of the major changes the center has undergone in the past couple of decades, and what it's like today.
Then, there's Zach, a recent graduate of ValpU, who was involved in at the center as Peer Minister, one of 4 students selected for the program that basically functions like an internship. He offers perspective on the person who came to ValpU and became engaged in its ministry--and I have actually been of witness of his involvement from when he came as a freshman.
While St. Teresa's serves a ministry to nourish the faith of Roman Catholic students at ValpU, it also ministers to students who are not Roman Catholic. And Nathan Albert represents the effects of that beyond-Roman Catholic outreach that St. Teresa's engages in. This kind of outreach is so masterfully done with the Annual Advent Student Mass and Dinner, which is brought up in the video, and is a memorable evening for the students at a hectic time of the first semester.
Ultimately, no matter the background of a student at ValpU, St. Teresa's provides a welcoming environment that comes alongside the students and enriches their college experience. This comes through spiritual experiences, but also opening up a space like the student lounge for people to hang out.
The song played in the video, "No Longer Strangers", is extremely fitting, as it describes how we, the people of God, are drawn together from many different places and backgrounds, and are made one people, one family, joined together as the Church, the Body of Christ. St. Teresa's, in its ministry to college students, both Roman Catholic and non-Roman Catholic, as well as adults and families in the local area, richly exemplifies this tenet of the Christian faith.
As I watched this documentary, as a recent graduate, I smiled inwardly, realizing that I was, and still am, part of something very special at ValpU.
Friday, July 18, 2014
New Views on Spaces in the Community
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, June 22, when I participated in the 3rd Annual Sacred Spaces House of Worship Tour, an effort sponsored in part by both the Oak Park River Forest Community of Congregations and the Oak Park River Forest Historical Society. A group of six houses of worship--in past years, the tours have included Jewish synagogues and the Unitarian Universalist Unity Temple--are selected to be open for the public to come in and visit them, learning more about the physical space and the traditions of the denomination or religious group that meets there.
I was excited that the opportunity opened up for me to go on this year's tour, and to visit 6 church spaces in south central Oak Park. As these churches are more in the area of Oak Park where I reside, I pass many of them every day when headed out somewhere, so it was especially nice to have the chance to go inside some of these places for the first time.
Mom and I headed straight up East Avenue to Fenwick High School, where we picked up our guides and then visited the first place: St. Dominic's Chapel in Fenwick, a Dominican College Preparatory school. When I walked in, I was struck by how much smaller it seemed than in the pictures of it in promotional materials for the tour. It was also interesting to note how the pews face each other, and I thought that was some kind of design having originated in Europe, similar to pictures I've seen of the King's College Chapel in Cambridge. The tour guide, a teacher there, pointed out that the Dominicans, per their tradition, worship by facing each other. The artistic work of note in the Chapel are the 10 saintly figures depicted in the stained glass windows that face the courtyard below. (I was especially fascinated by a story of St. Dominic represented in his window. When his mother was pregnant with him, she had a vision of a dog with a torch in its mouth, setting fire to the world--a sign of the impact her son would have.)
Next, we went up the street to Good Shephard Lutheran Church. The space was simple and austere, reflecting its construction during the Great Depression years, lacking the usual adornments of most Lutheran churches that reflect their roots of having been founded by communities of German immigrants, according to one of the congregants there serving as a tour guide. The artistry I took note of was the images painted on the windows, including concepts, like the Good Shepherd, events like Christ's Nativity, and even Martin Luther's famous Diet of Worms pose. I had the opportunity to chat with the Pastor, Kathy Nolte about the baptismal fonts and Lutheranism. I had been inside this church once before for a piano recital. Apparently, the design of the sanctuary gives it superb acoustics, which is why it is used by many groups for performances and recordings. I was delighted to be serenaded by a harpist during my visit.
We then headed south and then west over to the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church. It was, again, another space simple and austere in its interior design. There were some colored windows and wood in the furnishings. In the basement, there is a labyrinth in one of the rooms. The church is taking on some green initiatives like installing geothermal heating and solar panels. (This church, in the years right after being founded, used a former rail station depot in Oak Park, before coming to its present location.)
It was back to East Avenue and then down south to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. This was my first time inside this Church, and I was really fascinated by the interior, with all its woodwork. Given the way the exterior looked, I wasn't surprised by the way the interior looked. As I looked through the guidebooklet to the sanctuary, I found out the ceiling of the sanctuary is supposed to represent the wooden hull of Noah's ark. I was also intrigued to see Russian Orthodox-style icons in the sanctuary and side chapel. Small stained glass windows related Biblical and other church scenes. One of the two sets of the Stations of the Cross had contemporary images representing each station.
After looking around in the sanctuary, we wandered into the parish hall, a space whose construction in progress I had seen a number of years ago. There was a woman there who greeted us, who serves as one of the wards--basically a lay member of church council. I ended up in a really engaging conversation with her, about this church, and similarities/differences of our own denominational traditions. I was having such a good time with this conversation, and probably could have gone on for a while with her, but Mom eventually came and signaled to me it was time to move on. I probably could have stayed even longer exploring the interior, and I wish I had, because there were so many intricate, notable things to look at in the art and furnishings.
Next up was the Parkview Presbyterian Church at Oak Park and Jackson. This church community was founded as a shoot from a Presbyterian church in the area west of the Loop on Chicago's West Side. The sanctuary was quite large, and plain in its overall appearance, though the architect slipped in a few features, like gargoyles. A paper given to the visitors highlighted symbols of Christian faith in the Church, like the shield, lamp (a reference to Psalm 119:105), and the three-stepped Calvary cross, representing faith, hope, and love.
The tour also took us to the church's social hall area, which had some leftover fixtures from when it was used for other purposes. And we went into a smaller, more intimate worship sanctuary space in a lower-level area, which they use in the summer months especially when the main sanctuary is too hot. (Notably, as large as the sanctuary is, the congregation only has about 30 people, which is why they use the more intimate space at times.)
As I walked from the back of the sanctuary toward the front, I noticed that the man serenading visitors with guitar music was John Atwood, of the History Singer duo, who, with Kathryn Atwood, appears at the Veterans' Day and Memorial Day ceremonies at Scoville Park.
Finally on the circuit was a stop at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, my home parish. Father Larry, the pastor, was outside the main entrance greeting visitors, and talked about some of the features on the facade, including the statues of saints, the Celtic Cross, and the letters AMDG--for the Latin phrase Ad Majorem dei gloriam, meaning "To the Greater Glory of God".
Inside, volunteers discussed some of the interior decor, especially the painting pattern put in place during the parish's centennial year, and the stained glass windows. One of the guides talked about how there were a lot of symbols that were on the ceilings and higher wall spaces, and I learned those were not original. So with the re-decorating came the decision to paint over them with colors and designs that would allow the windows to stand out. I was a little sad to see the symbols painted over, as I remember when I was preparing for Confirmation, during one of the meetings, we went into the church to look at and discuss the symbols. But hearing the way it was explained, I certainly saw the logic in the decision.
There were also books out with images and diagrams of how the Church looked over the years. I was especially intrigued to see pictures in a book Pastoral Associate David Philippart had, showing the interior decor of the church in its earliest years.
It was great having the opportunity to enter these sacred spaces, and learn more about them, and the communities that gather there, especially those outside my own tradition. And for the two Roman Catholic spaces, I gained new insights into my own understandings of faith as revealed by the spaces made for the worship of God. And there was a good diversity of denominations represented among the 6 spaces on this year's tour.
These places I visited are part of my own common life, as I pass by them frequently, and the people who gather in them are those who share with me this place I call home. So it was indeed a privilege to enter in and visit with the people who, by the practice of their faith traditions and spirituality, truly bring these spaces alive.
After looking around in the sanctuary, we wandered into the parish hall, a space whose construction in progress I had seen a number of years ago. There was a woman there who greeted us, who serves as one of the wards--basically a lay member of church council. I ended up in a really engaging conversation with her, about this church, and similarities/differences of our own denominational traditions. I was having such a good time with this conversation, and probably could have gone on for a while with her, but Mom eventually came and signaled to me it was time to move on. I probably could have stayed even longer exploring the interior, and I wish I had, because there were so many intricate, notable things to look at in the art and furnishings.
Next up was the Parkview Presbyterian Church at Oak Park and Jackson. This church community was founded as a shoot from a Presbyterian church in the area west of the Loop on Chicago's West Side. The sanctuary was quite large, and plain in its overall appearance, though the architect slipped in a few features, like gargoyles. A paper given to the visitors highlighted symbols of Christian faith in the Church, like the shield, lamp (a reference to Psalm 119:105), and the three-stepped Calvary cross, representing faith, hope, and love.
The tour also took us to the church's social hall area, which had some leftover fixtures from when it was used for other purposes. And we went into a smaller, more intimate worship sanctuary space in a lower-level area, which they use in the summer months especially when the main sanctuary is too hot. (Notably, as large as the sanctuary is, the congregation only has about 30 people, which is why they use the more intimate space at times.)
As I walked from the back of the sanctuary toward the front, I noticed that the man serenading visitors with guitar music was John Atwood, of the History Singer duo, who, with Kathryn Atwood, appears at the Veterans' Day and Memorial Day ceremonies at Scoville Park.
Finally on the circuit was a stop at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, my home parish. Father Larry, the pastor, was outside the main entrance greeting visitors, and talked about some of the features on the facade, including the statues of saints, the Celtic Cross, and the letters AMDG--for the Latin phrase Ad Majorem dei gloriam, meaning "To the Greater Glory of God".
Inside, volunteers discussed some of the interior decor, especially the painting pattern put in place during the parish's centennial year, and the stained glass windows. One of the guides talked about how there were a lot of symbols that were on the ceilings and higher wall spaces, and I learned those were not original. So with the re-decorating came the decision to paint over them with colors and designs that would allow the windows to stand out. I was a little sad to see the symbols painted over, as I remember when I was preparing for Confirmation, during one of the meetings, we went into the church to look at and discuss the symbols. But hearing the way it was explained, I certainly saw the logic in the decision.
There were also books out with images and diagrams of how the Church looked over the years. I was especially intrigued to see pictures in a book Pastoral Associate David Philippart had, showing the interior decor of the church in its earliest years.
It was great having the opportunity to enter these sacred spaces, and learn more about them, and the communities that gather there, especially those outside my own tradition. And for the two Roman Catholic spaces, I gained new insights into my own understandings of faith as revealed by the spaces made for the worship of God. And there was a good diversity of denominations represented among the 6 spaces on this year's tour.
These places I visited are part of my own common life, as I pass by them frequently, and the people who gather in them are those who share with me this place I call home. So it was indeed a privilege to enter in and visit with the people who, by the practice of their faith traditions and spirituality, truly bring these spaces alive.
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