Easter Morning

Grace Church and friends at Westmoor Park Easter Sunday April 1, 2018

Like last year, I got up before the crack of dawn to travel to a nearby park to join my Grace Church "family" to mark the dawning of Easter Sunday. This year the weather was cloudy and cold and damp. We didn't see the sun rise; the sky just become lighter and brighter.

Sadly, the focus of the sermon was hell and damnation for unbelievers. I don't see it that way. For me Easter is not the memorial of some historic event but rather the ongoing faith in the divine creative power of God.

In last year's picture, I was stationed at the left; this year I have moved to the right side (second light cap from the right). I was glad to be standing near my "younger sisters" Marie and Emily. Too bad no one moved the three chairs from the picture. Not sure if there is any symbolism (Holy Trinity?).

Even though we had the "sunrise" service, there was still a regular Sunday service (at 10 am instead of the usual 9:30 am) but no fellowship (coffee social) afterwards nor Sunday School. I don't understand these people. Even funerals usually have a social afterwards. The sermon also repeated the fear of God angle. So much for the "Good News" (except if you consider yourself one of the "Elect").

My friend Don usually invites me over to dinner on these holidays but this year he and his wife decided to take a long weekend out West and celebrate Easter without us. Nobody told me ahead of time.I don't understand why anyone would choose to be away from their church family on the biggest Holy Day of the year. It shouldn't be a surprise (to him) why his kids don't subscribe to this brand of Christianity.

The weather got nicer later in the afternoon and I enjoyed a pleasant walk in the sun. Happy Easter!

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Link:
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2017_04_16_archive.html
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Written Thursday 26 April 2018

K of C Museum Exhibits

Knights of Columbus Museum
New Haven, CT
(Note: Exhibit banners)

For a long time, an annual tradition has been to visit the Knights of Columbus Museum during the Christmas season to view their annual creche exhibit. Recently, I realized it was now February and we probably missed it this time. However, when I checked, I found that we still had an opportunity to see it because it was running to mid-February.

So, on Saturday (Feb. 3), my son, Richard, agreed to accompany me for a quick visit. We arrived at 4 p.m. (the museum closes at 5 p.m.). We found that this year, the creche exhibit was in the upstairs gallery space because the downstairs (revolving) exhibit space was occupied by a WWI exhibit.

The time limit worked in our favor as we moved speedily through the creche exhibit which left us a few moments to quickly browse through the WWI exhibit. Although there wasn't time to read all the signs, we had enough time to pause and comment on aspects we found attractive. We even had a few moments left at the end to breeze through the gift shop (almost an exhibit in itself).

I later found a nice video clip (3:45) of the creche exhibit at the Knights of Columbus Museum FB site for December 1, 2017.

Below is a selection of some of the creches we saw. Some are pictures we took while others I compiled from the FB site and other web sites.

This was probably our favorite one this year. It is from Louisiana. The angel is eating
watermelon; the 3 wise men are depicted by an Indian, Jazz singer, and French Chef;
instead of barn yard animals, there are alligators. armadillo, and a raccoon.

This was another of our favorites: from Poland,
made by a 13-year old boy using chewing gum foil and bits of paper.

This was another favorite of ours, largely because of the vibrant colors and extravagant detail.

 

This is from the museum's own collection: carved ivory.
Nativity at left, Last supper at right.

 

Detail from the Neapolitan style creche that is part of
the Museum's collection. It is actually huge and was
located downstairs on the main level of the museum.

Made entirely of paper (No Smoking!).

The WWI exhibit is time to run in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the United States's etnry into the war and the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

This was really cool: a trench with sand bags, fake dirt, lights and sound effects,
real barbed wire, and periscopes to see out into no-man's land.

Hoping to return to take a closer look at the WWI exhibit, perhaps attend a free lecture.

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Links:
https://www.kofcmuseum.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scene
https://www.facebook.com/kofcmuseum/videos/vb.172038826155531/2145969442095783/?type=3&theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_of_11_November_1918
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Written Sunday 11 February 2018

Joseph-Dreamer of Dreams

Program-Front Cover.

Yesterday (Saturday December 9th), I went with my son, Richard, to see the matinee performance of  "God Meant It For Good: JOSEPH, Dreamer of Dreams." It was a play presented by the Truth Baptist Church Drama Group (sort of odd because the church's web site does not list this group even though these dramas are an annual event and the director is the Associate Pastor).

We went because it was free and a bunch of people from my church were involved, including the lead role of Joseph. Ian did a fantastic job! All the acting parts were done by young people (mostly high school-ish age) with the tech parts handled by the grownups.

It was a long (2-1/2 hour) performance consisting of two acts (covering 29 scenes) plus an intermission that went by quicker than the audience wanted.

This "Biblically-based, teen drama" covered the story of Joseph as portrayed in the Biblical book of Genesis. The play had a happy ending, when the entire family was reunited in Egypt. It cut out the the last few chapters where the Patriarch Jacob dies and Joseph also kicks the bucket and leaves the Israelites stuck in Egypt destined to become slaves. Got to have a happy ending-that's show biz, folks!

But really, a terrific job by all involved. We got our money's worth.

In order to see this performance, we braved the first major snow of the season. It turned out to be worth the effort and snow.

On the way home, we stopped at one of our old haunts, Angelina's Pizzeria for a bite to eat. We always feel safe there because usually there are several police officers and/or state troopers having supper.

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Links:

https://www.jba.gr/Articles/jbanov01a.htm

https://www.truthbaptistchurch.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_(Genesis)
http://biggestpizzainct.com/
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Written Sunday 10 December 2017.