The Compline Choir

St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, has beauty all over it. I am new to the Seattle area and I have much to still see and explore. I have been hearing about this event on Sunday nights at St. Mark’s. Well, I finally went on the adventure, last Sunday night and it was well worth it.

There is a group of monks who sing the compline service at the end of the day every Sunday night from 9:30 to 10:00pm. Apparently, it is a Seattle tradition for many people of all faiths to go and observe this service.

There are about 15 men who chant the liturgy and sing the songs. It was such an amazing and worshipful time of solace. I was fully captured by the purity of the music and the silence of the cathedral. It is also a beautiful thing to see the droves of people who turn out to listen… All kinds of people. They sit on blankets, huddled in corners, in the pews, lay down on the floor by the altar, there are no rules as to where you “need” to be. It is a beautiful thing to see so many people connecting in some way with God. The music is worshipful in an ancient sense.

There was also an exibit right now of Artist, Betty LaDuke’s paintings of her impressions from trips with Heifer International. They are well worth the visit to see and experience a bit of Betty’s view of the amazing work that Heifer is about.

Lastly, there is an amazing Altarpiece on display right now for only a short time. It was supposed to be gone this Sunday, but it will be around for a few more Sundays they said. If you have not seen it, it is worth the trip! It is called the Keiskamma Altarpiece …  Quoted on the site:  “The Altarpiece was created by 130 women and a few men who reside in the coastal town of Hamburg, South Africa. The Massive (13 feet by 22 feet) Altarpiece is constructed of intricate embroidery, applique, beadwork, and photograpy, and took more than six months to complete. The altarpiece opens like a cupboard to reveal inner panels providing three separate views of the people and their environment moving from a somber outer panel to bursts of color, photographs, and intricate beadwork. The Altarpiece conveys a vibrant message of hope for people who are contending with the devastation that AIDS has wrought in their lives. The message also resonates with all people dealing with the adversity with hope for a brighter future.“

They will be having another talk about the Altarpiece this Sunday night after the Compline Service. It was a beauty to behold!!!

Seattle is a great place, I am beginning to see…

Second Grade Faces All Grown Up

This conglomeration of faces hangs on my wall in my room. In 1995, I taught second grade in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala: also known as “Xela”.  It was my first year of teaching and I had 11 students. I loved those kiddos for all kinds of reasons. They were my first real class of students, the were from other countries, they were sweet 2nd graders, they were excited to be in a bi-lingual school, they were just lovable, and they stole my heart!!! To this day, I remember each one of them by name and personality!!

We did all kinds of fun things that year and I remember so much of what happened. Since I love Art, we did all kinds of projects. I taught them how to draw faces, because it is one of my favorite things to draw… I even drew a portrait of each one of them before the year was over. This picture above was a project that each one of them did of their self-portrait in small squares and then we connected them all together to make this mural. As I mentioned, it is hanging on my wall today, 12 years later!!

Lo and behold, last week, I got a friend request on Facebook from a name that sounded familiar. I clicked on her profile and sure enough, it was one of my second graders… All Grown UP!!!!!! Her request turned into many of them contacting me, which has made my whole week!! It is amazing to see them 12 years later as young adults. I guess that’s what happens with time.

The coolest thing is that many of them have mentioned things they remember from that year… things that make me smile. That was such a great year of my life. Each child in this world is such a blessing! It has been an honor to be a part of so many kids lives from so many different places.

Faces are a beautiful thing, all shapes and sizes, young and old… and even all grown up!!