Notes from Patmos 08/14/24
There are a few changes afoot around the parish that we need to go back a few decades to explain. Right around the turn of the 21st century, there was a desire to build a columbarium at Saint John’s, so loved ones could be laid to rest near the altar or church. This is a practice that is as old as Christianity itself- it has always been common to bury our faithful dead in Church graveyards, or in the church itself, be it under the floor of the church or in the walls, Etc. However, there was some disagreement over where the columbarium should be and what it should look like. When I arrived, it was planned to be in the ground by the entrance to the basement. For many reasons, this was less than ideal. So, when I arrived, we came up with a different plan and move the columbarium to the outside wall of the church, affixed to the outside wall, directly opposite of the altar, on the inside of the wall. We also created a garden and attempted to make a lovely space for visiting, praying and reflecting. For the most part that plan has been carried out. One addition to the columbarium garden is the 15th station of the cross (the station of the resurrection) which was designed to be placed in the church graveyard. The idea being that a loved one, or the faithful, would walk the way of Jesus’ passion and death, and end up in the grave area with the station the depicts Jesus’ resurrection and giving hope and courage to the one walking through tbe devotion. The station also stands as an act of faith in the Christian hope- that death is not the end. Mr. John Jeffreys gave the stations of the cross to the parish in memory of his wife, Julie Hynson Jeffries, and at long last the final station has been placed and testifying to the love of Jesus for us all.
The second change involves what many call the ‘prayer corner’ in the nave. More properly called a side chapel or side altar, it is the corner of the nave that contains the votive candle stand and is an important stop for many in the life of prayer. That area began its life as ‘the prayer corner’ with the brass Prie-dieu (prayer desk) that now is used by the priest and is in the choir. The other original part of the prayer corner was a cast bronze evangelist cross fixed to the wall (evangelist cross means that at the fours terminals of the cross there are the symbols of the four writers of the gospel.) Both of these items were given to the parish in memory of Alexander Field Chisholm, who was senior warden of the parish for 25 years. This past week we moved the bronze cross to the columbarium garden as well, to compliment the station of the resurrection and to provide another reminder of the love of Jesus in the columbarium garden. In my time here, we have made several changes to the prayer corner. Mr. Walter Baily built a wooden altar to hold icons and at times celebrate the Eucharist or to hold and display sacred things. The Vial family gave the votive candle stand that is much loved and used (we spend almost $5,000/yr on candles!), and in that time the prayer corner has become one of the more popular stops for many in our church, and also in the community at large. You really wouldn’t believe how many people come and say prayers and light candles through the week- its mind boggling. So, to try and further complete this prayer corner, we have added a large icon of the Annunciation painted by a local artist and son of the parish. Here is the description: The icon is of the Annunciation to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1.26—38). The icon, a gift offered by Fr. Karl Schaffenburg, to the greater glory of God and with invocation of Our Lady’s prayers upon the parish is a copy of a 12th C. Novgorod icon, with the copy being executed by Laurel’s own Mark Landis, a very gifted painter who originally became well-known as an art forger, (Meet Mark Landis (marklandisoriginal.com), but who has also become well-known for his original works.
Elizabeth & Fr. Karl Schaffenburg gave this icon to the parish in thanksgiving for the parish and her family, and tonight at the blessing of the backpacks, we will bless it for sacred use.
We have spent a good deal of time and effort over the summer getting rid of clutter, planting flowers and sprucing up the landscape, and restoring some of the older items in the church (next time you walk from the parish house to the church, you will find pictures of the past priests and bishops, all cleaned and freshly matted and reframed). We have also been working hard to try and create more sacred spaces and live up to our purpose of being an outpost of Heaven. It is my most sincere prayer that these changes will remind you of the things of God and help you and the community in your life of faith.
See you all around the parish,
Jeff+