Day 37 - May 30

Authors: Joan, Toby, Rebecca, Jess, Annie

Location: 2000 E Hutchison

Date: May 30, 2011
(Memorial Day)

Parish:  Church of Our Saviour-Chicago
            St. John's - Chicago
            The Church of the Holy Spirit-Lake Forest


IMAGINE

Day 34/35 - May 29/29

Author: Karen M.

Location: Chicago

Date: Sometime in a wet and cold spring

Parish: the world


Be it not in thy care. Go, I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide. - the bard : William Shakespeare



I graduated this year - from seminary. I and many of my friends now have Master of Divinity degrees. ...

We sat in polyester black gowns, fashioned with some sort of odd sleeve that looked like the tailors' mistake sold as the fashion of the day. (Look to the 1980's if you think this doesn't happen.) I sat wondering when it would feel real - this graduation, this earning of a Masters degree in Divinity. Would I see a difference in my skin, my hair, my eyes? Would I say profound or at least quipy things? Would I feel different on the walk out?

On a cool and windy day the inspiration we would receive was to learn that attendance numbers are going down even in the stalwart liberal church of the Unitarians and Universalists. We would be reminded that curiosity is a worthy thing to hold. And we would be reminded that service is the path to most every idea of humanistic salvation.

It's up to us folks. God will not go away, probably doesn't even care if we still worship. But hasn't that been the point all along. The covenants, the laws, the guidance, the parables, the entreats, the worship, the service - the salvation not earned but informed by all of these.

We are still in need. We are in need of God, we are in need of the Holy, we are in need of the example of Christ. We are in need of these communities of worship that form and foment, we need God and we need of each other.

My father sticks by love as the grounding principle of his faith. That one small word that serves as the point at which our conversations about God can begin at last. This weekend we spoke about respect as well. The lessons of Christ for me in this world have to do with these things - learning to live as part of a vine, learning to love my neighbors, learning to serve everyone and myself, learning to try and try again if it doesn't turn out the first time and learning - always learning - to listen for the will of God amongst and above the voices of men.

The vinca vines, with their brilliant purple flowers love this weather. Hearty enough to grown out onto cement blocks put there for our feet, not theirs. Heaven may be far away for me - but for this vinca heaven may simply be within the reach of its vine. The vinca need not worry which theologian is right about angels or Christ. The vinca plainly follows God's command - grow.

Day 33 - May 27 (2 sites)

Author: Ingrid B.

Location: 530 W Fullerton
Church of Our Saviour - Chicago

Date: May 27, 2011

Parish: Church of Our Saviour - Chicago


The Lord is in His Holy temple let all the earth keep silent before Him.
Habakkuk 2:20

Authors: Jullians

Location: Rogers Park - Chicago (Greenlead and Sheridan-ish)

Date: May 27, 2011
(Note the COAT -
really is it spring YET?)

Parish: Episcopal Service Corps

Owen

Day 32 - May 26

Author: Anonymous

Location: Chase Park  - Ashland & Leland

Date: May 26, 2011

Parish: All Saints - Chicago


Heaven continues every great conversation you've ever had ...

Day 31 - May 25

Authors: Scott and Simon Oak
Location: Hyde Park - Chicago IL
Date: May 25, 2011
Church: UUCNH - Scott is their newly called minister

Winter - Spring

Day 30 - May 24th

Author: Carrie R.

Location: Albany Park

Date: May 24, 2011

Church: West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church


I decided to be a little silly about it this time because i am out of serious heaven-thoughts currently. the words can be:
Heaven is the life of/with a cat

Day 29 - May 23

Author: Abigail - 8 years old.

Location: Evanston IL

Date: May 23, 2011

Parish:  She is a member of 

St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Wilmette where she sings in the choir.

Abigail told me that they had been talking in Sunday School about John's vision of heaven in Revelation.

         I don't know whether it was 

         a particular question her teacher 

         asked ...

         or if it was her own idea to think about what her bedroom would be like in heaven.

Cats have been an important part of her life, so I guess it figures that a cat would show up there.
The blue are clouds.
The pink is her bed.
The figure to the left of the cat is a shoe. Shoes were important to her grandmother, so I guess it makes sense that they would be important to her.

Abigail had fun doing the drawing. I was glad the sun came out for her to do it.

Day 28 - May 22

Authors: Alex Kozakis

Devin Kozakis

Mike Feinerman

Sarah Fisher

Alex Moore

Scott Schoonover

Nancy Meyer


 

Location:
St. Peter's Church
621 W Belmont Ave
Date: May 22, 2011
Parish: St Peter's Episcopal
 

We started at 10 with our Sunday School who first interviewed folks working around the church (altar guild, treasurer, etc), asking them what they thought they'd find in heaven.

The list included: Butterflies, rainbows, mountains, family/people, squirrels, animals and hearts. The boys then spent much of the Sunday School hour drawing this vision of heaven.





A "post rapture" theme Heaven is a place on earth.

They say in heaven love comes first
Heaven is a place on earth -

 Belinda Carlise

The Rev. Sarah "Perhaps the greatest example of heaven was the joy of watching people walk by and around and over and through. Some folks paid no mind and just walked on, but others stopped and chatted, complimented the artists (young and old) and seemed to enjoy this strange and delightful sight."

Day 27 - May 21

Authors: Amy & Betsy Cade
Location: Wicker Park
Date: May 21, 2011
Parish: Church of Our Saviour-Chicago

Betsy told me that when they were drawing a person came forward asking if this was related to the rapture that had been predicted for later that day. Betsy and Amy calmly replied 'No, this about what heaven looks likes here.'

Editors Note: What might the earth look like if we spent as much time worrying about where we are now and how heaven is seen within our lives.
Jesus said as written in John 14:6 - I am the way the truth and the life.

Indeed the way of service, the truth of love, seen where ever life is found in abundance.

Day 26 - May 20

Authors: Art Classes
               at Sacred Heart
Location: 6250 N. Sheridan
Date: May 20, 2011
Parish: Sacred Heart School