BLESSING OF THE BELLS

This was one of those really good days when one receives a special feeling of grace. There was a brief service at 4:00 p.m. for the blessing of the bells which were cast by Whitechapel Foundry in London, who also cast the Liberty Bell and the bell(?s) of Big Ben. These have been on order for the cathedral I don’t know how long. We have been without the use of our smaller parking lot for about three months in order to prepare the bell tower to receive them. They arrived last week, and today was our opportunity to see and touch them for once they are placed hardly anyone will be able to get to them. Believe me, they are most impressive and each seems to be a character in its own right. Well, I guess each one really is.

Some were donated by individuals or families in honor of someone or several family members; some were donated by groups, like the choir, or altar guild. I chose to sit near the bell honoring the choir master though I’m not in the choir. He’s a special person. The biggest bell of all honored our first Dean of the Cathedral (We’re only on our second Dean now.), and he was present, and I was happy to receive a hug from him.

There had been a write-up or two about three months ago when some of our parishioners went to England to see a portion of the casting process, and we also had a picture of Her Majesty Elizabeth II visiting the foundry as our bells were cast. I mean it actually showed Shreveport, LA on the bell next to her. How cool is that?

Though the service was brief each bell was blessed. Everyone who came seemed surprised to see so many people there. I think we all just dropped what we were doing and just went; I in blue jeans and boots. There were probably 300 or so there. Because the weather turned decidedly chilly overnight the service was moved indoors, and each of those enormous bells moved inside. They filled the central aisle of the nave.

Want to take a look? O.K., here we go. The first picture is to show the foundry name. I had to use the flash to get the lettering to show up so it is not the true color. You’ll see that in the other pictures.




This is the choir master bell; it’s an F, musically speaking. Sorry, I cut off the top, but I was trying to get the inscription---didn’t use the flash; my mistake. I think it has the bridge on top, but I don’t really remember for sure.




These bells with the bridge on top, my word for it, can swing 360 degrees, whereas the others don’t. I can’t imagine what strength it takes to make these suckers sound out.




As the cathedral cleared after the service I got this last picture. There are seventeen bells in all. I think I’m inspired to reread Dorothy Sayers’ mystery, The Nine Tailors. If you haven’t read it, do.

THAKSGIVING, YES!

SOMETIMES, we just get too busy to write something that encompasses what the heart feels, so I'm borrowing from another blogger. But don't miss what I previously posted because that's part of my thanksgiving too. Have a happy, thankful day.


http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste the URL into your browser. It will be worth it.

GOOD FRIENDS

I love being with friends. My Bible study group met tonight.





If one has a need a friend understands.





A friend is patient.





A friend lets you have your turn.

That pretty much describes my Bible study group. Friends who take turns and can say whatever he or she wishes . . . . Tonight one person told about coming home from college and as they sat around the dinner table told her family about her first course in African-American studies which she found very exciting. She said it became apparent that they were not thrilled with her story, and it was met with stony silence. That was when she became aware of how racist her family was, and it shocked her.

Then another member of the group said that reminded her of a family that was gathered for Thanksgiving dinner, and a huge group of people was gathered. The son who had been away at college insisted that he offer the blessing, so they agreed. This is what he said:

God is good.
God is great.
God is not white,
Nor male,
Nor straight.

Well, we had to get up off the floor after that; we had laughed so hard. Three people were immediately writing that down. (I was not one of them. Brag, brag: I could remember it until now.) But I just wanted to say how grateful I am for friends and the comfort zone they provide.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE A FIRST ! ! !

You know my passion for estate sales. Well, last weekend one of the estate sale entrepreneurs had a second sale at a house where they had previously held one a month before. I labeled the first one as the home of our city's most creative/productive citizen(s). One whole wall had been constructed to show off rooms and homes done as miniatures (just like a miniature museum). It even included a miniature greenhouse. Each was sold separately, but I didn't buy one. There were other miniature rooms done in large wooden cubes, half-clay pots, small boxes, including an Egyptian one in other rooms. They were wonderful. There was decoupaged furniture---chairs, tables, and a piano. I know this may sound really yukky, but I promise you they were really beautiful. (Ask Jaz.) There was a room of tools that had so many built in shelving units one had to move sideways through it. Every inch in that house was used/decorated including the bathrooms. There was also a lean-to greenhouse at the back with a fireplace. Did I love that? You betcha. I didn't buy anything at the first sale.

Usually this dealer has a half-of-half sale on Sun. afternoon if they have too much stuff left on Sat. afternoon. However, at the first sale none of the bedrooms was included in the sale. Therefore, they had a second sale one month later. The "museum wall" had been removed; the shelving units were gone from the tool room, and this time the bedrooms and bathrooms were included. One of the bathrooms which had probably been added on was the size of my two bedrooms and bath, though with turns and curves. Very impressive.

At the second sale I fell in love with a frame I wanted to use for a poster (?) I bought in Toledo, Spain, five yrs. ago. I had to come home and get the poster to take it back to see if it would fit. Well, of course, it didn't exactly, but I figured I could make it work. And here's the big surprise---the first! I have completed this project in three days.
This photo doesn't do it justice because the poster has glimmers of gold which don't show up, but it's the best I could do with my camera. Anyway, I love it!