KBC: Rededication of the (Remodeled) Sanctuary

I did not expect to be as overcome by emotion today as I was.  There is no doubt that God was in and among this sacred space today as it was rededicated to His work and we celebrated the ways that He is moving in and among us.  It was a beautiful service with beautiful music and beautiful words.  God was there, regardless of my personal perspective.  But my personal perspective did add to my own emotion, for sure.  This is not just any sacred space.  In this sacred space I was: dedicated as an infant, baptized and served my first communion as a child, married to my soulmate, and ordained as a deacon.  So many of my spiritual milestones took place in this sanctuary.  It is also where we dedicated Clara, formally and officially, to God.

There is such new energy in our church (the people) right now; it was a real honor to see some of that same newness in the furnishings, the carpet, the pewpads.   It is my hope and prayer that someday Clara might look back at this space with the same sense of fondness that I have for it.  That she might recognize that it has been made new for her and her peers, but that it contains a rich history of meaning and tradition from all those who have come before her. 

It felt like a  new beginning for a new generation and a new wave of enthusiasm and passion.  It seemed an appropriate day for Clara to wear the dress that I wore in 1982 when I was dedicated at Knollwood.  Clara, this is your sanctuary.  May you meet God often there.  

The morning began with fellowship and a hymn sing in the fellowship hall (due to rain). 

photo credit Stephen Ball

Clara loved the brass instruments!

photo credit Stephen Ball

Then, Dr. Bob led everyone (beginning with all the children) into the narthex (like a sanctuary foyer) for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

photo credit Stephen Ball

photo credit Stephen Ball

 The children gathered behind the rope, to be the first to open the doors to the new space.  I can't tell you enough how much I love that Dr. Bob wanted them to be front and center for this.  It spoke volumes to me. (And I love that Clara thinks she's a big kid, right in the mix with the rest of them.)



Dr. Jack, the founding pastor of KBC, cuts the ribbon (with some help!) .

photo credit Stephen Ball

And as soon as the doors were opened, Dr. Bob picked Clara up to give her the tour himself.  I love that he was the one to share this moment with her.  Teary-eyed mama will treasure it always.

What a beautiful space it is. 

photo credit Stephen Ball

photo credit Stephen Ball

photo credit Stephen Ball

photo credit Stephen Ball

And here is the hymn commissioned for today:

"In this place of light and beauty, God of Light, come now to dwell

As we welcome all your children, may we greet Emmanuel.

In the changing hues of nature, in the shadows' dance and play,

Help us sense your moving Spirit through the window of this day.

Here, our stories meet your story as we grow in faith and grace,

Seeking Christ in one another till we see you face to face.

In the central act of preaching, wonders of your truth are heard.

Young and old, we come to love you through the window of your word.

When we kneel before your table, sharing in your wine and bread,

We are called to deeper loving as our hungry hearts are fed.

In the joyful feast of worship, music soars; your cross uplifts.

You, we see and sense and savor through the window of your gifts.

When we leave this place of beauty, parting for a place of need,

May your Spirit journey with us, guiding every word and deed.

Grant us strength to work together for a world where justice thrives.
May our neighbors glimpse your kingdom through the window of our lives."

-Mary Louise Bringle, 2012

Thanks be to God.

KBC: Dancing Under the Stars

I'm skipping ahead several weeks and going to go ahead and blog about last night and this morning because it was such an exciting time for our church and I've got it on my mind.  Then I'll continue my catch up of the last month or so....slowly but surely....


Over the summer, our church has been doing (much needed) renovations on our sanctuary.  They're done and this weekend was a time of celebration as we re-opened it.  It kicked off with a fun social event last night - Dessert and Dancing Under the Stars.  We didn't stay til the stars came out, of course, but we sure had fun picnicking and fellowshipping with our dear community.

Here's the scene:

Lots of folks on the lawn with chairs and blankets in front of the sanctuary.

photo credit Stephen Ball

Police blocking off one lane of the street in front (and apparently entertaining the children!).

photo credit Stephen Ball

A band playing under the tent...

photo credit Stephen Ball

And balloons and cake make it a party! Right?

photo credit Stephen Ball

photo credit Stephen Ball

Yes.  Yes, indeed. 

Clara took her Big Daddy's hand and got to dancing the night away...

With some breaks for dessert, of course.

This girl knows how to sucker a man into sharing his cake.

Sweet Baby Jack was in town and we got to see him for the first time in several months!  He is growing up fast!!

Clara played with his piggies...

 Sweet Mama and Aunt Trina with their grandbabies...

Checking each other out...

Sweet Mama stealing a Jack kiss....

 Dr. Bob even got a quick dance with Clara before the night was over...

It was a great night all around.  Thanks to all the folks who helped make it happen!

photo credit Stephen Ball

Coming next: Sunday Morning, KBC Sanctuary Renovations Dedication

SCIENCE! {Part 1}

I love where we live for lots of reasons, but one of them is we have many of the advantages of a "big city" without the big city feel.  I can get just about anywhere I want to in 15 minutes and yet there are museums and cultural opportunities and sporting events and universities all nearby.  I think it's the perfect environment in which to raise a kid.  A few weeks ago we checked out local science museums in our hometown and the next town over.  Clara is just getting old enough to really interact with the things she saw and enjoy this kind of an outing.

I've been to SciWorks countless times as a nanny and on school field trips (and even as a child myself - anyone remember when it was the "Nature Science Center" and the coolest place to have a birthday party?), but it was really fun to go for my first visit with Clara.  She loved checking out the animals and playing with all the musical instruments in the sound room.  Unfortunately, mama didn't plan ahead and my camera battery died part way through our visit.  But here are a few shots of Clara and Chloe having a blast at SciWorks.

 checking out a quail

 Aunt Wendi and Chloe show Clara the parrot and the iguana...

Wanna see them too?

 boa

both girls checking out the ducks...

 girls in strollers watching the otters swim and splash and play

Then it was back inside to play in the sound room.

First, Clara studied the music.

 And then she got busy playing!

And so did Chloe!

All of the music room was a big hit, really!

 Right before my camera battery died, Clara was hanging out in the giant mouth.  It was a little surreal, because I remember sitting in those exact same teeth as a kid myself.  So fun!

Coming up next... the Natural Science Center of Greensboro!  Stay tuned!

Pretty Girl, Happy Girl

I know, I know... It's been a long time.  Almost a month.  Don't mistake my reticence for lack of material though.  Since that last post I have taken 796 photos.  That's 796 photos that need to be processed and uploaded and written about.  And this child is an incredible joy, delight and pleasure, but by golly she wears me out.  So I just haven't gotten to it.  But lots is coming your way soon: science museums, turtle discoveries, and trips to Beech Mountain and Indianapolis!

For tonight though, a few quick backyard shots taken at 17 months.  She is a pretty girl.  More importantly, she is happy.

Can you see those curls in back?  Maybe, just maybe she got one teeny tiny strand of her mama's DNA. 

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands..."

blowing kisses to you

And this is joy.