Our Lady of Victory Church, 2010

Our Lady of Victory Church

Valletta, Malta

"This small church was the first to be built in Valleta by the Order of St John. Initially it was a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Victory. The name was appropriately chosen to commemorate Malta's triumph over a Turkish invading force during the Great Siege of 1565. Works began in 1567, and traditionally it is considered to be the site where the first stone of the new city of Valletta was laid with unprecedented pomp and the unbounded joy of the population on 28 March 1566.

"Our Lady of Victory church served as the first church of the Order in Valletta until 1577, when the Conventual Church of St John was completed. Grand Master La Vallette was initially buried in the former church. Upon completion of St. John's, his remains were moved to their final resting place within the Co-Cathedral.


"The church underwent modifications towards the end of the seventeenth century and was remodelled once again in the mid eighteenth century." (See Link 1.)

Main Altar (Link 2.)

"In the late 1690s Grand Master Ramon Perellos ...commissioned the placement of a bust of Pope Innocent XI above the central window, while in 1752 Fra Gerolamo Ribas Montelieu, Bali of Majorca, enlarged the church, which has a plain rectangular nave with a ribbed barrel vault and a semicircular apse." (From information posted at the church.)

Photo: Exterior taken in April 2010 in Valletta, Malta by SW.
              Main altar-Google photo.
Link 1: http://www.visitmalta.com/church-of-our-lady-of-victory
Link 2: www.flickr.com

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                                                                2/19/12

3201 Mountain Highway
(2012)

Posthumous
Lynn Valley United Church
Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, B.C. Canada


The roots of Lynn Valley United Church are found in three posthumous churches of North Vancouver: Lynnmour United Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, and Lynn Valley Methodist Church.  These church congregations met in four different buildings that were in five different locations.

                                               Lynnmour United Church (REF 3.)


The original church building of Lynnmour United Church was on Marine Drive in the city of Vancouver. It was built in 1915 as River Avenue Methodist Church, changing  to River Avenue United Church in 1926. In 1933  it was dismantled and moved to North Vancouver at St. Denis. which was later became Mountain Highway.  In 1962  the church moved to a  new building at 1103 Mountain Highway.  That building is presently used as a house.  The congregation joined that of  Lynn Valley United Church in 1966.

                                          Knox Presbyterian Church (REF. 1)

Knox Presbyterian Church  was built at the junction of Lynn Valley Road and Centre Rd. in North Vancouver in 1911.  In 1925 it became Lynn Valley United Church.  And in 1959 the congregation built the present  church at 3201 Mountain Highway.

                                          Lynn Valley Methodist Church (REF 2.)


Lynn Valley Methodist Church was built on Institute Road in North Vancouver in 1912.  In 1926 the congregation joined that of Knox United  Church (see above). 
                  

                         Lynn Valley United Church Sanctuary 2011


But even before a church was built on the lot at the corner of Mountain Highway and Harold Road, this was a historic Lynn Valley site. The name "Harold Road" indicates this, since Harold was named for Harold Fromme, the son of  Julius Martin Fromme, "The Father of Lynn Valley".  He originally owned a shingle mill and the lumber storage shed was on this site. Later, his son Harold ran the Harold Fromme Lynn Valley Garage in the lumber shed of the shingle mill.  (REF. 4)  The land for Lynn Valley United Church was donated by Julius Fromme.  (Rhelda Nicholson)

                                        Lumber Storage Shed of Shingle Mill 1925
                                           North Vancouver Archives Photo 6657

                                         Harold Fromme Auto Repair late 1930's
                                          North Vancouver Archives Photo 6662


Now it seems that the church congregation is ready for another move.  This time they are proposing the demolition of the present Lynn Valley United Church and on that site building an L shaped condominium housing complex.  A new smaller  Lynn Valley United Church will be built on the property, on the corner of Lynn Valley Road and Harold Road. The church was demolished in 2015 with building plans in place.


Thank you: To Rhelda Fromme, granddaughter of Julius Martin Fromme.
Photos: Taken in December 2011 and January 2012 by SW.
Link 1: http://lynnvalleychurch.com/
Link 2: http://www.dnv.org/upload/documents/District_History/181818.pdf
Reference 1: Lynn Valley from the Wilds of Nature to Civilization by Walter 
                          Draycott.
Reference 2: District Heritage Inventory 1996
Reference 3: The Province, September 21, 1962.
Reference 4: http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com June 18, 2010.

                                                                   February 12, 2012

                                                   St. Luke Lutheran Church 2012


St. Luke Lutheran Church
Spokane, Washington

 "The vision of a new Lutheran church in north Spokane became a reality on June 6, 1954, under the guidance of mission start pastor, Warren Pechman, with 50 confirmed adults and 42 children.  Charter members Oren and Margaret Peterson and Magna (Patterson) Knaggs are still attending St. Luke today.  These first services were held at a store front at 10117 Pend Oreille Highway.  This is now a Mexican restaurant on what has become the Newport Highway.  The congregation grew quickly and the members valued their children’s Christian education, evidenced by the Sunday School growing to 113 students.

                                  Original 1961 Church/Sanctuary

"Land was purchased at 9706 North Division.  In the summer of 1959, Pastor Jerald Ferguson came to St. Luke just in time to move the congregation to Whitworth Elementary School, where worship was held for the next two years. On May 28, 1961, ground was broken to build the new church at a cost of $34,000.  Construction was completed and worship in the new sanctuary was held on September 12, 1961." (Link 1.)  


This building, the southern most building, which was once the sanctuary has now been divided into meeting rooms and the offices. In the original building the colored glass still on the northern wall of the building was repeated on southern wall.

1978 Addition and Sanctuary

A " new addition conceived under Pastor Anderson’s direction came to fruition with ground breaking on April 3, 1977... a new addition and sanctuary were dedicated (April 16, 1978) ..." (Link 1.)

This 1977 addition is the north wing of the church complex and the present sanctuary.  Approximately 430 congregation members attend Sunday worship during the three services offered: traditional services at 8:30 and 10:00 and a contemporary service at 11:15.  Approximately 100 attend the 9:45 Sunday School.

                                      Church Sanctuary 2012


The two aisles of padded church pews and straight backed chairs along the sides and back of the church sanctuary accommodate the Sunday morning congregation. A series of stained glass windows by former congregation member John Rancour brighten the north wall of the sanctuary.

                   Stained Glass Windows on North Wall of  Sanctuary


"... the deceased architect Mr. Neraas (See Link 3.) should be mentioned as one who played a major part in the development of St Luke.  He designed the first two stages of St Luke working closely with those of the various building committees.  He most likely holds the record for the number of churches designed for all time." (REF.) 


In 2006 a multipurpose room was built on the east end of the church complex.  The large gym provides a place for basketball games, church banquets, and special worship services.  The east wall serves is enhanced with three crosses sculpted by congregation member Dr. Nathan Stime.  A kitchen runs across the south wall.  Along the north wall is the choir room, and above it a youth loft open to gym.

                                              Aluminum Sculpture Hands and Cross 


The aluminum sculpture "Hands and Cross" was designed by congregation member Dr. Nathan Stime. " The 21 foot vertical height aluminum cross was elevated into its place on Good Friday afternoon 1998,  the sky darkened at 4:30 pm as the congregation sang the hymn "Lift high the cross...."  Clouds made it very dark as the lightening / thunder made everyone scatter into the church....    The clouds briefly opened to allow the sun display a magnificent rainbow over the cross and above the church...   The amount of aluminum is 700 lbs, with steel inner supports adding another 700 lbs.  Cement base with the inscribed Alpha and Omega  on one side and INRI ("Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews") on the other side added another 30,000 lbs to its total weight." (REF.) 


Dr. Stime also designed the three large crosses on the east wall of the multipurpose room.  They are made of 7 foot long boards of Tiger Wood/Brazilian Koa. He brought the boards back from one of his many trips to Guatemala where as a doctor he accompanied Nazarene missionaries and then established a wood shop training school. The crosses were mounted in the fellowship hall in 2009, again on Good Friday. 


For the last 11 years Pastor Jim Johnson has led this vital and dedicated congregation.  During this time "the church has grown in worshipping numbers, facility size, staff composition and most important, range of ministries." (Sandy Randolph.)


Thank You: To Sandy  Randolph, Church Administrator, and Jim Scollard, 
              Worship Coordinator, for  information about the church and a tour.
Reference: E mails from Dr. Nathan Stime with information on the sculptures.
Photos: Taken in January 2012 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.stluke-lutheranchurch.org/
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus,_King_of_the_Jews
Link 3: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2007/dec/17/architect-donald-neraas-dies/

                                                                             Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

out the world. Amen

St. Peter's Catholic Church

"Little Blue Church"

Big Island of Hawaii, Kahaluu, Hawaii

"This tiny little church is located right on the ocean and surrounded by colorful floral bushes. There are only a dozen pews and a pulpit, but the setting is very serene. A beautiful etched glass window casts soft light over the entire church, especially during the sunset. The church was built in 1889 on the site of an ancient Hawaiian heiau. Today, many couples choose this quaint chapel for their wedding.

 
Sanctuary (Link 2.)

"The setting of this little church right on the beach is stunning. It's no coincidence that this was once the site of an ancient Hawaiian heiau, or temple of the ancient Hawaiian religion.  You can see the restored heiau next to the church, where the ancient Hawaiians worshiped the surfing gods. (Link 1.)

                                    Etched Glass Window Behind Altar  (Link 4.)

"If you sit in one of the pews, you can visually line up the horizon depicted in the stained glass image of the Sea of Galilee with the real Pacific horizon beyond the church (Note: The window is actually etched glass and is at the front of the church, behind the altar.) If you look at the right moment you can imagine the surfers to be among the apostles. " (Link 3.)

"This quaint little church is made of clapboard with a corrugated tin roof. The church is located right on the ocean and surrounded by lush green and flowered bushes and trees. There is no parking lot. Carefully pull off the road and walk to the chapel. The tall church spire stretches high over the tiny building. There is a beautiful etched glass window that sheds a delicate light throughout the tiny church." (Link 1.)

"Take Ali'i Drive south of Kailua-Kona. (On the Big Island of Hawaii.) The church is located on the ocean side of the road just north of Mile Marker #5." (Link 1.) It is next to Kahaluu Beach Park.

Photos: Taken of painting of exterior of church bought in 1984 in Hawaii by SW.
Link 1: http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/st-peters-catholic-church-hawaii-the-big-island.html
Link 2: http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/tiny-churches/
Link 3: http://www.yelp.com/biz/st-peters-catholic-church-kailua-kona
Link 4: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58496591

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen



Hollywood United Methodist Church,

Hollywood, California

The First Methodist Church of Hollywood (now called Hollywood United Methodist Church)  at 6817 Franklin Ave. is just north of Hollywood Boulevard and Grauman's Chinese Theater. It is also on the corner with North Highland Boulevard which was in the opening scene of "The Godfather". To the west of the main church (the door entrance can be seen on the left end of the photo above) is a smaller Chapel and parlor.  Between the two is a patio lined with 10 foot high poinsettia plants that have been donated over the years.  The formal Chapel and large parlor has many Spanish architectural features and much heavy dark wood.

Sanctuary (Link.)

"The vision for Hollywood United Methodist Church as "a sanctuary of hope" began back in 1909 when the first congregants started to organize. Eventually with an ever-expanding business community and a growing congregation, a bold step was undertaken to purchase a lot on the corner of Highland and Franklin Avenues at the base of the Hollywood Hills, and to build a new home.

                                                                   Chapel (Link.)
                               (At the time of the wedding of Suzanne and  Alan
                                      Wilson the seating was dark wood pews.)

"Construction began in 1927, with the Recreational Building built first to house the congregation's worship services, after which the Sanctuary and Education Building would be constructed. A series of set backs challenged the congregation during construction, including the discovery of soft, unstable ground on the site for the Sanctuary. Monstrous holes were dug by workers who labored 65-feet below ground. To stabilize the footing and foundation, massive pits and wells were filled with enough concrete to equal 15 railroad freight cars.


"The congregation's faith and perseverance was finally rewarded on March 16, 1930. The majestic building was unveiled to enthusiastic acclaim, launching its distinguished reign as a Hollywood landmark. An historic postcard describes the church building as "...one of the most famous churches on the Pacific coast," with an atmosphere of "...reverence in symbolic beauty and compelling stillness."In December 1981 the church was declared Historic-Cultural Monument #248 by the City of Los Angeles."(See Link 1.)

December 1, 1967 Suzanne and Alan Wilson were married in the chapel at The First Methodist Church of Hollywood.  In 2008 Suzanne had the following article published in February 9, 2008 The Vancouver Sun, "Wedding Plans and Memories".

"My husband of 40 years and I were eating breakfast and reading the weekend Sun and National Post  at The 80’s Restaurant in North Vancouver when the phrase “caught the bride’s bouquet” “caught” my eye. 

"Yes, “I still remember when ‘we’ got married like it was yesterday”.  I especially remember throwing my bouquet.  And I most certainly remember “who caught it”.

Alan and Suzanne Wilson
1967

"Alan and I were married in the chapel of the First Methodist Church of Hollywood December 1, 1967.  The reception followed in the church parlor across the hall.  When it was time to throw the bouquet I climbed the beautiful Spanish tile staircase.  I turned around and I threw the flowers over my head. The bouquet flew. I looked to see who would catch it. My friend’s faces turned upward, arms raised in anticipation, and then they stopped. There was the bouquet, “caught” by the six sided chandelier that lit up the hall. 

Wedding Bouquet in Chandelier
1967

"A pole to open high church windows was fetched and the bouquet tumbled from the chandelier and was “caught” by a good friend and neighbor.  It did its magic.  She was married the following summer at Knott’s Berry Farms.  She threw her bouquet from a staircase on a fake exterior facade.  At her wedding there was no chandelier, only a young girl to “catch” it."

Photo: Top photo of First Methodist Church of  Hollywood, thank you to
               cardcow.com

Link: http://www.hollywoodumc.org/History-Hollywood-United-Methodist-Church.aspx

                                                                                                                           January 22, 2012

                                St. Stephens Catholic Church

Sanctuary

1360 East 24th Street

St. Stephens Catholic Church
North Vancouver, B.C.

The Sanctuary of St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver borders the corner of the 24oo block of Mountain Highway.  However, its actual address is 1360 East 24th Street. One of the three buildings on its campus is the Sanctuary built in 1964 and siding Mountain Highway.  Although this building was used as the original sanctuary, it was intended to be the Parish Hall.   

                                                  Entrance to Church Sanctuary

Behind the Sanctuary Altar is a large mural of a modern depiction of the Crucifixion. (See photo below.)  Along the north and south walls of the Sanctuary are plaques depicting the Stations of the Cross.  In the ceiling of the sanctuary is a skylight with a large cross in its center.
In 1978 the large hall on the east side of the parking lot was built and the original hall continued as the sanctuary. The new hall provides the congregation with a stage and kitchen.   A covered walkway joins these two buildings. 

Parish Hall

                                                          Entrance to Parish Hall

To the north of the entrance to the Parish Hall is a Memorial to all the victims of abortion.

                                                                        Memorial

The third building is the Parish Rectory. In the plaza between the Rectory, the covered walkway and the Sanctuary is a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

                                                       Parish Rectory and Shrine

The History of St. Stephen's Parish (See Link 1.)
"Archbishop Duke appoints Father Albert Eisenring as the first pastor of a new parish in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver. Land for the new parish had been acquired several years earlier. (The land was on the corner of East 24th Street and Mountain Highway.)

"Father Eisenring takes up residence in the smaller of the two existing, rundown houses on the parish property and recommends that the new parish be named in honor of Saint Stephen, the first martyr. 

"The first Mass in the new parish is celebrated on November 17 at the Lynn Valley Community Centre on Frederick Road. Over 400 people were in attendance.

"1964, July: Renovations to the second house on the property are completed, and it becomes the parish rectory. This small house continued to serve as the parish rectory for about twenty more years.

"1964, September: Construction begins on a new building that was intended to serve eventually as the parish hall and, in the interim, as a more suitable venue for Mass. This is the present church. 1964, December: The first Mass is celebrated in the new church/hall on Christmas Eve. 1965, March: Archbishop Johnson blesses the new church on March 14.

Sanctuary Altar

"1971, March: Pierre Elliott Trudeau, then the prime minister of Canada, and Margaret Sinclair are married at Saint Stephen’s.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair

"1972–1973: Part of the parish land is sold for private housing to raise funds for the parish. 1974: Construction of the parish hall is completed. 

1978, August: The parish debt is eliminated." (See Link 1.)

Photos: Taken in November 2011 by SW.

Link 1: http://ststephensnv.wordpress.com/

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen

Reference: Traditions of Faith and Service, Archdiocese of Vancouver.

                                                                                                                                    1/15/12

 Costa Pacifica in port in Malta

Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship Chapel

The Cruise Ship Costa Pacifica is a "home away from home" during its eight day cruise of the Western Mediterranean. The 3,789 passenger luxury ship built in 2009 features music as its theme. Classical music is played in the halls and music of the day's destination in played in the elevators. Entire lounges are dedicated to a single style of music: classical, jazz, swing, disco, calypso. Afternoon and nightly shows feature a single style or a the whole range including classical, rap, and pop. Decor also features music with: treble clef railings in the lounge, cello motifs on the elevator doors, paintings of musicians in the state rooms, wallpaper sketches of musicians on the hall walls.

The 112,000 tons of this cruise ship are decked out in ultra Vegas with spectacular amenities. There are: two retractable-roof swimming pools as well as an outdoor swimming pool, five hot tubs, a kiddie pool, a Formula 2 race car driving simulator, one of the largest spas at sea, a library, a music studio, and 13 bars/lounges.

The route of this floating beauty is: Civitavecchia (and hour and a half on the train from Rome), Savona (with an excursion to Monaco available), Barcellona Spain, Mallorca, Tunis Tunisia, Malta, and Catania Sicily. Passengers board at several of these ports. (See map below.)

 

Since the Costa Pacifica is an Italian ship, Italian is the main language used on board.   On the first week of April 2010 cruise only 500 of the 3,789 passengers were English speakers. Italian and French were predominant. Announcements were made taking this proportion into consideration.  Important information such as the life boat drill were repeated in every language represented.  As the 3,789 passengers stood on deck sporting their life jackets all the information was repeated in: Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, and English. Only then was the all clear horn  sounded.

Another pleasant surprise on the Costa Pacifica Cruise line is the age range.  Families with with babies, preschoolers, and teens, honeymooners, and  extended family groups dominate the roster.

                                                                           Chapel

The Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship includes this beautiful petite chapel for daily worship. The chapel seats 18 and is 45 square meters in size.  Christ, Mary, and Joseph and perhaps the feeding of the multitudes are depicted behind the altar. Brightly painted single Saints are painted in the side wall niches of the chapel. Framed spiritual paintings are mounted between these wall niches. The blond wood pews, gold trim, crystal chandelier, and warm overhead lights reset in circular alcoves and chandelier give the chapel a golden glow. Dark carpeting contrasts with the shiny marble center aisle with its stylized cross border. The marble pedestaled altar is covered with a scalloped linen. An urn of flowers sit in front of the altar. Daily church service times at the Chapel on the deck 4 are varied to fit in with excursion schedules.

                                                                          Chapel
Other church services are held on board as well. On Easter Sunday the 8:45 am Holy Mass was held on deck 5 in the Around the Clock Lounge. This facilitated a larger congregation. On Saturday night at 8:45 pm a renewal of marriage vows was held on deck 5 in the Amadeus lounge. Honeymooners and those celebrating special wedding anniversaries were invited. Again a venue larger than the chapel was needed to accommodate the many couples that attended.

For personal worship a Gideon Bible can be found in the bedside table in each state room. Since this is an Italian ship, the Bible is in Italian, of course.

 For more information regarding the Costa Pacifica see Blog Post http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com/ June 19, 2010.

Photos: Taken on Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship in April 2010 by SW.
Thank you: To Carol Pennington Senior Advisor, Office of the Sr. Vice President- Guest Relations on the Costa Pacifica for details regarding the chapel.

Link 1: http://cruises.about.com/od/costapacifica/ig/Costa-Pacifica.-odC/
Photos: Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship taken in Malta in April 2010 by SW.

Note: Sympathy to passengers and their families involved in the tragic accident on Pacifica's sister ship Concordia.  (See Link 2 for photos and details.)
Link 2: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/16/striking-photographs-of-tragedy-in-shallow-waters-as-the-costa-concordia-sinks/

***********