Duomo di Milano

 (REF. )

Milan Catholic Cathedral/Duomo di Milano/Basilica
of the Nativity of Saint Mary
Milan, Italy

"Milan  is the second-most populous city in Italy, the first considering the metro area, and the capital of the Lombardy Region. The city proper has a population of 1.3 million, whilst the Milan metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million.^[3] The massive suburban sprawl that followed the post-war boom of the 1950s–60s and the growth of a vast commuter belt, suggest that socioeconomic linkages have expanded well beyond the boundaries of its administrative limits and its agglomeration, creating a metropolitan region of over 11 million people,^[4][5][6] stretching over the former provinces of Milan, Bergamo, Como, Lecco, Lodi, Monza and Brianza,Pavia, Varese and Novara." (Link 2.)

"Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano; Lombard: Domm de Milan) is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola.

The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the world^[1] and the largest in the Italian state territory."(Link 1.)

Chapel

(Google Images)

"The cathedral was grand by all measures and perhaps larger than La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Home to twenty-seven small chapels which serve as the final resting places of Spanish nobles."  (Google Images)

Milan Cathedral Altar

(Google Images)

Reference: Reported and top photo by Richard Wilson while attending the May 2014 First Ever Italian Cycle Messenger Championships.  In attendance were participants from Paris, Sweden, Spain and Rome.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Cathedral
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan

Prayer

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

Basel Minster (Basler Munster)

Basel Minster,
Basel, Switzerland

"The Basel Minster (German: Basler Münster) is one of the main landmarks and tourist attractions of the Swiss city of Basel. It adds definition to the cityscape with its red sandstone architecture and coloured roof tiles, its two slim towers and the cross-shaped intersection of the main roof. The Münster is listed as a heritage site of national significance in Switzerland.

"Originally a Catholic cathedral and today a reformed Protestant church, it was built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic styles. The late Romanesque building was destroyed by the 1356 Basel earthquake and rebuilt by Johannes Gmünd, who was at the same time employed for building the Freiburg Münster. This building was extended from 1421 by Ulrich von Ensingen, architect of the cathedral towers at Ulm and Strasbourg. The southern tower was completed in 1500 by Hans von Nußdorf. 

Basel Minster

"The building as it stands today dates back for the most part to the late Romanesque building constructed in the last third of the 12th century and completed around 1225. On the foundations of the previous buildings a church with three naves and atransept was built. In the second half of the 13th century, probably after a fire in 1258, the western facade was completed, Georgsturm received a third story and the Martinsturm was started.

"The main front which points at the west is bestrided by two towers. The northern tower is called Georgsturm (64.2 m) and the southern tower is called Martinsturm (62.7 m). The towers are named after Georg and Martin, saints of the knights. 

"After a heavy earthquake in 1356 the Münster, which originally had five steeples, was reconstructed with only two steeples remaining. At the older Georgsturm, the lower brighter part that has remained untouched, can still be seen. In 1500 a gorgeous finial was put on top of the Martinsturm. By using the steep spiral stairs in the southern steeple it is possible to see the old church clock from 1883. The belfry is situated in between the two steeples which are connected through a gallery. Georgturm and Martinsturm can both be accessed by 242 stairs. 

"Both of the steeples consist of three lower, undivided storeys and several Freigeschosse. The two lower storeys are simple and block-like. The steeples’ upper storeys soar up the tracery gallery. As those were not constructed simultaneously, they differ slightly in their outer appearance. In contrast to the southern steeple, the octagonally cross-sectioned steeple and the steeple topping attach only over a rectangle storey at the northern steeple. Comparable to the Freiburger Münster, lank Fialentürme project at the corners of the octagons. (Link 1.)

A unique feature of the spires are the "crockets", stone nubs  jutting out from the edges of the spire.  Another church in Basel has this same feature, the Elizabethkirch.

Elisabethenkirch, Basel, Switzerland

Sanctuary, Organ Pipes

Along with the numerous stained glass windows are two rose windows.

Nave Stained Glass Windows
(See Link 2.)

Rose Window

Rose Window

Photos: Taken in April 2014 by Richard Wilson while working in Basel,
                 Switzerland.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_Minster
Link 2: http://basel.all-about-switzerland.info/basel-minster-cathedral.html

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                                June 15, 2014

821 West 15th Street

Vision for the World Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"The practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.3 million members respectively.

"The influence on education has been decisive as Christians started 293 schools and 40 universities including 3 of the top 5 academic institutions.Protestantism is seen as the religion of the middle class, youth, intellectuals, and urbanites, and has been central to South Korea's pursuit of modernity and emulation of the United States." (Link 2.)

There are several Korean Christian congregations in North Vancouver.  One, renting space on the first floor in a commercial building in the City of North on West 15th Street, is the Vision For the World Church.  The sandwich board marque out front, headed in both Korean and English, states the name of the church-Vision For the World Church.  Listed below, translated from the Korean, is a list of the services held at the church. (See photo below.)
                                                              Sunday Service: 2:30 pm
                                                              Sunday School: 3:30 pm
                                                              Daily Early Morning Service: Mon.-Fri-06:00 am
                                                              Wednesday  Service: 1 pm
                                                              Friday Service: 09 pm
                                                              Phone Number

Sandwich Board Marque of Services

Two banners in the front window to the left of the front door announce the mission of this Christian church.  The green banner on the left states "Healing, Restoration/and Vision for the World."  

Banners Announcing the Mission of the Church

Services are  held in the auditorium/Sanctuary. (See photo below.)  On the front right hand side is another banner.  This banner announces the message "Embrace Yourself, Your Family, and the World."

Auditorium/Sanctuary

Auditorium/Sanctuary Banner

In the rear of the auditorium/Sanctuary is a table with a Cross, an  Offering Center and Church Bulletin Board.  The envelopes sitting on the right hand side of the table are marked with congregation member's names and color codes for type of offering: tithe, building fund, or mission fund.  The envelopes holding the contributions are then placed in the circular box marked with a cross.

The Church Bulletin Board above has three color coded sections: this Church, Missions, Other.

Cross, Offering Center and Church Bulletin Board

The Sunday Bulletin/Order of Service is also in Korean.  The cover states "He Knows the Sadness We Have Felt".  Inside is the Order of Service:

                                                         Prayer

                                                         Singing

                                                         Pray all together

                                                         Bible Reading-Response of Reading

                                                                     Selected Psalms and Proverbs

                                                         Singing

                                                         Offering

                                                         Blessing

                                                         Reading of Bible Scripture

                                                         Sermon

                                                         Singing-of the Churches Song

                                                         Announcements

                                                         Next Week's Schedule

                                               (Communion is held once a  year.)

Sunday Bulletin/Order of Service

The back page of the Bulletin/Order of Service relays news on the missionaries the church is supporting in Kenya and Guatemala.  

Crosses made by the Sunday School
(In window to the right of the front door.)

Resource Person: Thank you to Christina Yun, neighbor and former 

                 congregation member of Vision for the World Church.

Photos: Taken and photoshopped in May 2014 by SW.
Link 1: http://cafe.daum.net/vancouver-world
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Korea

Prayer

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

City Center

(Link 2)

Evangelical Reformed Church
Winterthur, Switzerland

Stained Glass Window

(REF.)

"Winterthur (/ˈvɪntərtʊər/; German pronunciation: [ˈvɪntərtuːr]) is a city in the canton of Zürich in northern Switzerland. It has the country's sixth largest population with an estimate of more than 100,000 people. In the local dialect and by its inhabitants, it is usually abbreviated as Winti. Today Winterthur is a service and high tech industry centre, but many people make use^[how?] of its proximity to Zürich, which lies approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the south-west, and only 18 minutes by train." (Link 1.)

Stained Glass Window

(REF.)

The History of church dates to the 7th / 8th Century, when a simple wooden hall building was built on the site of the parish church; it was replaced by a solid construction in the 9th century. In the early Middle Ages, the church was repeatedly damaged by fires in the city and had to rebuild it. The oldest, still existing part is  the early Gothic choir of 1244 . The nave was built from 1508 to 1538, the windows date from 1853 to 1856. (Link 2.)

Stained Glass Window

(REF.)

The oldest traces of the North Tower, which originally stood alone, are  from 1180 to 1362. The South Tower was built from 1486-1490; now only the foundation is original.  The present clock was installed in 1923. (Link 2.)

Stained Glass Window

(REF.)

In the Sanctuary, the pulpit is from 1854 by a sculptor named Egger from Konstanz.  The baptismal font is by Hans Conrad and from the year 1656. (Link 2.)

                                                  The choir organ with its stained glass windows

(Link 2.)
                            

The organ originated in the  monastery at Salem and was from 1766 to 1768 and built by Charles Joseph Riepp.  The casing is from 1888.  It has  56 registers , 3 manuals and pedal board,  all from the original organ. (Link 2.)

Photos: Taken by Richard Wilson while living in Zurich, Switzerland 2014.  
Link 1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterthur
Link 2: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadtkirche_Winterthur

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                                    June 1, 2014

4840 Capilano Road

Canyon Heights Community Church/Christian Assembly
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Canyon Heights is the area in the District of North Vancouver that is near the top of Capilano Road, at the base of Grouse Mountain.  It is here that in 1950 a temporary building was placed as the start of Canyon Heights Christian Assembly.  The first services were in the form of a Sunday School.

The first permanent building was constructed on this site in 1965.  It was built by Gordon Millhouse and dedicated on Easter Sunday of that year. (REF.)

Celebration Pamphlet

Sanctuary

A new church was built in 1971.  Renovations were added in 1985, making it 2 1/2 times the size.  It was at this time that the triangular stained glass window was place at the peak in the Sanctuary. It was installed by artist Gordon Munro. (REF.)

Sanctuary Window

Other additions were a Christian daycare in the year 2000 and Leaping Calf Coffee in 2003. (REF.) The coffee house was upgraded in 2011 and is called the The Capilano Grind Coffee and Bakehouse. The cosy dark wood coffee house is open to the public from 9am to 2 pm Sunday to Tuesday.  The staff includes a hired barista and as well as the Office Administrator on weekdays and the Pastor on Sundays. 

Sanctuary and Coffee House Entrance

Coffee House

In 1914 Canyon Heights Christian Assembly changed the name of the church to Canyon Heights Community Church.  A Sunday worship service with a children's ministry is held at 10:30 am.  Teen and youth ministry is held at 6:30pm on Friday nights. (Link.)

Thank you: To Office Administrator Alta Skellenger and Pastor Steve Moore
Reference: Celebrating 60 Years, The History of Canyon Heights Christian 
                       Assembly 1950-2010, church pamphlet.

Photos: Taken in April 2014 by SW.

Link:http://canyonheights.blogspot.ca/

*******

Prayer

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