St. Johann Reform Church (Link 1.)

St. Johann Reform Church
Davos, Switzerland

"The Reformed Church St. Johann  (names for St. John the Baptist) in Davos in the canton of Graubünden is the oldest Talkirche in Davos and with a capacity of 800 visitors the most. The distinctive church tower with its six bells is formative for the townscape of DavosPlatz. 

The oldest buildings dates back to the 13th century. In 1528, which was both throughout Davos and thus also in the church of St. Johann Reformation introduced.

Big Bell Tower

"The big bell tower has a height of 71.2 meters and was built in the 1481st In the 16th century the tower roof had to be completely rebuilt after a lightning strike. Striking is the resultant twist since the shingle roof by 43 percent, which in the Alpine temporarily extreme weather conditions can be attributed. The tower is basically inaccessible, groups can visit it by appointment, however. 2003 the tower was newly shingles. 35 larches were beaten and made ​​from the wood shingles 73,000. 

Sanctuary and Nave

"Today's nave in 1909 rebuilt to more people being able to accommodate. The old pulpit from 1719 was, however, integrated into the new building. 

Organ on Rear Wall of Sanctuary

"In the same year was an organ on the north gallery built. It included 22 registers. Today's organ from 1961 has 30 registers and stands on the west gallery. She was of the Felsberger company Metzler Orgelbau created.

"The stained glass windows dating from 1928 submitted by Augusto Giacometti.

"From 2007 to 2009 there was a total renovation of the church, the tower on the facade to the ship inside the church. During the renovation, the located on top of the tower roof was time capsule opened the last time and refilled. The former contents were transferred to the Documentation Library Davos."
 (Link 1.)

Crypt

Below the church sanctuary is the stone floored crypt with  tombs in the walls.  
Above the tombs are named and dated circular plaques.

1666 Paulus Jenazuis

1610 Johannes Bircher

1622 Rechten Von Sprecher, Doctor Beider

1611 Henrich Biaisch

1603 Salomon Buol

1666 Hans, Jac, Conr. Schvoler

**********

Photos: Taken with his iPhone in November 2014 by Richard Wilson while

                 living and working in Basel and visiting in Davos, Switzerland.  

Link 1:https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johann_(Davos)

Link 2: http://www.davosreformiert.ch/davos-platz

Prayer

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

Remembrance Day
The Wall

This is a story of my family.  My grandmother, Marie,  was born on a farm in Petasky, Michigan.  She had 5 brothers and 4 sisters.  She moved to Wisconsin as a bride and died in 1952 at age 67 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.  My mother kept in touch with several of her brothers and sisters.  One of these was her Uncle Charlie who had moved to Rapid City South Dakota. In 1956 when I graduated from high school and my brother graduated from grade school my mother took us by train and then bus to visit the Black Hills, Yellowstone Park, and her Uncle Charlie.

I had heard about her Uncle Charlie over the years.  He and his 1st wife Kate had never had children.  Then in his 60's they were divorced and he married his second wife, the young Kate.  Kate had been a nurse in the Korean War.  Her 1st husband had been a pilot who was killed in that war.  She had a son, Alan, from that marriage. Kate and Uncle Charlie also had a son, of course, named Charlie. Charlie had red hair and freckles, was rambunctious and looked like "What me worry?"  This great gift to Uncle Charlie so late in his life became his life.  Alan was 9 and Charlie was about 5 when my mother, brother, and I visited this family.

Many years after this visit I heard that Charlie, the great gift to my mother's Uncle Charlie, was killed in Vietnam.  My prayers went out to Uncle Charlie in his grief and Kate who had suffered such a loss in the Korean War.

When the Vietnam War Memorial was installed in Washington D. C. an accompanying "Moving Wall"  went on tour.  The replica was true to the original, a long rambling wall of black with the names of those that sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War.  A soldier stood on guard with eyes on the wall. This "Moving Wall" came to Vancouver in 1988 and was mounted in Sunset Beach Park.  It was here that I visited the "Moving Wall".  I approached the soldier on guard who took me to the spot where "Charlie Reberg" was carved into the black surface.  I touched his name and thought of the little five year old with red hair and freckles and his parents who adored him.  And I prayed for them and all the other parents who had such a loss.

In 1998 the US Government offered rubbings of the names of those on the wall on request.  I gratefully received a copy of "Charlie Reberg" as it appears on "The Wall".  It can be seen in the photo below.

Each Remembrance Day, I remember.  I remember the sparkle in Uncle Charlie's eyes as he watched his five year old Charlie play in the front yard of their Rapid City home.  I remember that quietness of 9 year old Alan that seemed to reflect the death of his father in the Korean War. I think of the grief of young Kate and her double sacrifice.  And I pray for all the other families that have made this sacrifice.  Let us remember.

Photo: Taken of Suzanne Wilson's copy of "Charlie Reberg's" name on the Vietnam Memorial, "The Wall."
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial

Prayer

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

Kirche Neumunster

Kirche Neumunster
Zurich, Switzerland

"The Neumünster is an Evangelical Reformed Church building in Zurich city distric tRiesbach. The church is located on the Neumünster Neumünster Road 10 southwest of Hegibachplatzes.

Kirsche Neumunster

(Link 1.)

The Neumünster is a longitudinal rectangular, five-axis hall building, which is located on the Zelglihügel, a small hill that was once free is now but surrounded by mansions from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Three flights of stairs lead from the road to Neumünster Church, the main access is determined by a monumental staircase. The church is surrounded by parkland, with cypresses and lime trees planted. East of the church was once the Neumünster Neumünster cemetery, which is now converted into a park.

Entrance

(Link 1.)

"On the narrow sides of the church corner buildings are prefixed. The late classical main façade has three portals and is by columns and pilasters rhythm. About the middle, slightly protruding portal rises the bell tower, located in a cube-shaped mezzanine, a sleek bullet with clock tower and an octagonal divided top floor. The side fronts are divided by high, narrow rectangular windows.

Base of Front Pillar

(Link 1.)

"With its striking front tower the Neumünster is inspired by English classicism, particularly of the Church of St. Pancras inLondon and St. Peter's Church in Regent. From Neumünster Zurich in turn are likely Reformed Church Gentiles and theReformed Church Wattwil have been affected, both by Felix Wilhelm Kubly were built a few years after the Neumünster Zurich. 

"With its striking front tower the Neumünster is inspired by English classicism, particularly of the Church of St. Pancras inLondon and St. Peter's Church in Regent. From Neumünster Zurich in turn are likely Reformed Church Gentiles and theReformed Church Wattwil have been affected, both by Felix Wilhelm Kubly were built a few years after the Neumünster Zurich. 

"A coffered ceiling completes the interior. In the stairways to the tower gallery there are two paintings that the Transfiguration on Tabor as well as Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane broach.

Top Photo: Taken with his iPhone in May 2014 by Richard Wilson while living
                 and working in Basel, Switzerland. (Happy 2nd Birthday to Richard's 
                 son Sano, from Nana and Papa.)

Link 1: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neum%C3%BCnster_(Z%C3%BCrich)

                                                                                                     November 1, 2015

St. John's Episcopal Church 2015

St. John's Episcopal Church

Ketchican, Alaska

"St. John's Episcopal Church and St. Agnes Mission 
were newly built above the tides in 1902."
(REF.)

"St. John's was built in 1904 on the waters edge. Many of the congregation who attended would tie up their boats to the pier at the church's front door, climb up a ladder and make their way into the church to worship. St. John's was constructed by local shipwrights and craftsmen using red cedar milled about three miles south of town in Saxman. Due to the growth of Ketchikan the pier which St. John's sat on has been replaced with a hard surfaced road known as Mission Street. " (Link 1.)

"In 1898, St. Agnes Mission was built in what is now St. John's parking lot. That native school was operated for almost 25 years before being turned over to the Office of Indian Affairs.

"The clergy house on the other side of the mission was enlarged between 1908 and 1912, and converted to a 12-bed hospital. In the 1970's and 1980's, it served as the Seamen's Center.

"In the 1960's, St. John's welcomed back the native congregation of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, a mission church which had been formed out of the congregation of St. John's. Maintaining its presence in Ketchikan's downtown has remained a priority for St. John's, hosting weekly meals for the homeless and providing meeting space to various community groups.

Side View 2015

"To this purpose, parishioners keep the church open all week during the summer so visitors can share in the beauty and serenity of our sanctuary which is adorned with handsome stained glass windows, the oldest of which dates back to the 1930's. St. John's remains firm in both its mission--serving to the glory of God in Ketchikan---and its location--its steeple rising from the center of town as a visible symbol of God and his work.

Rear of Church 2015

"The old rectory which once stood behind the church was taken down to provide for the widening of Dock Street." (Link 2.)

                                                                        Sanctuary

(Link 1.)

"Upon entering the church you are immediately drawn to the stained glass windows which adorn the sanctuary, some of which date back to the 1930's. The alter and pipe organ are without a doubt some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  (Link 1.)

                                         Statue carved from whale bone and

                                    adorned with gold from the 1800's gold rush.

(Link 1.)

                         Stained Glass Window (Link 1.)

                                           Stained Glass Window (Link 1.)

                                                Stained Glass Window (Link 1.)

Note: For map see Blog Post October 18, 2015.                                        

Exterior Photos: Taken in September 2015 by SW.
Reference:  Our Town, Discover Ketchikan Alaska.

Link 1: http://www.rwal54.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/07/2905625-st-johns-episcopal-church-ketchikan-ak
Link 2: http://www.stjohnsketchikan.com/aboutus.htm