Catedral De Puntarenas

Catedral De Puntarenas
Puntarenas, Costa Rica

"This church is most often referred to as Catedral Puntarenas. It's entrance faces east in Sagrado Corazon de Jesus urban park. It is a stone Gothic revival building, with a clock tower above the entrance. Although the building itself is about 100 years old, this is a young diocese, established in 1998 as part of the Archdiocese of San José de Costa Rica.

Altar

Sanctuary  Window

 Sanctuary Madonna-Right Front

Pews and Rear Doors of Sanctuary

"In 1902, the cornerstone of the Cathedral of Puntarenas was laid. This imposing Gothic work was built with stone blocks brought from Barranca and Esparza, held together with lime and sand mortar. The solid stone building has thus far been unaffected by the strong earthquakes that shake Puntarenas. Called the "Stone Church" to the locals, it is one of the architectural attractions of the province. It was declared a historical and architectural heritage site of Costa Rica. (Law No. 7555 of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 2004)." (Link.)

Photos: Taken in September 2013 by SW.
Link :
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMD0N0_Catedral_Nuestra_Seora_del_Carmen_Puntarenas_Costa_Rica

Prayer

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

Iglesia de San Felipe Church

Iglesia de San Felip Church

Portobelo, Panama

"Portobelo is a port city in Colón Province, Panama. It is located on the northern part of the Isthmus of Panama and has a deep natural harbor. Today, Portobelo is a sleepy city with a population of fewer than 3,000. In 1980 the ruins of the Spanish colonial fortifications, along with nearby Fort San Lorenzo, were declared a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.

"Legend has it that Christopher Columbus originally named the port "Puerto Bello", meaning "Beautiful Port", in 1502.^[2]It is also said that after Francis Drake died of dysentery in 1596 at sea, he was buried in a lead coffin near Portobelo Bay." (Link 2.)

"The large white church at Portobelo is the Iglesia de San Felipe, which is still in use. It dates from 1814, but its tower wasn’t completed until 1945. It’s famous as the home of the life-sized effigy of the Nazareno of Portobelo, better known as the Black Christ. The effigy, depicting Christ carrying the cross, normally resides on a podium to the left of the altar, but it is brought out to the center of the church for the Black Christ Festival, by far Portobelo’s biggest event. The handsome altar of the church is adorned with gold images depicting various emblems of the crucifixion, including nails, instruments of torture, and the dice the Roman soldiers cast for Christ’s robe. Small wooden carvings ringing the walls depict the stages of the cross.

Altar

"Behind this church is the recently renovated Iglesia de San Juan de Dios, home to the new Museo del Cristo Negro de Portobelo, which now displays 63 of the robes donated by Panamanians for the festival, some of which are more than 100 years old. 

Iglesia de San Juan de Dios

"Since the 17th century, Portobelo has been the home of the Cristo Negro de Portobelo - the Black Christ of Portobelo. There are several explanations for the presence of this life size figure of a black Christ in the village. Each story has three parts - the arrival of the statue, the refusal of the statue to leave the village, and its veneration. Regardless of the version, however, all of the stories conclude that the statue is responsible for miraculous deeds in the lives of his devotees.

The Black Christ

(On left side of Chancel)

"Nobody knows exactly how or when the Black Christ (El Cristo Negro) arrived in the tiny community of Portobelo on Panama’s Caribbean coast. Some put the date at around 1658. But there are so many stories of miracles associated with the Black Christ, that tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the Church every October 21.

"The popular name, The Black Christ, is attributed to U.S. servicemen shortly after the Second World War. Some 500 arrived in a ship to celebrate the October festival. One witness of that particular day says that many of the U.S. visitors were so caught up in the emotional fervor that they began to shout “Viva El Cristo Negro!” The name stuck everywhere except in Portobelo. A more familiar name is simply The Saint. (Link 1.)

Nuestra Senora De La Merced

(At right side of Chancel)

Shrine 

(On left wall of Church)

Photos: Taken in October 2013 by SW. 

Link 1: http://www.coloncity.com/blackchrist.html
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portobelo,_Col%C3%B3n

Prayer

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

(SW)

Beach Church
(Now the Post Office)

Beach Church,

Brittania Beach, B.C. Canada

"Britannia Beach is a small unincorporated community in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District located approximately 55 kilometers north of Vancouver, British Columbia on the Sea-to-Sky Highway on Howe Sound. It has a population of about 300.

The community first developed between 1900 and 1904 as the residential area for the staff of the Britannia Mining and Smelting Company. The residential areas and the mining operation were physically interrelated, resulting in coincidental mining and community disasters through its history.

Today, the town is host to the Britannia Mine Museum, formerly known as the British Columbia Museum of Mining, on the grounds of the old Britannia Mines. The mine's old concentrator facilities, used to separate copper ore from its containing rock, are a National Historic Site of Canada. " (Link 1.)

Brittania Mine Museum

"On April 1, 1975 the BC Museum of Mining was opened to the public, and was designated as a National Historic Site in 1988. The following year, 1989, the Museum site was designated a British Columbia Historic Landmark. The Britannia site and its historic buildings, may be familiar to fans of the X-Files series as several episodes were filmed on the site. In conjunction with the opening of a major expansion project the museum was renamed the Britannia Mine Museum in 2010." (Link 1.)

One of the historic buildings on the site is the original  Beach Church. According to Bruce Ramsey in his book Britannia it was built in 1952 for $16,500. What was unique about this church is that one side was used for Catholic services and one side was used for Protestant services.  They were separated by a wall. Today one side is used as the post office and the other side as a meeting hall.  

The original dark wood beams of the church sanctuary can be seen in ceiling of the meeting hall.  A small dark wood cross haphazardly sitting in one of the corners of the rafters brings memories of the original church. 

.

Photos: Taken in 2010 and 2013 by SW. 
Reference 1: Britannia, by Bruce Ramsey
Reference 2: Demolition Mama blog post "Choo Choo Britannia", 2/6/10.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_Beach,_British_Columbia

Link 2: http://www.jtc.sala.ubc.ca/britanniabeach/workshop1/assign4/green-newest.pdf (Note sketch of Post Office/Church.)
Link 3: http://www.memorybc.ca/britannia-beach-united-church-fonds;rad

Prayer

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

Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship
San Diego Harbor

Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship, Sunday Worship
September 22 to October 7, 2013
Panama Canal
San Diego, California to Fort Lauderdale Florida

The Policy of the September 22, 2013 Panama Cruise sailing of the Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship was not to have a designated Chapel/Meditation Room. The Policy was not to hold any type of worship service at all.  However, when the Reverend Pastor Rankin from Nova Scotia persisted and offered to lead the service, a room was made available for 1/2 hour on Sunday morning for an interdenominational service.  That room was the Cosmos Lounge.

Cosmos Lounge of Celebrity Millennium

Sunday Worship Service Conducted by

Pastor Rankin

The Cosmos Lounge was on deck 11 at the rear of the ship.  At night it featured, a dance band, large dance floor, and lots of revilers.  But on the two Sunday mornings with the Reverend Pastor Rankin in charge and about 70 passengers who came to worship it became a reverent  space. And for those Sunday mornings  even the room echoed the reverence. 

At the entrance to Cosmos Lounge a large colorful 1979 LOVE statue welcomed the worshipers.  To them it announced "God's love".  The multi blue toned wave patterned carpet of the lounge reminded them of the Sea of Galilee.  And looking out the back widows of the lounge the mast on the ship's stern looked like the Cross.

1979 LOVE Sculpture

Carpet of Cosmos Lounge

Mast on Stern of  Cruise Ship

On the first Sunday of the cruise the theme of the sermon by Pastor Rankin was "The Gift of God is Eternal Life".  And if you look closely at the left hand pillar in the photo of Pastor Rankin preaching in the Cosmos Lounge, you can see a reflection that looks like a candle, a symbol of eternal life.

On the second Sunday of the cruise the theme was the "23rd Psalm" and Pastor Rankin made referenced to the sheep in New Zealand, where there are 4 of them for every person.  Pastor Rankin was ordained as a Baptist minster in 1958.  He has served as a Presbyterian minister for 55 years.

Thank you: To Pastor Rankin for arranging for leading us in worship the two Sundays of the Celebrity Millennium Panama Canal Cruise.
Photos: Taken September and October, 2013 by SW.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(sculpture)

Prayer

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

Terminal C Chapel

George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Interfaith Chapel
Houston, Texas

"The Bush Intercontinental Airport Interfaith Chapel is:

• A caring, understanding listener and pastoral counselor.
• A helpful hand at any airline terminal or airport facility where there is a need, anytime of the night or day, every day of the week.
• People who assist airport employees relating faith and meaning to the daily pressures of their jobs.
• Individuals who freely offer knowledgeable advice and spiritual counsel in helping people deal with many of life’s pressures and air travel problems.
• Information, guidance and consolation to the confused, lonely or grief-stricken passenger. A hand of friendship to members of the airport community, and contact with local religious leaders and congregations of their own faith.
• A hand of friendship to members of the airport community, and contact with local religious leaders and congregations of their own faith.
• A retreat where people of all faiths can give thanks or meditate."

Catholic Mass Schedule

"The Interfaith Chapel is the realization of a dream; the dream of a small prayer group.

The idea for an airport chapel was inspired by Kathryn Claflin after she visited the Prayer Chapel at the New Orleans Airport in February, 1967. Ms. Claflin was favorably impressed with the New Orleans Chapel, and was filled with an overwhelming conviction that the new Houston Intercontinental Airport, which was then only beginning to take shape, should have a beautiful, quiet place for meditation and prayer.

Prayer Rugs

"The idea caught on immediately with the group, but no one knew how to proceed! However, over a two year period, the idea was carried step by step from inception to realization on wings of prayer. From 1967 to June 8, 1969 when the airport and the chapel opened, countless numbers of interested people served on committees to secure, furnish and staff the original chapel which was located in Terminal B.

"By 1980, Houston air traffic increased dramatically and Terminal C was built. A space on the main concourse was specially designed for the new chapel. A chaplain began serving the public part time, and with the help of a few volunteers, he started ministering not only to travelers, but also to thousands of airport employees.

Spanish and English Bibles

"Our Current chapel at the Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is located in Terminal C and was dedicated in 1993 and The chapel volunteer board is excited about a new addition, a new chapel in Terminal D will be open to the public in 2011.  The chapel in at William P. Hobby Airport opened in August, 2005. Brett Jones is the Executive chaplain and is assisted by many ministers and volunteers to carry out the mission of the chapel of serving airport visitors and the airport community." (Link 1.)

Photos: Taken in October 2013 by SW.

Link1: http://www.houstonairportchapel.org/about-us/
Link2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bush_Intercontinental_Airport#Terminal_C

Prayer

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

Little Chapel of the Flowers

Las Vegas, Nevada

Wedding Capital of the World

"Las Vegas may be best known for its casinos and showgirls, but it is also the wedding capital of the world." According to Visit Las Vegas, the official website of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there are more than 122,000 marriage licenses issued each year.  Wedding Chapels are big business in Las Vegas.  You can get married for as little as $40 at Las Vegas Garden of Love or as much as $20,000 at The Bellagio.  Additional fees include the marriage license, which you have to secure at the Clark County Courthouse. It costs $55. 

You don't even have to go into a wedding chapel to get married.  You can have the ceremony conducted at a drive-thru window and receive your vows curb-side.  Of course, you can be married by an Elvis impersonator/officiate, have another Elvis impersonator escort you down the aisle, while a third Elvis  sings in the background.

The wedding chapel The Little Chapel of Flowers, in the photo above, is at 1717 Las Vegas Boulevard just north of the The Stratosphere Casino Hotel.  As the sign says you can have your wedding "live on the internet FREE" so the whole world can watch.  There are three  chapels for the actual ceremony: The Victorian Chapel, The Magnolia Chapel, and the La Capella Chapel.  Then you can take photos outside: on the Veranda, on the kissing bridge, under the ivy arch, in the Glass Garden, in the gazebo, in front of the waterfall and in font of the fountains.  The cost of the weddings here range from "$195 to $3,495". (See Link 1.) One of the famous couples "married here was the Baywatch beauty Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman ." (See Link 2.)

Link1:http://www.littlechapel.com/
Link2: http://www.lovetripper.com/las-vegas-weddings/192006-littlechapelflowers.html
Photo: Taken in 2005 from the Observation Deck of  The Stratosphere Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, by SW.

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                   October 6, 2013

425 St. Georges Avenue

(REF. 1.)

Posthumous
Methodist Church
North Vancouver, B.C.

The first listing of a Methodist Church building in North Vancouver seems to be on page 1263 in Henderson's 1910 City Directory.  The pastor is noted as being Rev. B. H. Balderston and the church as being between 4th and 5th Street. From 1911 to 1914 the pastor is listed as being Rev. W. D. Schlictor.

The actual address of 425 St. Georges is given in the "Our Church-Our Heritage" article on the back page of the Feb. 26, 1978 bulletin of St. Andrew's United Church.

     "The Methodist branch of our congregation held its first services in 
       members' homes and in the Orange Hall (227 Lonsdale Ave.), until a small
       church was built at 425 St. Georges.  This was soon too small for the 
       congregation and the Sixth St. Church (See Blog Post 3/25/12.) was built at
       the S. W. corner of St. Georges Avenue." (REF. 2.)

When comparing the 1930 Fire Insurance map with the 1910 Fire Insurance map the lot that would be 425 St. Georges shows a one story building  that could be the Methodist Church.

By 1915 Henderson's City Directory only lists the North Vancouver Methodist Church on the East 6th Street corner of St. Georges Avenue. The pastor at this new Methodist Church was Rev. H. A. Ireland.

Reference 1: 1910 Fire Insurance Map at North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 2: 1978 St. Andrew's United Church Bulletin.
Reference 3: 1910 Henderson City Directory.

*****

Prayer

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