A few photos from Grace Church

I thought some of you might want to see a few photos of Grace Episcopal Church since that's what brought us to Westwood in the first place...




This is the outside of Grace Church from "the five corners." It has the traditional red doors and looks like a church, which is a good thing.




This is a view of the altar from the center aisle. As you can see, it's design follows the tradition of the priest facing "East" with the congregation rather than the priest facing "West" looking at the congregation. This orientation makes it clearer, I think, that the priest stands at the head of the congregation giving voice to their prayers to God rather than standing up in front and talking for himself to them. In other words, the priest isn't the star of the show. God is.




This is pretty close to my view when I say Mass.





Another look at the altar... the center of the Church's life.






An example of the great details at the altar, this is the door to the tabernacle, which is the box where the Sacrament (the Bread and Wine consecrated by the Eucharistic Prayer offered by a priest or bishop--hence the image of the bread and cup) that is not consumed at Mass is reserved for communicating the sick and homebound, and also as a focal point to the Church for devotions, etc. Episcopalians/Anglicans, like Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox and many other Christians, believe that Jesus meant it when he said of the bread at the Last Supper, "This is my Body," and of the wine, "This is my Blood," and so we believe that in the Sacrament Christ himself is present and deserves the deepest respect, devotion and even worship. For this reason, each time we pass in front of the tabernacle we genuflect (go down on one knee), just as people do to kings and queens, because Jesus is there and he is our Lord and King.





This is another detail that I like just because I like angels and this is a good one.





As an Anglo-Catholic parish we tend to have more of a devotion to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary. This shrine was given in memory of the deceased wife and daughter of one of our parishioners.






Finally, here are a few photos of my office, still in a bit of disarray. It's a good place to work. I can see the five corners from my windows. People have to go through my secretary to get to me. I can get to the church in a second to pray. It's good.

BTW, with any photo on this blog, if you want to see a bigger version, just click on the picture. I'll post more of the Church at some point if you're interested, but of course the best way to see it is to be here and the BEST best way is to experience it being used (that is, coming to Mass). I hope to see some of you here soon...

...Rob