Hope

 

God’s last word meets our hopelessness with hope.

 

Qui regis Israel

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.

3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.

17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

 

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

 

Spirit of Detroit (detail)

FREDERICKS, Marshall M.

1955-1958

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

Detroit, Michigan

United States

 

Photo by S. J. Carey

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20171129301421810&code=ACT&RC=55798&Row=10

 

Spirit of Detroit *

(full sculpture)

 

It was commissioned in 1955 for a cost of $58,000 (equivalent to $1.29 million in 2016), and dedicated in 1958. In its left hand, the large seated figure holds a gilt bronze sphere emanating rays to symbolize God. The people in the figure's right hand are a family group. The 26-foot (7.9 m) sculpture was the largest cast bronze statue since the Renaissance when it was first installed. It was cast in Oslo, Norway.

 

A plaque in front of the sculpture bears the inscription, "The artist expresses the concept that God, through the spirit of man is manifested in the family, the noblest human relationship."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_of_Detroit

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well,

but the certainty that something makes sense

regardless of how it turns out.

~ Vaclav Havel

 

 

 

 

You must not lose faith in humanity.

Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty,

the ocean does not become dirty.

~ Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Suzanne!

(With the Santa from Jackie!)

 

 

Hanging of the Greens

Church of the Hills

Sunday, November 26, 2017

 

 

 

 

Cindy Sahli

 

 

Joseph, our pastor’s son

 

 

Sharron Leonard, on the left, invited me to their big PEO Holiday Auction

at Hiwan Country Club.

 

 

Van Farnsworth, in the center, with her daughter Jane and her niece Catherine.

Van is also a PEO member.

 

 

Carolyn Alexander with Karen Hume,

one of my golfing buddies.

(Don’t you love my name tag?)

 

 

Anne and Mark Vickstrom had their annual Christmas Party Saturday evening.

 

 

Caroline, Will, and Lizzie Vickstrom

Caroline graduates this month with her degree in music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us be alert then, and wakeful,

and be sure not to miss the signs, or the promise,

or the hope we have been given.

~ Kathryn Matthews Huey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 3, 2017   First Sunday of Advent Year B

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

 

*  At the time of its installation and dedication, I was living in Detroit.  May it continue to instill hope for the future of Detroit.

 

 

Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Mark 13:24-37

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

 

 

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Watchman

Paul Wilbur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70cYqHuDKE4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37