These are pictures from St. Marys Cathedral in Memphis where I spent most of last Friday and Saturday. If you have the chance you should read about this church and it’s history – it is fascinating and amazing.
While we were in Memphis we had to sneak in some shopping and I grabbed this new Christmas album by Sara Groves. It has been my constant soundtrack ever since, running through my head and my heart as I go about my day, and playing all through my house as I decorate for Christmas. It will also live on forever I am sure as my memories soundtrack to this past weekend, which is perfect because I don’t know that I could put into words all that my mind and heart took in and felt over those 2 days, but for as long as I live I will be able to remember it every time I hear Sara’s version of Angels We Have Heard On High.
While we were in Memphis we had to sneak in some shopping and I grabbed this new Christmas album by Sara Groves. It has been my constant soundtrack ever since, running through my head and my heart as I go about my day, and playing all through my house as I decorate for Christmas. It will also live on forever I am sure as my memories soundtrack to this past weekend, which is perfect because I don’t know that I could put into words all that my mind and heart took in and felt over those 2 days, but for as long as I live I will be able to remember it every time I hear Sara’s version of Angels We Have Heard On High.
Thanks so much for sharing about the new album. I love Sara Groves (just sang one of her songs for our Thanksgiving service). I’ll have to head over to itunes and buy it right away!
Those pictures are beautiful. I’m glad you had a good time. I’ll have to hear all about it. 🙂
nice work sis! we all have such a good eye 😉
you took some great photos! thanks for sharing! 🙂
I have read of many churches celebrating Christmas with Pageants that includean actual baby portraying the role of ‘baby Jesus’. Our first childRuth, was born December 12th, 1981 and was chosen to be ‘baby Jesus’ forour church’s (Reba Place Fellowship) Christmas Eve service. Last year, ourgrandson, Charlie, born on Oct. 19th 2008, was chosen, also at Reba PlaceFellowship. But in prison no such ritual exists. I wasn’t even thinking about babies being in Christmas plays back in 1972.This was yet another year in prison, the difference being this was my firstChristmas as a christian. The Christmas service held new meaning for me as wesang the traditional Christmas Carols bringing with it a hope for a new lifewith a redeemed future. Christian volunteers were a part of our service at theU. S. Medical Center for Prisoners in Springfield, Mo. As our service wound to completion a cry was heard. The faintwhimpering of a baby. My first thought was that I wasn’t hearing what Ithought I had heard. I had been in prison for many years and had never even seena baby inside of a prison (not counting my infrequent times in the visitingroom.) But there it was again, a baby crying. Someone, a volunteer, had broughttheir baby into the service wrapped in a blanket unnoticed by the guards. I thenthought, there was our ‘babyJesus’. The parents of the yet unknown child were the children of an oldercouple (Lloyd and Nita Colbaugh) who had only a few years previously began theirministry to the prison. Even the great-grandmother, (Mom Carter) was a volunteerand had played a significant role in my own conversion, telling me that God hada plan for my life. Life would go on and the incident of ‘baby Jesus’ coming to prisonwould fade to a memory, until the baby grew up and now is known throughout manycountries far and wide as acclaimed Christiansinger/songwriter Sara Groves. I hope this story adds to your appreciation ofthe life of Sara and her family.John C Thomson
lovely lovely church and your pictures are simply the best…thanks for sharing.