Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas Woodcut

This is a woodcut, done by Elenka, of the two churches on the hill in downtown Gorham. It was our first Christmas card together. On most Christmas Eves, we usually attend the service at the First Parish Congregational Church, depicted here with the clock tower. However, I've always been intrigued by the church on Congress Street that the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's family attended. So last night, we ventured out in the cold to the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Portland for their Christmas Eve candlelight service. What was the service like? I mean no disrespect here, but throw in a pinch of Sesame Street, a dash of Woodstock, a smidgen of Harry Potter and a cupful of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", and I think you'd have the recipe. I mean, the carols were nice. The flickering candlelight during "Silent Night" was beautiful, and the tenor's rendition of "O Holy Night" concluding the service made for a wonderful ending, as we walked down the stone front steps. Needless to say, we won't be in attendance here next year though. Maybe the Cathedral for Midnight Mass? St. Luke's for their candlelight service and carols? Time will tell.

Big day for us today. We have 12 over for family, stories, toasts, dinner and lots of laughter! And now that I think about it---  they'll be liberal and healthy chunks of sesame street, woodstock, potter and a lot of the cuckoo's nest in evidence, if history plays any part of this gathering.

ps. It's official! It's 7:42 AM, and it's snowing steadily outside our back windows! In the true Sesame Street tradition, can you say White Christmas? I KNOW you can!

Enjoy the day, however you observe it. Merry Christmas to all. Peace.

20 comments:

  1. Elenka is very talented. We, too, went to a Unitarian service last night but it was far more solemn than yours. Midnight Mass as a child was a terrific place to be...too late for me now!!

    Merry Christmas to you, too! Have a great day!

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  2. As I watch snow falling gently across the piney woods this Christmas morn, I want to wish Merry Christmas to all of Birdman's virtual friends! You guys all seem like lots of fun, plus I get to say lots of things between the lines I might not say right out loud in our kitchen! Then again, now that I think about it, yeah, I'd say them there, too. Oh well....
    A happy, healthy New Year to y'all.

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    1. Shalom Elenka. It is nice getting to know you in this way.

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  3. Elenka is very talented. This is gorgeous. Wishing both of your a very Merry Christmas!

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  4. My compliments to Elenka for the fine woodcutter, I envy your white Christmas: here is grayish and not cold at all. Please have a nice and happy Christmas all together!

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  5. I love the wood cut! Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful day! Enjoy! Warm wishes headed your way from Arizona.

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  6. that woodcut is gorgeous! way to go, elenka! enjoy your hodgepodge christmas joy!!!

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  7. What a wonderful woodcut! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

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  8. Dear Elenka & Birdman, The woodcut is just beautiful! I was surprised to hear of the Unitarian Christnas, but I guess churches are trying to draw people from a pop culture in to their halls...(see my post of this AM, perhaps it is related...)
    Last Eve I subtly placed A Child's Christmas in Wales into J's hands & he read it to me! And I thank you for the reminder that reading aloud, for all ages, is a Holy thing! Peace & contentment, Rita

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  9. PS I do like Sesame Street & I'm a fool for WHOM & all those carols they play... So, peace & contentment & also, Merry Christmas!

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  10. A very gorgeous woodcut! Merry Christmas to you & Elenka and I know you will have fun today!!

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  11. Hoping you and yours have a wonderful day together to celebrate the meaning of Christmas ~ faith, family and friends.

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  12. It's hard to say White Christmas when I am laughing so hard at your description. Ho ho ho, merry Christmas to you all!

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  13. Nice card, sounds like you are having a busy day. Merry Christmas!

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  14. Merreeeee Xmas, Birdman and family. xx

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  15. Elenka's woodcut is terrific. It does look like a traditional New England scene.

    You might have liked the service last night at Asylum Hill. It is one of the biggest Protestant congregations in New England and they hold three services on Christmas eve. One is primarily for families with young children and the later two are more adult-focused. The sermon was relevant, the various prayers were timeless, the choir's and soloists' music was as good as at a concert, and the music for the masses -- like me -- was the kind of traditional Christmas carols I like.

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  16. Not going back? I think that's one of the few churches that would interest me. Throw in a little Buddhist chanting and I'm a member.

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  17. Elenka is a talented artiste Birdman, brilliant woodcut. Weather wise your Christmas and mine couldn't have been more different, 37C here on the day, your white chrissy sounds divine!!

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