Sunday, April 5, 2009

Hosanna!


For Christians around the world, today is Palm Sunday.  I love chronicling events at my church, Independent Presbyterian Church, and this season is no exception.  These palm crosses were made by ladies in our church and will be worn today by everyone attending services.  The top photo was taken in a small room off the sanctuary where the afternoon sun was streaming through a stained glass window.  The colors and effect were a pleasant surprise. 

26 comments:

Diederick Wijmans said...

Beautiful, Virginia...just...beautiful!

Kate said...

Very striking and very appropriate. The beauty of this photo is, of course, in its simplicity. I also think the quality of the tone reinforces the image as a whole. Wonderful job...perfect caption also.

Juergen Kuehn said...

Thank you for this post. I have never heard before about Palm Sunday.
I am thrilled about your second photo.
Juergen

Marie Reed said...

Wow! What a creative idea! How will they be wearing them? Are they actually smaller than I think so they can be worn as a necklace?

Julie said...

I like the first photo very much, V. In my Book of Prayer I have a palm cross that I carried throughout 1963. It looks very similar to yours.

Alex said...

Hi Virginia, what great photos the lighting is fantastic. A tribute to the man who saved us all. Well done.

Virginia said...

Marie
They are a few inches long and will be pinned on labels. The children will also process into the church with palm fronds as well. ( I hope my two grandchildren that go to my church will do it !ha)

Kate, Diederick, Alex-
thank you for your comments.

Juergen,
Glad you learned something here today. Isn't it nice when we learn from each other!

Julie,
How nice to keep one pressed in a bible or Book of Prayer!

B SQUARED said...

Shalom and a happy Palm Sunday to you

Jane Hards Photography said...

Haunting image, it is of course the soft focus and the soft light. Always found it strange that the most important Christain event is moveable date wise. I mean Christmas isn't! Is that a sin bin moment for me.

Cindy said...

What beautiful and dramatic photos. They bring back fond memories for me. As a child, I always loved Palm Sunday. I think it was special to have something tangible to take home. (A palm in my palm.) Being a plant person, I appreciated having a palm and I always kept it until I got a new one the next year to replace it.

Janet said...

Beautiful, Virginia. Lighting from windows often lends a pleasant surprise!

Anonymous said...

Let the feast begin! Happy Palm Sunday.

Walker said...

Great capture, God bless.

James said...

Very nice Virginia. You have inspired me to take a photography class, all your pictures look so nice. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

Petrea Burchard said...

You have included here a glory of color, light and shadow. Both pictures are fantastic.

Marie-Noyale said...

The first years I arrived here I spent the duration of the Mass trying to figure out how you did those crosses...
In France we only have small branches of Olive trees..
I finally figured it out with the help of my..kids who learned it from their friends.
Happy Palm Sunday.

Kim said...

This is so beautiful Virginia, and very meaningful to me. As a parent and later on staff at a Presbyterian church, I spent many a Palm Sunday helping our littlest ones through that processional and through the song "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" as they waved their palm branches. Oh, the sword fights before and after :-)! These days I attend the evening service at our little church here, and the children aren't part of that service, so this gives me a pang. I've not seen the palm crosses before and your photos of them are superb. I enjoyed reading how Wildeve liked that tangible part of this Sunday. Those childhood impressions are amazing. Peace and joy to you and all your readers who are celebrating today.
-Kim

D said...

Very beautiful and inspiring!

Virginia said...

There is nothing that pleases me more than when my readers make a personal connection with one of my photographs. Thank you all for sharing and for your comments. It was a cool and rainy day here but it was a beautiful Palm Sunday at our church. Peace and blessings to you all.
V

Virginia said...

And forgive my excessive typos today please. It's lapels not labels and may not my! Where are my glasses!!
V

Cafe Observer said...

I pray also for the resurrection of your fav bookstore.

Bob Crowe said...

Well, despite being your friendly neighborhood non-believer, this is a very fine photograph. It's subtle coloration, light and focus make for a moving image.

FireLight said...

These are beautiful images as we begin Holy Week. I can feel the warmth and wood tones of the church. The lighting is so peaceful. Well done.

Thérèse said...

Straightforward picture and beautifully rendered.

Nancy said...

Oh how lovely. Great job on the photographing these crosses. God Bless!

PJ said...

Virginia, the way you manage light...