Sermon 10 Pentecost, Yr C

Read my sermon for July 28, 2013 here:  10 Pentecost Yr C.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece-The World’s Largest Teepee

B & W World’s Largest Teepee

Masterpiece. No matter where you are (and where you’ve been), I’m certain you’ve stumbled upon something extraordinary: a place that blows your mind; a work of art or object that speaks to you; or even a location or scene that’s special, unusual, or even magical in some way. This week’s theme fits well into the photos I shot earlier in the week and posted. Hope you enjoy them. Visit other entries here.

Dreams of Bison

World’s Largest Teepee Colour

Teepee at sunset

Teepee top-first view

Teepee top-second view

Metis life display board

Last night, during “the Golden Hour,” i.e. the last hour of sunlight, we visited the world’s largest teepee here in Medicine Hat, and took these photos. The Saamis Tepee was originally built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The colours of the structure are symbolic, white for purity, red for the rising and setting sun and blue for the flowing river. There are ten story-boards built into the tepee depicting native culture and history. It is the World’s Tallest Teepee standing over 20 stories high, weighing 200 tonnes and capable of withstanding 150 mph winds. [Information courtesy of the http://www.stayinmedicinehat.com website].

The following photos below were taken with my Asus tablet.

Cranes in background horizon

Peacepipe hopes & dreams

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

Fruit and water

Fresh fruit and a glass of water on a hot summer’s day. Check out the other entries here.

Canadian artist dies

Famous Canadian artist, Alex Colville dies at age 92. One of his famous paintings was Horse and Train, which appeared on Canadian singer-songwriter, Bruce Cockburn’s “Night Vision” album. Colville’s works made a significant contribution to our Canadian landscape identity as a realist artist. Read more and view video here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

This photo was taken a few years ago at Reesor Lake, Alberta during the Golden Hour-the last hour of sunlight. This week’s Photo Challenge defines the Golden Hour as the first and last hour of sunlight in the day.  Check out other entries here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgic

Nostalgic. Sometimes, we long for the past: for moments we want to remember or recapture. The good times. The golden years. Or perhaps we’re homesick, or longing for something — or someone — that might have been.

 

This past month while in New York City, I visited Coney Island. There was just something about this seaside amusement park that conjured memories from my childhood, even though I’d never been there. Maybe the smells, sounds, and sights reminded me of family trips to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Disneyland, both in California. And the quick thrills I felt going upside down on a rollercoaster, and later winning a stuffed animal at a carnival booth, transported me back to 1985.

IN A NEW POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU NOSTALGIC.

As with most of our photo challenges, we’re keeping this one wide open to interpretation. Some ideas:

• A meaningful family photograph.
• A snapshot of something or someone that reminds you of your past.
• A “throwback” image of a thing or activity you once loved.
• A picture of your home, home city/country, or a place that you long for.
• An image edited with a vintage filter (try using Instagram, PicMonkey, or other apps).

In front of Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

This photo was taken of our family [the 3 of us in the back] with little niece in front, standing at the main entrance into The House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, our nation’s capital city. It is a nostalgic photo for me because it was the last major holiday that my wife and yours truly went on with our daughter together, back in 2009. For other entries click here.

Canada Day July 1, 2013

Happy one-hundred-and-forty-sixth Birthday Canada! Here are some pictures I took at our Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada Day celebration in Kin Coulee Park.

Gene and Chelsea

 

We started off our day with an Ecumenical Worship Service at the Kin Coulee Park Bandshell. Our musicians were the Rev. Canon Gene Packwood on guitar and vocals, and Chelsea McCann on keyboard and vocals. The Rev. Canon Packwood also organised and led the Service—thanks Gene!

Virgil

 

The Rev. Dr. Virgil Covel, president of our Medicine Hat Ministerial Association welcomes everyone to the Service.

 

 

Kin Coulee Park Bandshell and puppet stage decorated with Canadian flags and windmills.

Amanda (left), Julianna (right)

 

The Rev. Julianna Wehrfritz-Hanson and Amanda Roseveare puppeteers. Pastor Julianna also wrote the puppet show.

Children watching puppet show

 

The puppets, Max the Moose and Leo the Lion perform for the audience. The puppet show consisted of Max the Moose conversing with Leo the Lion who had just recently arrived in Canada. As the two converse, Max describes our nation.

 

Max (left), Leo (right)

Close-up shot of Max the Moose and Leo the Lion.

Break Dancer

Break Dancer

Break Dancer

Break Dancer

Next, as you can see from the above pictures,  the GX Canada Dance group of Aaron and Kendra Melanson and Friends performed some cool break dancing.

 

Jose

 

Pastor Jose Gurdian, an immigrant from Costa Rica, preached the Canada Day Sermon. 

After the Service, we walked around Kin Coulee Park and I shot a few more photos.

Umbrellaflag hats

There were folks like this wearing their patriotic Canada flags in the form of umbrella hats. Today however it was not to keep their heads dry from the rain; rather it was to enjoy a bit of shade on this 30 plus degree C day.

Habitat for Humanity Canopy

Astronomy Club Display

Canadian Armed Forces Display

Children’s Play Area

Portable Toilets

Piper

Scottish Cuisine

Patriotic Bicycle

The Bike Tree

Once again, Happy Canada Day to all of my readers!