Mission Santa Clara in San Jose May 21, 1913

Here is the promised mission in San Jose, California. "Do you know the way to San Jose?" We sang it all the way south. It's on a beautiful campus and we had a hard time finding the entrance. The GPS kept taking us to the back door where there was no entry. We finally found a parking place and on the way, passed a beautiful little garden dedicated to St. Claire. I've read about her and she is a delightful person and I would like to be her friend.

Welcome to the garden.

St. Claire in heather.

St. Claire up close.

Clematis?
Claire reminds me of
Catherine Birch and Rev. Mary Busse

We stopped into the art museum and although I was not allowed to photograph the rooms, I will show you the nameplates. One of Valentin Popov's paintings was of a little girl about 6 or so who was crying. The father had commissioned the painting but didn't buy it. Six months later he changed his mind, but the painting was already sold. It was the one I enjoyed the most.

Palm trees and Redwoods

Art Museum.

Wynn Bullock

Valentin Popov

The view of Santa Clara Mission begins down a long and beautiful street.

Only half the street length.

Pretty round about.

Looking in. Santa Clara Mission.

Looking up and out.

Altar.

Ceiling over the altar.

Lecturn.

Light fixtures and painted ceiling.

Confessional.

I love this painting.

 We went out and came back to the front to go into the rose garden on the side of the mission

Tree roses along the path from the street.

We entered this peaceful arbor.

College classrooms in the background.

The statue has been sent out for repairs!

Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco May 19, 2013

Ever since I began reading about walking the labyrinth as a form of meditation, I've heard about Grace Cathedral, Dr. Lauren Artress, and the fact that they have two labyrinths, one outside and one inside. Dr. Artress was not there this Sunday or on World Labyrinth Day May 4th, but I'm just as happy to just be present with Marion.

1. The labyrinth at Grace Cathedral was introduced by the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress in 1994.  In 1995, she founded Veriditas which now exists to "facilitate the transformation of the human spirit through offering the Labyrinth Experience".
2. http://labyrinthsociety.org/world-labyrinth-day
The road we took just before arriving at the cathedral was a 45 degree incline, and Marion gently reminded me I could use 2nd or even 3rd gear in my automatic car! I'm such a flatlander, I never had even thought about changing gears. But we got there safely and after a couple of rounds to find a parking place, we parked in one of the parking garages across the street.
3. http://www.gracecathedral.org
4. Just what is the Chartres Cathedral in France? And why are they called the Chartres Labyrinths?
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/81

2nd gear to get up the hill!

Parking across the street
from Grace Cathedral
in Nob Hill.

Bigger than Big! It got bigger and taller as I walked up the steps!

The original in France. On-line photo.

Grace Cathedral

My favorite photo.

Better view.

Each circuit not so big.

Behind the altar.

Rose window in the back.

Graced With Light

'"As a part of 100 Years of Music at Grace Cathedral, visual artist Anne Patterson created Graced With Light, a stunning, music-inspired installation that incorporates Grace Cathedral’s vaulted ceiling arches. Ms. Patterson envisioned a series of light pathways, connecting heaven and earth, manifest as ribbons. The ribbons carry our prayers, dreams and wishes skyward, and, in turn, grace streams down the ribbons to us.
   Graced With Light is constructed of nearly 20 miles of ribbon, and has been hand-assembled by Ms. Patterson and the Grace Cathedral community. The piece will grow and change over the coming months, and will be on view through the summer."

- See more at: http://www.gracecathedral.org/visit/concerts-and-events/artist-in-residence-2013/

Noah

Flower window.

On the sides.

Fire. Panels are on the sides.

Christmas. And under the windows.

Aisle in the middle.

Kneelers

Altar

Detail of altar cloth.

Organ console.

One of the many sets of pipes.

Going back out the front door:

Look closely at the bottom.

Interesting.

There is a small room to honor all religions.

One pillar.

Other pillar.

Huge outside doors.

The design is 3-D.

Looking from the front door.

Fountain in the side courtyard.

The park and hotel across the street.