Topeka Tourist

 

 

When Randy and I went to the Kanza Cooperative Association annual meeting in April, I expected to learn about how the co-op was faring financially and hear a synopsis of its future direction.

 

We got that, so mission accomplished. 

 

But we didn't expect to discover a new field trip in Topeka. During dinner prior to the meeting, we sat near another couple from a different part of the co-op's service area. In the course of our visiting, we mentioned frequent trips to Topeka to see Jill's family. The woman grew up in Topeka and asked if we'd ever seen the stained glass windows in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Since we hadn't, that led to exploring the recently-renovated library. 

And bonus: I was able to pick up a couple of books that were next in a series on Brooke's reading list. 

Six stained glass windows were from the original library building located on the Kansas State Capitol grounds at 8th and Jackson from 1883 to 1953. When that building was torn down and the new library built, the windows were auctioned off. In 1999, Topeka philanthropist Connie Menninger led the efforts to secure the six stained glass windows. She was able to reunite five of the six windows in time for the library’s earlier renovation project in 1999. The sixth one had been purchased by a family and had ended up in a home in Michigan. Eventually, that family also donated their window to the library, reuniting all six windows in 2007.

 

 

Three of the windows had ribbons with topics of study: History, Science, and Art. 

 

 

The other three held phrases featuring a quote by Francis Bacon: “Reading Maketh a Full Man; Conference a Ready Man; Writing an Exact Man." At the time we were looking at the windows, I didn't know about the quote, but I'd already chosen my favorites - the Reading and Writing windows. (I'm sure that comes as a big surprise.) And in the current environment, I like them even better as a little food for thought. As Brooke would say, I "searched it up" and found this explanation of the quote:

 

 

Reading makes a man full:  Reading, according to Bacon, provides a wealth of knowledge and insight, "filling" a person's mind with information and ideas.

 

 

Conference makes a man ready: Engaging in discussions and debates sharpens a person's ability to communicate and think on their feet, making them "ready" to participate in conversations and share their thoughts.

Writing makes a man exact: Writing, with its emphasis on clarity, precision, and logical structure, helps individuals develop a keen sense of detail and accuracy in their thinking and expression. 

In my later research, I found a YouTube video in which Walt Menninger talks about the windows. Click HERE.

Those weren't the last of the stained glass windows. The Genealogy Computer Room in the library's Topeka Room includes windows from the Chester Woodward home. Woodward's library was a 25- by 40-foot room patterned after the library of Sir Walter Scott in Abbotsford, Scotland. The windows were originally in a Lawrence home until Chester Woodward relocated his family to Topeka circa 1920.

The figures refer to pharmacy and medicine.

This window also was in the Topeka Room. I'm not sure of its origin.

The Topeka Room contains books and other materials written, illustrated, produced or published by Topekans or about Topeka and Shawnee County history. Many of the furnishings were donated by Topeka families. These included the 1871 Chickering Square Grand Piano.

Square pianos were made for people who didn't have enough space for large grand pianos. Ichabod Washburn's fortune came from making wire for hoop skits and twisted piano wire. The suggestion for twisted wire was made to Washburn in 1856 by Jonas Chickering, founder of the Chickering company. It's possible that Washburn's company made the wire for the displayed piano (according to a placard on the piano). 

It wasn't the only thing in the room that makes music. We asked the librarian to play the music box there.

Check out the bees, dragonflies and butterflies that help create the music.

While these things are on permanent display, we also toured the art gallery on the ground floor. It includes revolving displays, featuring both area artists and those from across the country.

 

 

"Tiny Library Adventure" caught my eye. The artist is Jenny Dowd from Prairie Grove, Ark., who had the following to say: The limitless possibility for adventure, escape and knowledge can be found in a bookshelf of any size. I sure can't argue with that.

 

"The Reader" was by Michaela Valli Groeblacher of Lindsborg. The nearby plaque had this explanation: The essential psychological and spiritual aspects of a human's vulnerability versus strength interest me primarily. The faces and bodies of older people depict both aspects while exuding the beauty of experience. The Reader depicts an old person's reflection on their long life.

 

If you're looking to have a Kansas Staycation this summer, the library in Topeka should be added to the list. 

 

Up next: More Topeka staycation options. 

Note: We did this Topeka exploration in May, but I hadn't yet written about it. 

I Know a Green (Fall) Cathedral

My first-ever school solo was a song called, "I Know a Green Cathedral." While I sometimes can't remember why I walked into a room, I still remember the words to that song. It says, in part:

I know a green cathedral

A shadowed forest shrine

Where leaves in love join hands above

And arch your prayers and mine.

Within its cool depths sacred, 

A priestly cedar sighs,

And the fir and pine lift arms divine 

Unto the pure blue skies.

Though the "green cathedral" was starting to be touched by fall colors, I couldn't help but think of the song as we visited the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Ark.

Someday, Randy wants to go to the eastern part of the U.S. in the fall to join other ubiquitous "leaf peepers." I'm not opposed to the idea, but it seemed we'd just gotten home from a long trip to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Plus, how do you guess the optimum time for leaf "peeping?"

I threw out the idea to go to the Ozarks, a much closer destination that's also known for viewing fall foliage. We could get there in a day, which appealed to both of us. And Brent and Susan had enjoyed a trip to Eureka Springs a couple years ago, so that was where my vacation planner (AKA Randy) decided for us to headquarter. 

The fall foliage was muted, thanks to the same drought that has plagued our area. But we still enjoyed our time in the Ozarks. Thorncrown Chapel was one "must-do" stop for me in Eureka Springs. I've seen beautiful engagement and wedding photos taken there, so I wanted to see the unique chapel for myself. It lived up to the hype.

Thorncrown Chapel was the dream of Jim Reed, a native of Pine Bluff, Ark. In 1971, Jim purchased the land which is now the site of the chapel to building his retirement home. However, other people admired the location and would often stop at his property to gain a better view of the Ozark hills. Instead of fencing them out,Jim chose to invite in by building a glass chapel in the woods. 

Shortly thereafter, Jim met architect E. Fay Jones, who accepted his proposal to design the chapel. On March 23, 1979, the construction crew broke ground to a halt. However, soon the building process came to a halt when Jim feared he didn't have the funds to complete the project. 

"I am not proud of the fact, but the first time I ever got down on my knees was on the chapel floor. I prayed more seriously than ever before. all the trials and tribulations gave me the humility to get on my knees." 

- Jim Reed

This was taken mid-afternoon, while the others were taken in the morning. It shows how the chapel changes in different light. But it's beautiful anytime. I've also seen pretty photos taken after a snowfall. However, it's closed in January and February, except for weddings and other private events.

A few days later, a woman from Illinois provided a loan, allowing Jim to finish his dream. In July 1980, Thorncrown Chapel opened. Since then, people from all over the world have visited the little chapel in the woods. 

Thorncrown Chapel is like the utterance of a proverb. It reveals, in a whisper, that silence can speak to us, stillness can enliven us, and being present to the eternal lessons of the Earth and its Creator can give cause and direction to better our lives.

- Randall Connaughton, author of Thorncrown Chapel: Divine Light

The chapel is 48 feet tall. Its wooden structure contains 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass. It sits atop more than 100 tones of native stone and colored flagstone. Since it opened in 1980, more than 7 million people have visited the sanctuary.

A cross adorns every light in the chapel. The darker it gets, the more visible they become.  

A nondenominational congregation meets for Sunday services at 9 and again at 11 AM, April through October. There's only an 11 AM service November through mid-December. The congregation is led by Pastor Doug Reed, the son of the chapel's founder.

 

Visiting the chapel doesn't require an appointment, though visits may get curtailed by weddings, especially on the weekends. There is no cost to visit, though donations are accepted, and they offer a few items for sale.

There is also a worship center on the grounds. However, it was closed for renovations. Both the worship center and the roof of the chapel itself was damaged in a hail storm. However, none of the chapel's windows were broken.

 

From the outside, it looks like some of the design is reminiscent of the chapel itself. I recommend a visit!

That wasn't our only faith-based stop of the trip. We also went to The Great Passion Play. For several years, the Stafford community did its own passion play in a pasture during the season of Lent under the leadership of the late Pastor Guy Elliott. It was pretty remarkable for a community our size. But the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs was equally impressive for the huge cast and the elaborate set.

I didn't get excellent photos of the play, but we both enjoyed it and thought it was a wonderful retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Besides all the actors, it included camels, goats and other Biblical-period animals.

The play is performed three nights a week from the last week of May through the end of October in a 4,100-seat amphitheater.

We didn't get to the grounds in time to tour Christ of the Ozarks on the night of the play. But we went back at dusk another evening.

Christ of the Ozarks was erected in 1966 and stands 67 feet fall with a 65-foot arm span. The foundation of the statue required 340 tons of concrete interlaced with steel welded into the rock of Magnetic Mountain.

The statue is made of 24 layers of white mortar on a steel frame. It was necessary to build an elevator up the side of the framework which was completely surrounded by scaffolding during construction. The face is approximately 15 feet in height and the statue weights more than 2 million pounds.

We had one other church-related stop during an historic trolley tour of Eureka Springs. It was Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church.

The church claims to be the only one in America that you enter through a Bell Tower, a fact noted in Ripley's Believe It or Not. The chapel was completed in 1904.

The stained glass windows are beautiful.

These photos represent only a few of them.

Of course, I liked this one with wheat featured.

More from our Eureka Springs trip will be in upcoming blogs.

Light in Darkness

Last Monday, I was downloading photos from a weekend trip to Manhattan. While I waited, I opened up an email devotional from Guideposts. And there is was:

A Time to Think

Without faith, we are as stained glass windows in the dark.
--Anonymous

I knew that my camera included photos of stained glass windows at the Manhattan First United Methodist Church. After a K-State football Saturday, we stayed in Manhattan to attend Grandparents' Day September 10 with Kinley and Brooke at Manhattan First UMC.

Kinley & Brooke got both sets of grandparents - bonus!

Before going to the Fellowship Hall after the service, I took photos of a huge stained glass window at the back of the sanctuary. Manhattan UMC was my home-away-from-church-home while a student at K-State, oh so many years ago. And that window has always been one of my favorites.

Earlier in the service, the grandparents had joined the children at the front for children's time. We got to sing several Sunday School songs, including "This Little Light of Mine."

While singing, I committed a faux pas. I was enthusiastically singing and didn't realize that their version differed from my childhood version and the one I'd taught to young worshipers at Stafford UMC when my kids were little.

It was kind of like that moment when you're saying The Lord's Prayer at a different church and forget that they may say "forgive us our debts" instead of "forgive us our trespasses." I was a little embarrassed, but the leader graciously gave me a smile, and I corrected it in the "Hide it under a bushel - no!" verse.

But as I've looked at those photos of the stained glass later in the week and thought about the devotional, I've looked at my "mistake" a little differently. Stained glass is created when glass is broken into smaller segments, then carefully pieced back together. The final result is a sum bigger than its parts.

And that can describe my life, too. Jesus takes all those broken pieces and puts them together. Then He wants to let his Light shine through me. Does He want us to hide that light under a bushel? No! as the children will gladly tell you.

After the church service, we accompanied the girls to their Sunday School rooms so we could see that part of their church life, too. As we stood in the foyer after delivering them to their classrooms, I snapped a photo of another stained glass window there. When I tried to find information about the history of the windows, I happened across a story on its origin. The window - which is called "The Link" - was "resurrected" when the building addition was completed just a few years ago. This old stained glass window had spent years in a coal bin from an earlier church that was on the site.

For years, the light didn't penetrate the glass. It was in parts and pieces and hidden away in a storage room. It didn't come back to life until hung in a sunny atrium and light shone through.

Across the foyer, there was a pile of cleaning buckets. They were ready to be loaded out and taken to the Great Plains UMC Conference Office. Our UMC Bishop, Ruben Saenz, had challenged Great Plains United Methodists to fill 5,000 buckets which would go to hurricane relief in Texas, Florida, Georgia and other areas impacted by storms.

I didn't count how many buckets were sitting in the foyer. I should have. But there were probably at least 20, and Jill says their church eventually contributed 75 or so. And while we were in Manhattan, our small three-point UMC charge in Stafford County was also collecting buckets and/or contributions of $65 which would fill one kit with cleaning supplies, gloves, clothesline, sponges and more.

The buckets from our 3-point charge were piled into Pastor Nate's vehicle for a trip to Wichita and then on to UMCOR.

Our little church collected 7 filled buckets and enough money to fill 23 more! Along with contributions from St. John and Antrim - the other churches in our three-point charge - there were a total of 9 buckets and enough money for 32 buckets.  

As of Friday, a total of 5,001 buckets had been collected by United Methodist churches - big and small - from across the states of Kansas and Nebraska. I don't think the monetary contributions are included in that count, but the money raised also will go to UMCOR - United Methodist Committee on Relief. In fact, UMCOR uses 100 percent of the donations it receives to help victims. Administrative costs are covered from other church resources. (Compare that to other relief organizations!)

Photo from Great Plains UMC Facebook page (I love that there's a "Let's Do This!" slogan on several of the buckets.

As I've thought about those relief efforts and remembered the stained glass window quote, I've also thought more about the other songs we sang during children's time. One was "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Another was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."

And I remembered another stained glass window photo I'd taken at the Youthville campus many years ago.

In this world that seems so divided and confrontational, it's good to be reminded of the things we can do when we work together ... and when we have the faith to let the Light shine through us. It might come in the form of a cleaning bucket.

A Time to Think

Without faith, we are as stained glass windows in the dark.
--Anonymous

And if we forget, all we need to remember are little voices singing, "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands."

The Prayer Jesus Taught Us

At church, I've been hearing a sweet little voice behind me recite the words to The Lord's Prayer. The higher-pitched voice joins the chorus of adult voices and, for me, has added a whole new dimension to the unison recitation of "the prayer Jesus taught us."

We recite it together every week during our worship service at Stafford United Methodist Church.  It's one of those things that - if we're honest - we may even say by rote, not even thinking about the words and what they mean.

Byers United Methodist Church, Pratt County, my childhood church

I've been going to church since my parents carried me through the doors of the Byers United Methodist Church more years ago than I like to admit.  I don't remember intentionally learning the words to The Lord's Prayer. Perhaps I did, but it's also possible that I learned them vicariously while sitting in a pew marked with my ancestors' names, and hearing them repeated, week after week.

Byers United Methodist Church

For that young worshiper, learning something new forces her to concentrate, to think about the words that are so familiar to the rest of us.  My friend, Debora, helped me to look at The Lord's Prayer in a new way, too. At church, Debora's mom handed me a 14-day devotional, "Praying The Lord's Prayer at Noon" (Prayer Point Press, 2015) and told me that Deborah thought I might like to read it. (Deborah is from Stafford, but now lives out of state. We keep in touch on Facebook and when she comes to visit her mom.)

The devotional is written by Dr. Terry Teykl, a United Methodist pastor in Texas who also works with a Christian radio station, KSBJ. He proposed praying The Lord's Prayer at noon daily, calling it "Pray Down at High Noon."

Stained glass in the Via Christi, St. Francis, chapel. Taken when we visited a friend in the hospital in April.

In the devotional, Teykl says:

"It's a challenging time to be the Church of Jesus Christ. There are a lot of things that we, as Christians, don't agree on. But one thing we can do is offer the prayer Jesus taught us to pray back to God in humility and unity. The brief passage, roughly 21 seconds when spoke, is simple enough to be prayed by children, yet rich enough to have fueled volumes of literature. It was Jesus' instruction to His disciples, and, as a result, it holds a sacred place across many denominations. Maybe it can be a gathering point where we can lay down our own personal or political agendas and simply ask God to come."

The Lord's Prayer covers it all, Teykl asserts, "large things, small things, material things, spiritual things, inward things and outward things."

Stained glass at the Via Christi, St. Francis, Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother

In the devotional, Tekyl breaks down The Lord's Prayer's phrases and creates a two-page reflection for each of the 14 days. He also includes a different Biblical translation of the familiar prayer each day.

It is believed that the early Christians regularly spoke The Lord’s Prayer at morning, noon, and night.

Would the world change if we committed to this simple plan ... praying The Lord's Prayer each day at noon? Maybe. Maybe not. But maybe the thing it would change is me. It might be worth planting the seed and seeing what happens.

Via Chrsti, St. Francis, Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother

"Imagine the Body of Christ praying The Lord’s Prayer all around the world. As it becomes noon in each time zone, our sisters and brothers will be praying for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

Larry Bauman,

Ardmore UMC District superintendent

Maybe I need to approach it with child-like wonder, like that little voice behind me in the church pew.

Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, Concordia, Kansas