New International Version (NIV)
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
Today is Holy Saturday and we are preparing for the Great Vigil of Easter. The traditional Easter liturgical service begins tonight and will last until nearly midnight when all lights will be lit and bells will ring and Hallelujahs will be sung, along with joyous dancing. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.
Three years ago I worked through the Lenten season on a huge banner for the Easter service at my church. I have posted about this process . A team of artists, (including me) who create for the church painted a giant canvas, 40 feet tall, showing Christ Resurrected standing on the broken gates of hell and surrounded by a swirling Tree of Life. This was a focal point in the Easter Vigil worship service and has been brought out again this year to be part of the service this Saturday.
Today I was kneeling over the face of Christ, with a steam iron, trying to fix the vertical wrinkles across the 12 to 15 foot span of face and chest. I hope I succeeded. The painting has to be rolled up between seasons and it is suffering from the storage and moving. Someday, maybe next year I will paint a new one, more permanent and archival I hope.
I have been interested in the study of traditional icon painting for some time and wish to continue as a spiritual endeavor. This face and hand (shown here) is influenced by my study of the Icon tradition.
Today is Holy Saturday and we are preparing for the Great Vigil of Easter. The traditional Easter liturgical service begins tonight and will last until nearly midnight when all lights will be lit and bells will ring and Hallelujahs will be sung, along with joyous dancing. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.
