Weekly Puzzles — St. Timothy's, Massillon

The Puzzles

*The picture above was created by the artist Tim Klein.*

People have asked if we could collect in one place the weekly jigsaw puzzles we’ve been sending out during 2020, and so . . . here they are.

May 7, 2020

A few days ago, Margy Vogt sent me a link to an online puzzle from St. John's UCC up the street. My immediate thought was, "I definitely want in on this!" So, for those who enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, I've made one using our East-wall window, above the high Altar.

You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE. Hopefully, it is intuitive on how it works. And you can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces, if you're like me.

May 14, 2020

This week we feature our magnificent west window, in the back of our sanctuary. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

The west window was given in 1898 in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Moses Brown by their son, Arthur Brown. Moses Brown was a long-time vestryman and treasurer of the parish. The window contains several symbols of the Resurrection: Easter lilies, crown, and peacock. This window was restored in 2002 by Mary Higginbotham in memory of the Albrecht and Dielhenn Families.

May 21, 2020

This week we feature what is many people's favorite window, The Annunciation. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

This window was given in 1915 by Edwin L. Arnold as a memorial to his wife Sara O'Donnell Arnold. This signed Tiffany window depicts the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38). The window was restored in 2002 by Walter and Ginger Sorg.

May 28, 2020

This week we feature our very unique Dorcas Window. There are not many churches that have a window in honor of Dorcas. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

This window was given in 1905 as a memorial to Emma A. Dielhenn by her family. The window depicts Dorcas giving alms after being raised from the dead by Peter ( Acts 9:36-45 ). This window was restored in 2002 by Michael and Bonnie Burns to the Glory of God and the good of the people.

BONUS: If you're really bored, you can find a sermon someone preached about this window HERE .

June 4, 2020

This week we feature our Gothic Rose window (aka--Margy's favorite). You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

A memorial to Thomas McCullough from his daughter, Caroline Everhard. Thomas McCullough was a founder of the church, a member of the first confirmation class, and for many years senior warden of the vestry. The Gothic rose in the pattern symbolizes the promise of Messiah, and the circle surrounding it symbolizes eternity. This window was restored in 2002 by Sarah Douglas in thanksgiving for the lives of Cecilia Walker Perkins, Jennie C. Perkins and Phyllis Perkins Harkey.

June 11, 2020

This week we feature our Tree of Life window. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

This memorial window to Frances E. Lee was given by her family, in 1904. This Tiffany window depicts the Tree of Life, symbolizing eternal life, growing out of a rock, symbolizing Christ. This window was restored in 2002 by Judith Woodward in memory of Gertrude Pollard.

June 18, 2020

This week we feature our Good Shepherd window. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces.

This window was given in 1915 by Edwin L. Arnold as a memorial to his parents Mr. & Mrs. John A. Arnold. John Arnold was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. The signed Tiffany window represents "The Lord Is My Shepherd" (Psalm 23). This window was restored in 2002 by Pete Welch in memory of his parents Porter S. and Virginia Welch.

June 25, 2020

This week's window doesn't really have a name. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction when you have completed it!

This lovely window was given by Emma Ricks as a memorial to her parents, Mr. & Mrs. David Atwater, and her son, Theodore Ricks. The window contains several symbols of the Passion and Resurrection: palms, Easter lilies, and cross and crown. This window was restored in 2002 by Virginia A. Kerr, Maxine Atwater, Nancy A. Kerr as a family memorial and by Elaine and John Harris as a family memorial.

July 2, 2020

This week we feature our St. Timothy window (which isn’t really a “window” in the strictest sense). You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

This small window (in the shadow box above the doorway behind the pulpit) depicts St. Timothy in the robes of the Bishop of Ephesus. It is English, from the 15th or 16th century, and was installed in the church in 1939.

July 9, 2020

This week's puzzle features our Music Window. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

Why is this particular window in our Chapel?

When our current building was completed in 1898, the organ loft was located in the southeast corner of the sanctuary (the original pipes remain, but are no longer in use). In 1909, the organ was moved behind the pulpit, and this space became the Baptistry, featuring our new font. In 1952, the font was moved to its current location, and the organ loft, turned Baptistry, became the Chapel of the Resurrection, dedicated "in honor of those who served and are serving in the Armed Forces from this parish." So, that's why our chapel has a window depicting musical instruments.

July 16, 2020

This week's puzzle features our Good Shepherd Window, on the west wall of the parish hall. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

This window was given in memory of Walter and Eleanor Sorg, by their siblings and spouses (Walter and Ginger Sorg, Carolyn and Edwin Cox, and Frances Sorg Sauer). The design was created by a local artist near Belden Village. The window was installed in December 1994, and replaces a window of the same name, which was removed in 1955. (You can see the previous Good Shepherd Window in the annual choir photos, up until that year.)

July 23, 2020

This week's puzzle features the window from the north wall of the Higginbotham Lounge. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

I have been unable to find the date this window was installed, but it is probably original to the addition in the 1950s. In the center of the window is the crest of Edward the Confessor, monk king of England in the 11 th century, and founder of Westminster Abby. (I have no idea why this particular crest was chosen.) This window also contains the symbols of the four Evangelists, Matthew (angel), Mark (bull), Luke (lion) and John (eagle), along with other Christian symbols.

July 30, 2020

This week's puzzle features the center window from the east wall of the Higginbotham Lounge. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

This window is one of six that replaced the windows removed by thieves in 1973. (You can find more information about that by clicking HERE .) The window in the puzzle features the Episcopal Shield at the top, with engravings of our original church building, as well as our current building.

CORRECTION:

In last week's puzzle, I mistakenly attributed the bull to be associated with St. Mark and the lion with St. Luke. Those are actually reversed. So, angel=Matthew, lion=Mark, bull=Luke, eagle=John. Extra bonus points to Chris Lane for alerting me to the error.

August 6, 2020

For the month of August, we are zooming in, to focus on transoms and closeups of our lovely windows. This week's puzzle features the transom above the northwest door of the sanctuary, under the tallest tower. You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

Fair warning: there's a lot of white space in this puzzle!

August 13, 2020

For the month of August, we are zooming in, to focus on transoms and closeups of our lovely windows. This week's puzzle features a closeup of the center image of the window in the stairwell above the lounge. (That's a lot of prepositional phrases!)

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

August 20, 2020

For the month of August, we are zooming in, to focus on transoms and closeups of our lovely windows. In honor of children heading back to school, we offer a close-up image of the children in our Dorcas window, from 1905.

August 27, 2020

For the month of August, we are zooming in, to focus on transoms and closeups of our lovely windows. This week's puzzle features a window that doesn't get much notice. Tucked away in the southwest corner of the parish hall, it is clearly meant to evoke St. Andrew, the patron Saint of Scotland. Beyond that, I've got nothing on this window.

September 3, 2020

We continue with our closeup puzzles this week, focusing on the five pomegranates in the East Wall window, above the High Altar. Though many people think the center one is an octopus, I assure you, it's a pomegranate. As I once explained in a sermon . . .

In Greek mythology, the pomegranate is tied to the myth of Persephone and the arrival of spring, which is the rebirth of the earth each year.

For Christians, the pomegranate is a symbol of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life. The pomegranate is associated with the Resurrection of Jesus and his followers, rather than the annual resurrection of crops. If you look around the room, you will see lots of pomegranates and lilies in our stained glass windows. These are symbols of resurrection to new life, which is why we decorate the Altar with lilies at Easter. So, yeah, the overwhelming pollen at Easter can be rough, but something would be lost if we just put bowls of pomegranates up there.

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE . You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

September 10, 2020

We continue with our closeup puzzles this week, focusing on the transom above the Gothic Cross Window (aka: Margy's Window). The colors in this window change dramatically over the course of a given day, which is just one of the benefits of being Rector around these parts.

September 17, 2020

We continue with our closeup puzzles this week, focusing on the cross in the center of the West Window. Though this cross often makes me think of the 1970s, it's actually from the 1890s, a much more dignified time.

September 24, 2020

A whole new direction this week, in that we're going with a parish photo from Easter, 1936. Most of our members in this photo are no longer among the living, but they are still members of St. Timothy's, and are now also members of the Church Triumphant.

I imagine this will be a tricky puzzle indeed!

October 1, 2020

We head in another new direction this week, by stepping outside the building. I took this photo this morning and just found it to be so beautiful that I wanted to share it. A lovely fall day, in puzzle form.

October 8, 2020

This week, we feature something you've probably seen so often that you forget it's there. Robert Peet Skinner brought back this Orthodox Cross from Russia in 1933, when he was in the diplomatic service. He donated it in memory of his mother, Cecelia V.R. Skinner. Before being appointed to the post by McKinley--but actually enacted by Theodore Roosevelt after the assassination--Skinner was editor and publisher of The Evening Independent. You can find out more about the Russian Orthodox Cross HERE.

Fun fact: the slanted bar is always supposed to point north, as it does on this cross, displayed on our pulpit. It's a lovely piece of art, and worthy of it's own puzzle, in my opinion.

October 15, 2020

This week, we go all the way back to the beginning of our current building. The photo was taken April 27, 1898, and the sanctuary is set up for the first wedding in our current worship space. Note how the East window has not yet been elevated, and the chancel is not yet extended (which was done in 1909, when the choir pews were added). The pulpit can be seen where it still stands, a gift from the Sunday School children of St. Tim's, in honor of Rev. Wallace Probasco, who died of smallpox while Rector of St. Timothy's in 1877.

October 22, 2020

This week, we're back to some stained glass. You can find this window at the top of the stairs from the lounge. As far as imagery, the circle represents God's eternal nature, while the triangle represents the Trinity.

October 29, 2020

After Monday's online Vestry meeting, I went into the parish hall to turn off the lights and thought I'd go in and look at our windows for a minute before leaving. The angel Gabriel caught my eye, as she always does, and reminded me that there is always hope in the darkness. Always.

November 5, 2020

This week, I decided to give you a close-up photo of the window above the High Altar. It just seems like a good week for all of us to focus our attention on the cross, where we find life and salvation.

November 12, 2020

This week, we're going with another close-up photo of the window above the High Altar. When you look at the very top of this window, you'll see the arc of 7 decorative windows. The number 7 is considered holy in most religions, but for Christians it represents completeness. God rested on the 7th day after Creation, and also the 4 corners of the earth plus the 3 members of the Trinity give you the completeness of 7. These 7 windows sit overtop the letters IHS. Regardless of what you've heard about what these letters mean, they are English substitutes for the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek. (iota, eta, sigma.)

All that said, you will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

November 19, 2020

This week, we're going with a close-up photo of the west window, in the back of the sanctuary. As with last week, you'll see the arc of 7 decorative windows. (The number 7 is sacred in most religions, as you'll recall.) Below these 7 windows, you'll see our old friend, the pomegranate, which symbolizes eternal life, because of the abundance of seeds.

November 25, 2020

All I'm gonna say is, Happy Safe Thanksgiving!

(But also, thank you to Bonnie and Lisa.)

December 3, 2020

One of the goals of these weekly puzzles is for you to have some experience of being inside the building during times when we can't gather as we usually do. With that in mind, I send you this.

December 10, 2020

It occurs to me that most of our parishioners have not seen the High Altar in a long, long time. So, this week, you can see it up close for an extended time by putting together the puzzle below.

December 17, 2020

It seems fitting to give you a closeup view of the Christmas Creche', donated by the McCalla family many years ago, and lovingly assembled each year by Tim and Carla Moore . They usually set it up in the back of the church, but I asked them to place it in the Chapel this year, so you all can see it on Christmas Eve.

December 31, 2020

I've decided it's time for some closeup photos for puzzles. This week, we feature the Christmas pall. The pall--for those who don't know--is a square piece of stiff fabric or cardboard that sits atop the chalice. The purpose of a pall is simply to keep bugs and dirt out of the the wine. And that's the amazing thing about the palls at St. Timothy's: they don't have to be anything other than a piece of cardboard, but instead we get something like what you'll see when you finish the puzzle below . . .

January 7, 2021

This week, we continue with our theme of things most people don't get to see, featuring our Advent pall. The pall--you'll remember--is a square piece of stiff fabric or cardboard that sits atop the chalice. The remarkable thing about our Advent pall is those little symbols embroidered into it. These are the symbols corresponding to the O Antiphons (which you can think of as the verses to the hymn "O Come Emmanuel.") Again, the pall doesn't have to have anything on it, which is why St. Timothy's collection is so remarkable.

January 14, 2021

This week, we continue with our theme of things most people don't get to see, featuring our Trinity pall. (I promise, it's the last pall puzzle.) The pall--you'll remember--is a square piece of stiff fabric or cardboard that sits atop the chalice.

I wanted to be sure you got to see this particular pall, since we use it just once each year! On Trinity Sunday, (May 30 this year), the Trinity pall will make its annual appearance, and then go back into the drawer, wrapped in tissue paper, carefully placed in it's box, until spring of 2022. And, again, the pall doesn't have to have anything on it, which is why St. Timothy's collection is so remarkable.

January 21, 2021

This week, I've been thinking a lot about our Baptismal font. When I see it--like really see it--I wonder, how many people have been baptized in that font? How many families have gathered around it, celebrating a new bond between a redeemed child of God and the Creator of all that is? And, this week, I was especially taken by the symbol of unity that it is. Though we come from many different backgrounds, and have such different opinions on so many things, we are united in One Faith, through One Baptism. The same Baptism that Jesus experienced with John in the River Jordan. And that is what holds us together, not unlike all these puzzle pieces being joined into one beautiful whole.

January 28, 2021

In honor of our patron saint, Timothy, we're revisiting the stained glass in which he is depicted in our sanctuary. (I tried for a little closer this time, so you can better see the beautiful the colors.) This window, in the shadow box above the doorway shows St. Timothy in the robes of Bishop of Ephesus. It is English, believed to be from the 16th or 17th century, and was installed in the church in 1939.

February 4, 2021

As I left church after Taize' on Tuesday, I was so stunned by the drama of the church lit up in the snow that I turned around and went back to take a photo. (I am easily distracted, it seems.) But I wanted to share the view with you in this week's puzzle.

February 11, 2021

This week, we're back to Things You Don't Usually See. In this case, it's the Missal stand (which holds the Altar Book, on the left side of the Altar.) This stand was donated by our 9th Rector, the Rev. Edward Kemp and his wife (whose first name is not listed in our parish history--ahem). They gave this Missal stand to the congregation on July 6, 1893, which was the day the cornerstone was laid for our present building. Which means, this little book holder is older than our church building, and I am the 12th Rector to be honored to use it every week, while leading worship services for the people of St. Timothy's.

February 18, 2021

This week, I wanted to share something we see on the Altar each Lent, but most people probably don't see up close. (But also, I just thought this would make a challenging puzzle.) This is a photo of the beautiful Lenten veil, which rests over the chalice on the Altar for Holy Eucharist.

February 25, 2021

So, I know I said no more pall puzzles, since they are so challenging. But I forgot about the Lenten pall, which I find the most intriguing of all. At first guess, you might think these are the attributes (or sigils) of the 12 Apostles, but there are 16 of them. And, many of these symbols don't correspond specifically to any well-known saint. (For example, the ladder could represent the Archangel Gabriel, or the monk John Climacus, or the seven rungs on the Ladder of Virtue.) I went down a rabbit hole of searching for Mary Moore Church Linens, but there were no rabbits to be found. Anyway . . .

March 4, 2021

This week, I decided to return to one of our windows, just because I thought it would make for a challenging puzzle, plus, it's just such a pretty panel. This is in the bottom center of the West Window (in the back of the church), and I think you'll find it as lovely as I do.

March 11, 2021

This week, I decided to go way back. And I mean way back. This is a photograph from the late 1800s of our original church building (1836-1892) along with the third rectory (completed in 1886). The rectory stood where our current parking lot sits. (The Rev. Kemp's children are included for scale, or possibly just general unease, once you notice them.)

March 18, 2021

Our long-time parishioners and pillars of Massillon, John and Bobbie Muhlbach have relocated to Columbus, to be near family. As a parting gift to the parish, they donated a limited-edition watercolor of Massillon landmarks, created by Pat Ripple in 1994. My wife thought it would make an excellent puzzle, and I agree! Can't wait for you to see it in person, when you can once again walk through those doors depicted in the upper right-hand corner.

March 25, 2021

As I said above, today is the Feast of the Annunciation, so you can probably guess what this week's puzzle is going to be. But it's just such a beautiful window, I think it bears posting again. Today, I encourage you to note the lilies (the symbol for Mary) as well as the sundial (the representation of the "fullness of time.")

April 15, 2021

Yeah, yeah. I know I said no more palls. But I forgot about the lovely Easter pall! This one features the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) carrying the flag of victory. Interestingly, it is quite common to use this symbol with the flag bearing the cross of St. George outside pubs in England. Make of that what you will.

April 22, 2021

And speaking of lilies, this week's puzzle is a detail of the middle window on the north side. This window was given by Emma Ricks as a memorial to her parents, Mr. & Mrs. David Atwater, and her son, Theodore Ricks. It was restored in 2002 by Virginia A. Kerr, Maxine Atwater, and Nancy A. Kerr as a family memorial and by Elaine and John Harris as a family memorial.

April 29, 2021

This week, I've decided to give you something more obscure. It is the architect's drawing of the remodeling of the Tremont façade of our current building. As you can see, that is pretty much exactly how it turned out. (There's a lot of blank space, so this might be a challenging one. I set the number of pieces to 6 when I tried it.)

May 6, 2021

And speaking of organists, most of you have probably never crawled around inside the organ pipes in our building . . . because, why would you? But, as a curious George, I've been in there a couple of times, and today's puzzle gives you a glimpse inside.

May 13, 2021

As the daffodils and tulips fade, the next round of flowers is beginning to bloom around the church building. The allium are bursting forth this week. (And part of the puzzle this week is to figure out how they know that we're so Trinitarian around here.)

May 20, 2021

As you might've guessed, there will be lots of flowers coming your way in the weeks ahead. Because, you know, flowers! This puzzle is of the "Samaritan Jo" clematis, growing in front of the air conditioners (which will hopefully one day obscure those appreciated but unsightly beasts).

May 27, 2021

WEEKLY PUZZLE

For those who didn't see them, the Altar flowers for Pentecost were especially dramatic and beautiful on Sunday--thanks Cristin!--and worthy of a puzzle in my opinion. Also, for those who would like to re-read Dr. Stalker's excellent 90 year old sermon, you can find it HERE.

June 3, 2021

We took down the velvet covering inside the pulpit for Levi's recital last month, and I was struck how dramatic the West Window looked through the brass on the pulpit. We won't put the velvet back up until after the carpet removal is complete, and maybe we'll just leave it off. But we'll decide that later.

June 10, 2021

Last year, our gardening group created a new flower bed on the Third Street side of the parking lot. The various flowers are starting to show off, and it's a lovely addition to the grounds. (Told you there'd be more flowers coming your way.)

June 17, 2021

As we expand and enhance our church gardens, one guiding principle of our flower choices is that their colors and names have some connection to the windows nearby. (There's a lovely metaphor in there about being the church inside and outside the building.) These delphinium adorned the Altar one Sunday, and were then planted last year outside the Good Shepherd window in the parish hall.

June 24, 2021

All I'm going to say is, "Here there be flowers." Well, and also, "They're lovely."

July 1, 2021

My wife sent me this photo from the new Third Street garden earlier in the week, because she knows how much I love coneflowers . . . which I always call "purple coneflowers," no matter their color. It's like when southerners order a "Dr. Pepper coke." Anyway, today you get a bee, on a purple coneflower, beside a lovely church.

July 8, 2021

Okay, it's not very religious, but it is definitely very interesting! This week, a fellow stopped by the church and said he'd like to donate a photo to us, which I happily accepted. As I looked it over, my first guess was a cavalry unit from WW I. Local historian Margy Vogt suggested maybe Masons. So, after going down quite the rabbit hole, I determined that it is a photo taken on August 14, 1910, at the meeting of the Ohio Council of Deliberation of the Northern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite Free Masons. (Quite a name, huh?) If you're really bored and want to see where I found the information, you can read the key document HERE. The mention of the Massillon meeting is way toward the bottom.

Interesting things to note: 1. The windows in the parish hall used to open. 2. The spire atop the bell tower had not yet been struck by lightning. 3. The lawn seems less steep. 4. These men liked their mustaches.

So, possibly, this group met in our parish hall that year, or perhaps they just considered our building to be a nice backdrop for a photo. Also of interest, at this particular meeting, "Two early pioneers and stalwarts of Negro Scottish Rite masonry in the state of Ohio were selected for their highest honor." (If you'd like to see the photo in more detail without the puzzle lines in the way, you can find it HERE.)

July 15, 2021

Sometimes, I walk into the sanctuary around 5pm, and I am reminded just how stunning the setting sun lights up our West Window. So, yeah, I've sent you a puzzle using this window before . . . more than once . . . but it is a constant reminder of how grateful I am to the people of St. Timothy's who invested in this space for us, and for those who will come after us.

July 22, 2021

Our modest Third Street Garden is in full bloom, and I find it brings me a little burst of joy every time I stop over to look at it. So, ladies and gentlemen, once again, please welcome, the flowers.

August 12, 2021

Last week, my brother gave us an old print of an Orthodox rendering of the Madonna and Child. (We have quite a collection of such things around our house.) Since Sunday is technically the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary (which gets transferred to Monday), I hoped you might enjoy spending some time with this image.

August 19, 2021

You're not gonna believe it, but it's time for more flowers!

August 26, 2021

This past Sunday, our Altar flowers came from Fran, friend of the Schroeders. These flowers looked so lovely that I thought we'd all want to see them again, in puzzle form this time.

September 2, 2021

Last Sunday's flowers were so delightful that I wanted to be sure you saw them up close. The Rector's Wife and I drove down to a place called Inspiring Blooms and cut a whole bunch of beauty for a very reasonable price. Jared the owner is doing amazing things on a hill set in beautiful Amish country. If you're looking for a day trip, I suggest you head down there at some point before the summer blooms are over.

September 16, 2021

Sometimes, by moving around the sanctuary, you can catch the setting sun at just the right spot on our West Window. Remembering that Tuesday was Holy Cross Day, I captured this photo just before our Tuesday Taize' service.

September 23, 2021

So, yesterday was not only the first day of fall, but also the feast day of Philander Chase, first Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio, and founder of Kenyon College. He was married to Mary Fay Chase (included in the photograph). Though this might not be the most interesting puzzle of the group, he was certainly a puzzling fellow. Of interesting note: he was the fist Bishop to resign in the Episcopal Church, and the House of Bishops had to figure out if a Bishop is even allowed to resign. (If you're really bored, you can find a paper I wrote in seminary about his resignation HERE.)

September 30, 2021

Yesterday (Sept. 29th) was the feast day of St. Michael and All Angels. This is an important (though often overlooked) day on the Church calendar. My seminary still refers to the fall semester as Michaelmas, following a British tradition of quarter days. (That's a lot of links for one sentence!)

Anyway, the flowers from last Sunday still looked lovely on the Altar yesterday, and especially so with the white altar linens we used for that day's Mass. It's a simple little photo, but I thought it would make a nice puzzle.

October 21, 2021

Cristin took this photo of the westside of the church building on Tuesday night. I call it, West Window and Full Moon.

November 4, 2021

This time, I decided to give you some artwork, rather than a window or flowers. This giant painting covers one wall in my office at church. It was painted by Jimmy Abegg, who gave it to some friends of mine who play in a band called Alathea. One day I saw it in the basement of their cabin in east Tennessee, and they said they didn't have a wall big enough for it. I told them our seminary apartment in NYC had huge walls. They were on tour in New Jersey and brought the painting with them; I rented a u-haul and drove over to meet them, and the "giant naked Jesus" has been with us ever since.

The painting is actually called, "Birds admiring the risen Christ with the hounds of heaven." (Which I think is a clever nod to the poem by Francis Thompson, but can't say for sure.)

November 18, 2021

Your puzzle this time comes with a pre-puzzle photo as well as some explaining. Vestry has been concerned that the plaster capital near the pulpit has been pulling away from the wall. Our capital campaign is currently focused on the north wall of the sanctuary, and it seemed the first step was to reattach this decorative capital--which meant removing it first.

So, for the past two days, the workers have been doing just that. As it turns out, the bricks behind the capital needed repair work before anything could be attached to them. (So you can also consider this your advance warning that there may be scaffolding to walk under near the pulpit for the time being. Just pretend you're walking down any street in New York City.) Anyway, it occurred to me that I was getting a rare close-up view of the archway stencil work, and that a photo of that stencil work would make a fine puzzle. So, have at it!

November 24, 2021

I've got three words for you . . . Crackerjack. Altar. Guild.

(Well, plus One Renegade Grape.)

December 9, 2021

Every year, Tim and Carla Moore set up the lovely heirloom creche in our sanctuary, and every year I am reminded how delightful it is to look at. So, now you can spend some time getting to know it more intimately with a puzzle!

December 16, 2021

On Sunday morning, we will hear the story of Mary and Elizabeth, and Mary's song magnifying God. And so, obviously, there's only one possible image to use as our puzzle leading up to Christmas . . .

December 30, 2021

Our chancel looked lovely on Christmas Eve, and I wanted to be sure you had a chance to see it without me standing in the way (like in the first photo above). So here's a little puzzle for you to work on.

January 6, 2022

Given that today is Epiphany, I thought it might be nice to send you a puzzle of our little star, representing the world's first GPS, which led the Magi to the manger to find the Christ Child.

January 13, 2022

The season of Epiphany reminds us that by looking up to the star, the Magi found the One to whom they could bring their gifts. Sometimes when we ourselves look up, we see the wonder of God's creation, and are reminded of the gifts God keeps giving us in the beauty all around us. Nancy B.C. sent me the most lovely photo last night, and I thought it would make an inspiring and challenging puzzle for you to try.

January 20, 2022

Monday morning we had a lovely service for our dear friend and parishioner Judy Wigginton, as we commended her to the arms of Jesus. As a flower arrangement for that service, we used a method that is quite common in England, setting them in a container inside the Baptismal font. This creates a lovely reminder of how our life in the Church blossoms forth from the font, and also emphasizes the connection that the Paschal candle is lit at both Baptisms and funerals. In a way, Judy's entire life is captured in this photo, and now you have a puzzle to sort out . . .

January 27, 2022

Well, with St. Timothy Sunday just around the corner, it's time to roll out this little guy again. It really is a beautiful window, but the neon light behind it sure makes a heck of a racket. On Monday, we're getting an estimate for replacing that with LED lights, meaning it might soon be beautiful and quiet.. Anyway, I think it will make a colorful challenging puzzle.

February 10, 2022

Flowers. And a floor. But mostly flowers.

February 17, 2022

With all the talk of new Bishops, I decided to remind us all of the Bishop who started it all for our Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase. (When I was in seminary, I wrote a rather long paper about his bizarre resignation, which I think I've shared with you before, but, if you're looking for some bedtime reading you can find it here.) As the first Bishop of Ohio, Bp. Chase holds a place of prominence, just above the light switches when you enter our sanctuary. I decided to give you that same photograph of him and his wife Mary as a challenging puzzle of a puzzling challenging guy.

March 3, 2022

Our High Altar looked austere yet lovely last night for our Ash Wednesday service, and I thought it would make for a fine puzzle for you. Might I suggest you set it on 957 pieces as something of a Lenten discipline for yourself? ;-)

March 17, 2022

Well, in my opinion, you can never have too much stained glass or too many flowers, even if it is still Lent. So, I give you one of the lovely arrangements from Sunday's Altars.

March 31, 2022

Last Saturday, we hosted a lovely memorial service for Patricia and Donald Merrill. Steve asked Andrew to play a few songs at the reception, and our favorite showman did not disappoint!

Is it a weird photo to make into a puzzle? You betcha! Do I regret it? Not even a little!

April 7, 2022

It's daffodil season, and you know what that means . . . Daffodil Puzzles!

These little yellow guys are springing up all around the church building right now, and they are just so cute and resilient. So, here's a puzzle to prove it to you.

May 2, 2022

As the green-thumb types know, it is Tulip Time! In the islands in our church parking lot, there are a couple brightly colored bunches that really catch the eye, and really needed to be a puzzle. So, voila'!

May 11, 2022

The Easter season is the season of blooming dogwoods. So, this being the 25th day of Easter, I give you our lovely church dogwood tree.

May 19, 2022

So, we had a couple lovely arrangements on the Altar on Sunday, and we left them up for Wednesday's service, and they still looked great, because ranunculus are redunculous! (My wife hates when I do that.) But I thought this would make a lovely puzzle for you this week.

May 26, 2022

On Sunday, we decorated the Altars with potted flowers instead of cut flowers. And now, those same plants have been put into planters by the northwest doors. So once again, our cycle from the Altar to the world and back is underway. A perfect metaphor for our lives in Christ.

June 2, 2023

The flowers we've planted in previous years are beginning to show forth their beauty around the church. And, when viewed from this particular vantage point, I'm reminded that when we are willing to try a new way, we can bring hope and beauty into this world.

June 9, 2023

I've decided to make a puzzle of this photo because I just absolutely love these flowers! I forget what they're called in lay terms, but purple-blue spikey guys is their technical name. 😏

June 23, 2022

Yep. Two puzzles for two weeks. The first puzzle is the title page of a book I am reading. It's not in any way what you'd call "beautiful," but my family thinks the subtitle is hilarious, and I thought it might make an interesting and challenging puzzle.

You will find that puzzle by clicking HERE.

The second puzzle is a bit more what you'd expect from me during the summer months. Daisies!!! Last year, our gardening crew planted a bunch of daisies at the northeast edge of the parking lot, and this year they are repaying the effort by blooming with abandon. Because, hey, even the dumpsters deserve a little beauty around them.

You will find that puzzle by clicking HERE.

July 7, 2022

This week's puzzle takes us back to the cycles of the Church year. A couple weeks after Easter each year, parishioners have planted unclaimed lilies around the grounds. And, like clockwork, those lilies bloom a few weeks after Pentecost. They go from beautifying our Altar, proclaiming the Resurrection, and then out into the world. Perfect.

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

July 21, 2022

This time, we get one of my favorite photos of this year's garden with the church in the background. The flower spires set against the building make me think we should call this puzzle, the Third Street Bed Cathedral.

You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

August 4, 2022

One of my favorite flowers is in fierce bloom right now, under the "Ladies Window," and I thought it would make a great puzzle. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

August 18, 2022

Over by the southwest corner of the building you can visit what I call The Bee Hotel. (Although it's actually called hyssop.) Though you can only see a few in this image, at any given time there are dozens of pollinators swaying on these stalks. And, as we learned last time, pollinators gonna pollinate. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

September 1, 2022

To prepare you for the plaster pictures below, I thought it might be helpful to see what our sanctuary looked like for the first wedding, which was held in 1898. You know, just for comparison's sake. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

September 15, 2022

While every schoolchild knows the sun sets in the west, we're reaching that time of year when the sunsets through our west window are absolutely breathtaking. Our son Leonard took this photo before Taize' this week, and I thought it would make a great puzzle for you to work on. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

September 29, 2022

As you know from tonight's Evensong service, today is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (aka: Michaelmas). I took this photo at the Third Street bed of some flowers that have just come into fullness. They're called--get this--Michaelmas Daisies. 🤔

You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

October 13, 2022

Oh it's fall alright. And we've got the puzzle to prove it!

You can find said puzzle by clicking HERE.

October 27, 2022

Laying down a new floor is very much like putting together a puzzle. And though our new floor is still not yet completely finished, I thought you might like to spend a little time getting to know it.

You can complete your own floor puzzle by clicking HERE, maybe even before they get finished with the church floor!

November 10, 2022

Our church gardens are the gift that just keeps on giving. Here's a lovely fall photo for you to piece together. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

November 24, 2022

The crackerjack Altar Guild has done it again! Even though I know it's coming each year, it still just stuns me to walk into church the weekend before Thanksgiving. And, of course, it makes for a fine puzzle for you. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

December 8, 2022

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, about a dozen kind souls came and hoisted all the decorations up from the rifle range--as one does--and got the sanctuary all decorated for our journey through Advent. Now that the floor is done, and the side walls are painted, things are looking mighty beautiful, and worthy of a puzzle for your online entertainment.

You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

December 22, 2022

As of this writing, we're still waiting for a baby. So I figure you could use an empty-manger puzzle to remind you of that. You can find said puzzle by clicking HERE.

January 5, 2023

On this, the Twelfth Day of Christmas, it seems appropriate to give you a puzzle that lets you ponder this most festive season. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

January 26, 2023

On this most festive of days, I think you can probably guess which window is headed your way. Behold the man who was told by St. Paul to drink a little wine for his stomach!

You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

February 9, 2023

I had to go way back in my photos to find this one, but I was thinking yesterday how much I love our Epiphany set of linens and pall, and was also thinking how most people don't really get a chance to look at these up on the Altar. And so, take a gander at these beauties before we put them away until 2024. You can find the puzzle by clicking HERE.

February 23, 2023

Walking into the northwest vestibule before the Pancake Supper on Tuesday evening, I was caught short by this window, and realized I hadn't yet used an actual photo of it for a puzzle. Thanks to the magic of simply flipping a photo around, I thought the sunset through the glass would make for a lovely puzzle for you. You can find it by clicking HERE.

March 9, 2023

Though we are expecting snowfall ahead, daffodils do not have weather apps on their phones, and they are pressing on, adding a splash of yellow all around the outside of our building. However, I have it on good authority from the Mother of Seedlings that the daffs will be just fine, thank you very much.

Speaking of which, you can find a puzzle entitled "Here They Come" by clicking HERE.

March 23, 2023

This is the time of year when you're going to start getting flower puzzles, and currently, daffodils! We have several varieties opening their little yellow heads around the church grounds, and I'm particularly fond of whatever these guys HERE are called.

April 27, 2023

Given our current Excitement of the Episcopate, it seems a fitting time to offer you a puzzle featuring our Bishop's chair. This photo was taken last March, when Bishop Hollingsworth joined us for his final visitation at St. Timothy's. You can find the puzzle HERE.

May 11, 2023

If you haven't been around the building lately, you've been missing a lengthy and beautiful season for our dogwood tree. Every day when I arrive at church, I take a few moments just to take it in. And now you can too! You can find the puzzle HERE.

May 25, 2023

I've decided what we all need is a Pentecost puzzle! It's not at church, but it is on the Rector's front lawn, and you can find it HERE.

June 8, 2023

I warned you that you'd be getting flower puzzles, and I am here to provide one. The roses we planted two years ago around the historical marker out front are a splashy little delight, and I thought they'd make a fun puzzle, which you can find HERE.

June 22, 2023

One thing I love is how the flowers around the church change through the seasons. The Third Street bed is a great example. Later in the summer it will look completely different from what it does right now, so you can expect other photos later in the summer. The current loveliness can be found HERE.

July 6, 2023

As I told you, there will be more photos from the Third Street Bed coming your way. The lilies have started to bloom, adding a splash of white to our July landscape. After a recent rain, they made for a particularly lovely puzzle, which you can find HERE.

July 20, 2023

Well what do you know? A flower puzzle! You can find it HERE.

August 10, 2023

The Bee & Butterfly Hotel is open for business! You can make a puzzle reservation HERE.

August 24, 2023

So, I'm sure my wife knows what these little purple guys in the planters by the parking lot doors are called. But I really just love the vibrancy of their color, and they'll always just be Little Purple Guys to me. You can find the puzzle HERE.

September, 7, 2023

With the Seating of the Bishop taking place on Saturday, this seems like the perfect flower to turn into a puzzle. You'll see it by the parking lot doors at church. Not only is it a lovely red flower, but get this . . . They're a dahlia variety called Bishop's Children! You can find the puzzle HERE.

September 21, 2023

As I've mentioned before, the Third Street bed has multiple peak moments over the summer, and we've reached another one. It amazes me that this was just a patch of grass just a few years ago. But thanks to the hard work put in on our Grounds Grooming Saturdays, we end up with a vision of loveliness for everyone who passes by. You can find the puzzle HERE.