Encountering Beauty

Over the summer, we collected from parishioners images that captured their experiences of beauty. We are excited to share them here.

Some may see this as immature plants, but I see this as God’s healing of my father of two cancer diagnoses. I would walk with him during his recovery in his beautiful neighborhood in South Dakota and take pictures of what I would like to have in our backyard, and finally, this spring, we have established the flame grass. God is taking care of him and this is what I see when I look at it. -Molly R. Parishioner

Molly’s garden

Seashell sign along el Camino de Santiago

Taken while walking part of El Camino de Santiago, the seashell image is the guiding sign found along the route, informing people they are on the correct path. It’s rendered in many different ways: in brass embedded in a pathway, as a hand-painted sign on a wall, as a symbol on a rock…for me, it symbolizes my baptism, something my mother always reminded me of and I didn’t take particularly seriously until a few years ago. - Mary Ann, Parishioner

Cross made of flowers

What you might not see in this picture is the garden behind the flower cross that has turned to weeds.  In the Bible, weeds represent sin, evil and things that limit our spiritual growth.  If we don’t fight that with prayer, it will overtake us. God (the flowers) overcomes evil.  The flowers are thriving due to being pruned of the dead parts to make room for new growth and also from God’s abundant blessing of sun and rain, which has limited the amount of watering needed so far this summer. 
- Amy, parishioner

Josh and Melissa posing in front of an azalea shrub in full bloom at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

We visited the Arb on a cloudy, gray day, which made the azaleas stand out as a bright light in the darkness - just as Jesus is the Light in the darkness (John 1: 5).  He also calls us to be the Light of the World (Matthew 5: 14), shining His light to all we meet.  As a great beacon, Josh is a light for me to see Christ in his wonderful being.  I find this photo beautiful for two reasons.  First, for the brilliant color of the azalea flower.  Second, for the beauty of this man standing next to me. - Melissa S. Parishioner

Neighborhood sunset

The cloud in this photo reminds me of an angel! - Denise, Parishioner

Double Rainbow in Rochester

June 19th blessed with a gorgeous double rainbow.  It appeared God placed the waning rainbow over Assisi honoring it.  It was a breathtaking sight. -Karol, Parishioner

We planted the seeds from the Easter Boxes in two planters outside our house, and they have finally started blooming and in particular bring Annie so much joy since we planted them together! She never lost hope that they would bloom (whereas I thought the pots had surely just turned into weeds) but here they are weeks/months later - producing beautiful flowers!  - Megan, parishioner

wildflowers in pot

The top four things that make me awestruck are sunrises, sunsets, mountains, and waterfalls (besides babies being born and a few thousand other things).

I have not experienced mountains this summer or babies being born, so you don't get any of those. All these have their own beauty and power.  All are gifts from God.  All are things man can only stand in awe of. Here is a sunset over a lake. - Jim, parishioner

sunset over a lake