I photographed the service for my church's web site this morning and took this just after the service ended.
While we sing "Spirit of Life" in Spanish and then in English, people light candles of joy and sorrow, gratitude, memory and hope. I hardly ever light a candle myself but I enjoy this part of the service, especially when a few people briefly share their joys and sorrows.
Spirit of Life
Music and English lyrics by Carolyn McDade,
Spanish lyrics by Ervin Barrios
Fuente de Amor, ven hacia mí.
Y al corazón, cántale tu compasión.
Sopla al volar, sube en la mar,
hasta moldear la justicia de la vida.
Arráigame, libérame,
Fuente de Amor, ven a mí, ven a mí.
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
Not the candles, but the sharing, remind me of Quaker services. I like this shot very much. The candles, all alike, are as different from one another in time and space as the souls who placed them there; there is story in their lean or reach, and in their aggregate presentation. There's the mutability of wax against a backdrop of stone, on a foundation of wood. Bright brass and shiny wood reflect the light, all in harmonious analogous colors, very effective, that color constraint here. Yup, real purty picture.
