Mountain Majesty
I’m very pleased with my most recent cutting: Mountain Majesty. The detail of the mountain required hours and hours of cutting, as did the trees, and the rocks. I won’t want to sell this one.
Latest Scissorcut
Just finished my latest piece of art, Deer Drinking at the Lake.
Honoring Our Neighbor’s Faith
I was honored by being asked to teach a class on Sunday mornings during Lent, using an excellent resource from the ELCA, “Honoring Our Neighbor’s Faith.” I have always had an interest in world religions, and have prayed for more dialogue among the major faiths for the sake of world peace and justice. Response to the class has been excellent so far.
I have also introduced the class to another new resource from the ELCA which expresses much of my concern for education and cooperation in practicing our faiths. “A Declaration of Our Inter-Religious Commitment” is a draft policy statement of the ELCA. For example: “The ELCA will defend human rights and oppose all forms of religious bigotry, fear-mongering, violence, discrimination and persecution and stand in solidarity with those who experience them, whether they are Christian or of another religious tradition or worldview, upholding commitments made in existing ELCA social teaching.” (Lines 288-292) “The ELCA, in consultation with our partners, will seek to understand the religions of the world so as to identify and oppose those distortions that misuse religion to justify oppression, violence, genocide, or terrorism.” (Lines 296-297) This Declaration can be viewed on the ELCA website or http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Inter-Religious_Policy_Statement.pdf.
Another Sailing Ship Finished
In spite of a nasty head cold, which left me with little or no energy in November, I did finish another scissorcut that turned out quite nice. I hope you enjoy. Carmen and I returned from Minnesota on November 7 following a week in Fairmont visiting her brother Gary and Susan who were both hospitalized for a time. Both are home now and feeling much better. We hope you enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving and look forward to the preparations for Christmas. “I saw one ship come sailing in . . .”
Scissorcutting, After Summer Travels
Charles, Arnie, Erling, Jim, and Roger Maywood Class of 1967
Water Cannon on Chicago River
Summer began with a trip to Chicago in May for Jim’s 50th year of ordination celebrated at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in Hyde Park. The seminary hosted 50-year graduates from Maywood and Rock Island Campuses, and I enjoyed visits with four classmates: Erling Lindstrom, Roger Asplund, Arnie Pierson, and Charles Austin.
I also spent a day bumming around downtown on Michigan Avenue, visiting the Lake View building, where I had worked with my Uncle Verl, as a commercial art apprentice, when I was in high school in the fifties. I did a quick tour of the Art Institute then continued north up Michigan Avenue. The architectural boat tour was magnificent. Afterward, I walked all the way to Wrigley Field, about six miles. Sadly, the Cubs game was a disappointment; the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants 6 – 4. I did enjoy a visit at the park with Arnie Pierson.
In June we had a wonderful three-day visit with my cousin, Mark Knudsen, who came from Puyallup, Washington. We ate at The Glockenspiel in Mt. Angel and enjoyed many hours of conversation.
Following Mark’s visit, we drove to southern California for a memorial service on June 17 for my cousin, Grant Bornzin. His sister Gail was our gracious host. We enjoyed visiting with family and a delicious catered dinner in Gail’s back yard.
Grant Bornzin 1940-2017 Air Force Academy Graduate
Susan and Gary Stevens with Tyler, Lori and Jeff Joyce
After returning from California we drove to Minnesota to celebrate with Carmen’s family. Her brother, Gary Stevens, turned 80 on June 29. We enjoyed dinners at Jake’s Pizza, the Bergen restaurant, and Pizza Ranch. It was good to see Greg and Tammy, Mark Stevens, and Aunt Iris with Linda and Cindy.
Summer also brings good direct sunlight through our windows for cutting, so I’ve been busy lately. I’ve done three butterflies, one mountain stream, and a pelican.
Tigerswallowtail on Coneflower
Mountain Stream
In Memory of Al Anderson
To get going on scissor-cutting in the new year I went into my file and found some beautiful drawings by my CPE supervisor, Al Anderson. I copied them onto the back of the origami paper and began cutting. Thank you, Al, for renewing my artistic pursuits, just as you helped renew my ministry many years ago. The drawings were done in 1980 and the cuttings in 2017.
Overwhelmed with Gratitude
It has been many months since my last post. Carmen and I are finally recovering from back problems, sinus infection, and winter depression. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all our blessings: improving health and energy, the love of family and friends, and of course, our beautiful home and each other. We celebrated our 50th anniversary last August 27th with dinner at the Space Needle and wonderful visits with my brother, Gary and Debbie, and with friends, Bill and Judy. Keith and Joel spent Christmas Eve and Day with us, what a blessing! And finally, thank YOU, for checking in on my website.
