Pentecost Cranes at St. John the Divine, Maple Ridge

The Holy Spirit descended like a paper crane (700 of them, to be precise) on St. John the Divine in Maple Ridge at Pentecost.  As part of the parish goal to create more lively and dynamic worship, parishioners were invited to fold paper cranes as an expression of the playfulness of the Spirit. They took to the task with enthusiasm, despite not knowing what the cranes would be used for. Two classes at a local elementary school participated in the project as well.

Parishioners were surprised and delighted when they arrived at church on Sunday to see their work displayed in literally every corner of the sanctuary. In her sermon, Rev. Laurel Dahill invited parishioners to "Look up. Look out. Look around" and recognize the creative energy where the presence of the Spirit is at work. And just like a request for people to fold a few paper cranes can result in boxes upon boxes of them arriving at the church office, our requests of God through prayer often bring abundance beyond anything we can imagine. "When we open our hearts and minds - when we open our whole selves - to see the abundance of all God and the Holy Spirit have created for us, we can't help but be in awe. We can't help but be overwhelmed. And we are not merely spectators to all this. The Holy Spirit really likes to play along."

The cranes will remain up for the parish Strawberry Tea on Saturday, June 15 and for one more Sunday service the next day, Trinity Sunday, June 16.