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Worship in the Stone Gallery

Posted on March 9, 2023March 9, 2023 by Pam

I had never attended worship at Saint Paul’s Cathedral and had hours to wander. Evensong is described as, Christian worship that has been offered to God on this site for over 1400 years. By worshipping there, I became a part of this living tradition of prayer and thanksgiving to God for the gift of His Son, Jesus, and the opportunity to believe and enter eternal life. Under the cathedral floor is the crypt but the upper dome is called the Golden Gallery and 528 steps up from the cathedral floor. I made it as far as the Stone Gallery which is 376 steps. What happened above that was a very winding narrow stair with a very low ceiling where I smacked my head. Those two things convinced me the views where quite wonderful from the Stone Gallery! Some of the crypts honor William Blake, Florence Nightingale, and Winston Churchill.

We sat on chairs at the cathedral floor level under the dome and awaited the choir and formality of a procession and recession. In-between was angelic music in mostly latin. The service was moving and those attending had a variety of expressions. I lit candles and felt solemn. Two Chinese girls were visiting London and sat by my evangelistic friend. They had included this service in their tour but had no familiarity with Christ and Christ-believing practices. These holy places still draw a crowd even though the crowd does not yet know Jesus.

It was so beautiful – I will never forget it but probably don’t need to return. My own church has amazing worship music and I never notice that we are seated in, what used to be, a commercial warehouse. We should never doubt the love and sacrifice of these early believers who gave all to create art and architecture to give honor to our Lord.

"Thoughts from a genuinely evaluative mind."

Pam writes so that must make her a writer. Recently retired, she can now fill days with family, friends, missions, writing, creating, and showing up for whomever needs her. Pam loves the Lord and people. The Bible is God’s love letter to us (and who does not need more love) so she studies and writes some more.

Pam lives in the Pacific Northwest but was home-grown in Southern California. She attended San Jose Bible College and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at UCLA. She became a teacher, then a Research and Development Chemist, then she built two successful real estate businesses in two states. Pam also pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary and just completed six months serving in missions abroad.

Pam has two amazing children, married to two precious in-laws, and five sweet grandchildren. Pam is a gifted connector and communicator and the Northwest has the perfect climate for staying inside and writing – or baking! She has been writing since a wee one and is currently converting many years of blogging, by topic, into ten books. The first is a collection from 2011 titled, Beautiful Enough. The second is a yearly day-timer titled, Weekly Planner - Lessons in Life, Glory, and Grace. Number three is in progress with the working title, Christmas Today.

Ten facts about Pam in no particular order:

  1. On the team that developed an insulation for the Alaskan oil pipeline.
  2. Loves looking at homes, decorating, and has flipped five homes.
  3. Likes being tall.
  4. Films have helped define her vocabulary.
  5. Comes from Colorado tenement farmers with history traced to Wales.
  6. Was lost but now is found.
  7. Baking makes her happy – as does eating sweets with coffee, of course.
  8. She thinks mission work is the most important work in the world.
  9. The church started in Rome so she is learning Italian.
  10. Pam is a work in progress!

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

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