I’ve often said that working for the Church I am privileged to be present at key moments in people’s lives. Unexpectedly that happened at this year’s Easter Vigil service.
I was at Grace Church to get some pictures of the Easter Vigil (one of my favorite services) and the 150th anniversary celebration dinner that followed. I was hoping to capture some Easter Vigil candlelight pictures. Working against me was an early service with the sun streaming in through the windows.
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
On arrival I checked in with Fr. Steve and discovered the order of service was to be different to what I am used to, with the lighting of the Paschal candle taking place in the middle, and not at the start of the service. Excellent! Candles later, maybe it would be darker. Pre-warned on the non-standard service order, I studied the order of service to work out what was happening when. That was when I discovered there would also be baptisms. It was going to be a busy evening.
Waiting for the service to begin. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary AllmanEaster Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Lighting the Candles
Preparing to light the Paschal candle – Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary AllmanLighting the candles. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary AllmanEaster Vigil. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Baptisms
Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage. Image credit: Gary Allman
What I wasn’t prepared for was a church filled with incense so thick you could hardly see from one end of the church to the other (thanks to the Thurifer, Kirby Newport). It was so thick that Donna Field told me her camera couldn’t focus.
I love chiaroscuro images and I saw a chance to produce a picture in a similar style if I risked taking the pictures of the baptisms into the light (and smoke). I’ll admit it took a long time to process those images, but it was worth the effort.
The Baptism of Persephone at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri. Image credit: Gary Allman
The Baptism of Owen at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri. Image credit: Gary Allman
Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
Easter Vigil & Baptisms at Grace Episcopal Church Carthage, Missouri. Saturday April 20, 2019. Image credit: Gary Allman
The 360° – Not a maneuver I see often. Image credit: Gary Allman
150th Anniversary Dinner
Grace Carthage 150th Anniversary Celebrations – The first service of the community was held on April 20, 1869. Image credit: Gary Allman
Grace Carthage 150th Anniversary Celebrations – The first service of the community was held on April 20, 1869. Image credit: Gary Allman
Grace Carthage 150th Anniversary Celebrations – The first service of the community was held on April 20, 1869. Image credit: Gary Allman
Grace Carthage 150th Anniversary Celebrations – The first service of the community was held on April 20, 1869. Image credit: Gary Allman
Dining al fresco at Grace Carthage. Image credit: Gary Allman
After the service I was glad I took heed of Fr. Steve’s earlier email suggestion to ‘come hungry’ as I joined in with the celebration dinner for Grace’s 150th anniversary.
Gary Allman is Communications Director with The Diocese of West Missouri.
