The Epiphany Art Project: Revelation Under Our Feet

by Laura Tabbut

Artist Laura Tabbut, a Savior member, moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio, two years ago. Recently, Fr. Kevin asked her to create art for Savior’s orders of worship during Epiphany. That set her on an interesting journey.

During the craziness of 2020, my husband, Justin, and I served with a nonprofit organization that provides residents of declining neighborhoods with grants and 0% interest loans to assist community members in the restoration of their historic homes. Our current project focuses on restoring the sidewalks in our neighborhood. Many of our sidewalks have been destroyed due to leaky water mains. Twice this fall our city’s aging water main burst, flooded the downtown area, and left the 7,300 businesses and households in our community without potable water for three days. Needless to say, our relationship to water changed this past year.

On a rainy Saturday in Advent, we were tasked with the responsibility of measuring and photographing all of the sidewalks on the North end of our town. As we walked around town, I photographed a range of cast-iron water main and manhole covers that date from the late-nineteenth century to the present.

When I uploaded my catalog of sidewalks and cast-iron covers to my computer, I noticed that about half of the water main and manhole covers had distinctly Christian imagery. Specifically, they reminded me of motifs from Romanesque and Byzantine church architecture. As I worked on the artwork for Epiphany, I returned to these photographs and culled them for their symbolism. Each week of Epiphany is paired with a water main or manhole cover as a reminder that God’s transcendence is revealed to us as we move through our everyday lives.

Covers, from left to right, top row to bottom:

Week 1: Stars – “’We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” Matt. 2:2

Week 2: Water – “’I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” Mark 1:8

Week 3: Net – “’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:17-18

Week 4: Cross and Globe – “’For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’” Luke 2:30-32

Week 5: Cross – “The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.” Mark 1:33-34

Week 6: Radiating Halo – “There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” Mark 9:2-3

Epiphany is a distinctly missional season as God’s transcendence is fully revealed to all nations of the world. The focus of many of these passages show us how Jesus enters into the Gentile or secular space to bring the light of gospel to everyone. As the wisemen search for Jesus and the whole town gathers at the door to witness his healing power, Epiphany reminds us to look for the extraordinary. Epiphany also reminds us to use our lives, gifts, and talents to further the spread of the gospel. The wisemen bring Jesus extravagant gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jesus calls humble fishermen to follow him and he brings his glory into the homes of the socially outcast. Throughout these Epiphany narratives, we see humanity transformed as Jesus calls us to follow him.

About Laura…

Laura Tabbut is an artist based in central Ohio. Her artwork considers current ecological issues and questions the rituals and routines of the American landscape. She currently teaches at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and serves as the Gallery Administrator for the Schnormeier Gallery. Laura is married to Justin Sorensen, Assistant Professor of Art at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. They are expecting their first baby girl, Frances Margaret, during Epiphany 2021. During COVID, they have been grateful for Church of the Savior’s online worship platform.

Meet the Schaller Family!

This week we have the joy of sharing another “new-ish Attendee” within Savior’s community. If you haven’t already met The Schaller family, join me in getting to know them!

Who is your local family? OR What does your household look like? 

Our local family is fairly small. Nathan and Danae recently got married this summer and moved to the area with our two cats, Pewter and Hamlet. Currently, Danae’s younger sister, Daria, lives with us also. 

Where do you live? Where are you originally from?

We recently moved to downtown Elgin, IL. However, Nathan is originally from sunny Los Angeles, California. Danae and Daria grew up in equally sunny (but far more humid) Sarasota, Florida. Danae and Nathan met in biology lab while attending Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, where Daria is currently a student.

Are you related to anyone at Savior?

While we are not related to anyone at Savior, Danae and Nathan are both graduates of Wheaton’s biology program and have taken courses with many of the distinguished faculty that attend Savior. Therefore, they are at the very least part of our academic family at Savior!

How long have you been coming to Church of the Savior?

We have been attending Savior since August of 2019.

In your time at Savior so far, what have you enjoyed most? 

We have been so thankful for everyone’s warm welcomes, strong desires to get to know us, and efforts to make us feel like part of the family. Nathan has particularly enjoyed his first liturgical church year ever as he grew up in a non-denominational church family; it has made him more aware of the rhythm of life with Christ and given him a big picture to refer back to in day to day life. Danae and Daria have appreciated the familiarity of Church of the Savior, especially in regards to the liturgy and small size of the congregation after growing up church planting in Florida with their family.

What do you enjoy about our services?

We really enjoy seeing all a variety of Savior members participating in the service. It helps us feel a lot more connected to those we do not get to see very often during these COVID times. Whether we’re watching Adrielle sing along to all the worship songs, or singing/signing Be Still together, or praying for each other by name, it has been wonderful to feel part of the family. 

What do you do when you're not at church? (Job, hobbies, etc.)

Danae works as a Veterinary Technician at a local veterinary hospital while Nathan recently started a new job as the inventory manager for a tree specialist company. While not working, Nathan enjoys reading novels, playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and bringing to life the next home improvement project that Danae dreams up. Danae enjoys cooking and testing out new recipes on Nathan and Daria, as well as volunteering with a local dog rescue. Daria also works at Hanover Park Animal Care Center in the Boarding/Kenneling department, and enjoys embroidering in her free time.

Hamlet and Pewter enjoy sleeping, watching trucks from the window, sleeping, hunting the toy mice that roam the house, sleeping some more, cuddling with whoever is home, sleeping, and loudly asking for food to whomever will listen.

What has been a surprising gift during this time of COVID? And what don’t you want to return to “normal”?

Now several months into COVID, we are appreciating the ways in which life has slowed down and brought us together. One way we’ve found to connect is by collaborating on DIY home improvement projects that we may not have been able to complete prior to COVID. Among them are a set of closet shelves, repainting and repurposing an entertainment center, and most recently, building a fireplace for our living room! We’ve found these times great opportunities to grow closer and wish to keep them moving forward. Daria is particularly pleased with her new sewing and embroidery hobby, and will be sad when sewing during church will be less socially acceptable than it currently is.

COVID has also brought us many opportunities to depend on God’s timing and plans instead of our own. For example, while we had initially planned to see our entire family at our wedding this year, our ability to connect with our immediate families has been almost non-existent except for WhatsApp and Skype, as they are spread across the United States and even extending to Zambia, where Danae’s parents are missionaries. Because of this, in many ways, this means we’re almost more connected with them than ever before, by regular texts, calls, and video chats, despite the physical distances between us. And even once we’re back together (in person!) again, hopefully this will become a part of our new normal.

Meet the Barwell Family!

This week we have the joy of sharing another “new Attendee” within Savior’s community. If you haven’t already met The Barwell family, join me in getting to know them!

The Daniels Barwell family in action! Front row: Samara, Danica, and Denise. Back row: Zach, Craig, Samara’s fiancé Nick, and Josh.

Who is in your family (children, pets, etc.)?  
Our family consists of Craig and Denise, and our four adolescent and young adult kids: Josh (23), Samara (21), Danica (17), and Zach (15). Josh is out of college, and has a job, a condo, and a life in Seattle. Samara is currently a senior at Wheaton College majoring in economics. Danica is a senior in high school and lives with her grandparents in Seattle while she finishes the school year. Zach is a freshman at Clapham School here in Wheaton. We also have an 18 month old Saint Bernard named Benediction (Benny for short).

Where do you live? Where are you originally from?
We currently live in Wheaton about 1/2 mile south of Wheaton College. We arrived in Wheaton in July of this year, after driving across the country in our minivan (with our St. Bernard) from Seattle, Washington, where we’d lived for the past 29 years. Denise is originally from this area (born in Wheaton, attended WCGS, Wheaton North HS, and Wheaton College), while Craig grew up in Seattle and had never lived anywhere other than the West Coast until a few months ago. Craig is looking forward to the scenic beauty of winter here in the Midwest.

How long have you been coming to Church of the Savior? What brought you?
We have been participating in Church of the Savior services on Zoom for about 2 months, and started attending on the recommendation of our daughter Samara. Her roommate, Katherine Beech, has attended Savior for some time; Samara thought we would like it, and that her younger brother Zach would fit in and be able to find friends here. She was correct on both counts.

In your time at Savior so far, what have you enjoyed most? 
We could say something here about the fine preaching, excellent music, and inspirational worship services - but let's be honest. In these COVID times, we have most enjoyed being able to meet people at the outdoor church picnics and bonfires. We decided to show up at the picnic at St. James Park in order to meet with actual people face to face, and we were very grateful to be graciously welcomed by many of you. Zach’s favorite part of Savior is the boys’ D&D group he is part of, and waiting to see when Esther's daughter, Adrielle, will make her next surprise onscreen appearance each Saturday night (actually, that last part is a favorite for all of us…).

What do you do when your family is not at church? (Job, hobbies, etc.)
We moved here so Denise could start her new faculty position at Wheaton College as the inaugural Hudson T. Harrison Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Business and Economics. Denise spent the past 24 years as a professor of management at Seattle Pacific University. Now that she’s back in Wheaton she enjoys walking on the Prairie Path, and would love to set up walking dates with other women.  Craig is an Aerospace Engineer currently looking for work here, and riding his bicycle on all of the amazing bike paths in the area in the meantime.  Zachary is an avid reader, and spends time walking Benny around our neighborhood. We also spend a lot of time FaceTiming with our Seattle kids.

What has been a surprising gift to your family during this time of COVID? And what don’t you want to return to “normal”?
This one is hard for us! Benny has adjusted best to COVID and especially likes having someone home with her all day long. Perhaps the best part of COVID for the rest of us has been the opportunity to get more sleep than normal, and the chance for more uninterrupted time for reading. 

Advent Retreat Guide

On Dec. 5th, Savior held an Advent retreat with the theme “Waiting for God.”

Waiting can be difficult, especially when we can’t quite see the thing we’re awaiting and when we don’t know at what time it may arrive. Anticipation turns into impatience, frustration, or even anger. We may fear that we’ve missed what we’ve been waiting for, or begin to despair that it will ever arrive. We may wonder: where is God in the midst of brokenness and pain?

Scripture is filled with people asking “How long, O Lord?” And repeatedly, scripture invites us to bring our sorrows and fears to God (e.g., Psalm 55:22, Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 5:7). Adele Calhoun writes, “Sometimes the best response to the brokenness of this world and my own life is a mixture of tears and prayers. ... Tears and prayers of lament won’t solve the problem of suffering, but they can stanch the raw nerve of pain by throwing us into the arms of God.”

God certainly invites us to pray and lament along with the psalmists as we wait. But God also points us towards hope, to the day when God will wipe away every tear and make all things new, as John records in the book of Revelation (21:4-5). No matter how great the darkness, the light of God shines and is not overcome.

In “Waiting for God,” Henri Nouwen writes: “People who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait. They have received something that is at work in them, like a seed that has started to grow.” He continues, “The secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something has begun.”3

In the retreat guide linked here, you will find suggested exercises to help you both lament the pain and suffering we experience while we wait and to see the hope and find the light of Christ in the darkness. We do not need to rush to hope, or to the lessons we might learn as we wait. When we see Jesus weep after Lazarus has died, we see a God who understands that hope does not erase sorrow and pain. Instead, light shines in darkness; hope is present in the midst of suffering.

Meet Julie Newberry

This week we have the joy of sharing another “new Attendee” within Savior’s community. If you haven’t already met Julie Newberry, join me in getting to know her!

What does your household look like?
My immediate household includes Molly, a roughly 18-year-old toy poodle, and Pearl, an 11-year-old chihuahua mix. I have also been hospitably welcomed by a quaranteam family, which has had a major positive impact on my mental health in this season of isolation. I would love to see more households of 2+ including households of one in their bubble (in safe/wise ways, of course).

Where do you live? Where are you originally from?
I recently moved to West Chicago, where my dogs and I live in a neighborhood with lots of retired folks, which we enjoy. I grew up in Southern California, but I spent 8 years in North Carolina prior to moving to IL, so California and North Carolina are tied in terms of my sense of "home."

How long have you been coming to Church of the Savior?
I started attending Savior shortly after moving to IL in the summer of 2019.

In your time at Savior so far, what have you enjoyed most?
My favorite part of the service is when we sing the Celtic Benediction; I can't wait till it is safe for us to be physically together in worship again, as the song makes more obvious sense in that context!

What do you enjoy about our services?
I have not participated up front (other than being on the Zoom pass-the-peace video once), but one of my favorite parts of the service is the reading of the Gospel text.

What do you do when you're not at church? (Job, hobbies, etc.)
I teach New Testament at Wheaton College for my paid employment. I also enjoy walking with my younger dog in a nearby park and chatting (from a COVID-safe distance) with elderly neighbors. Lately, I spend a lot of time trying to keep my older dog fed and safe (this is far harder than it sounds!), and sometimes I like to draw.

What has been a surprising gift during this time of COVID? And what don’t you want to return to “normal”?
One gift for me has been that, with so much on Zoom, I've been able to participate in activities in my NC church again. Conveniently, they meet on Sunday, whereas Savior meets on Saturday, so I have been able to do both! I have appreciated being able to revisit that community where I have deeper prepandemic roots. It will be bittersweet for me whenever they return to fully in-person services.