Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Visit to a Church Supply Store

Friday after a visit to Cheekwood and the Chihuly Glass exhibit (amazing -- you must see) we turned a corner and ended up at St. Mary's Church Supply Store.  It is part of the system of Catholic Church Supply Stores and most parish pastors have seen their catalogs (big, colorful, and complete).  But it it quite another thing to actually visit the store.

One floor is entirely Christmas -- every kind of creche or nativity scene known to man (ceramic, carved wood, resin, and plastic).  If you love the decorations of Christmas that attest to the story in Scripture and the meaning of the Word made flesh, then this is the place for you.  Of course, you find some rather cheeky stuff but most of it is worth an ooh or and aahhhh.

The man entrance has icons, statuary, crucifixes, and crosses.  I could have spent an arm and a leg there.  If you do not have a decent crucifix in your home, you need to stop by and pick one up.  They have every size, made of every material, and for every "taste" (from the realistic to the more symbolic to the colorful to the plain wood).  Every home is incomplete without at least one good quality crucifix.  Plan to spend between $40-80 (depending upon size) but it is money well spent (considering the throw away stuff we buy at Wally World).

There are books, cds, dvds, vestments, church appointments, etc... All kinds of things to remind of God's House, of the Divine Service, and of the great mystery in which we are privileged to participate in the Sacrament.  Where else can you go and find all sorts and kinds of baptismal remembrances for a god child or confirmation remembrances for a youth or a pocket lectionary for the home, or a cd of chant for the focus of the soul at the end of a busy day...

Granted, not everything we as Lutherans might want to see (most of that is available at the bookstore right here in the parish) but a ton of other items inviting and salutary for the Christian home and family.  More than is in the catalog and you can see it before you buy it... What a good trip to make at least once!!

7 comments:

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

If you head west on I-40 to Oklahoma City, the OKC Art Museum has a huge Chihuly standing exhibit - probably 150-200 pieces taking up maybe 4000 square feet... good stuff.

Maybe you could even time your visit to when I talk President Harrison to come to OKC to see the American Banjo Museum.

Anonymous said...

Pastor Peters, where is this store located?

Anonymous said...

For a further treat for the eyes, here is a website listing the many woodcarvers in Northern Italy. Many churches in the U.S., Catholic and Lutheran, have crucifixes and statuary made by these talented artisans. The Christian honor of the Incarnation is reflected in the beauty of these carvings.

http://www.valgardena.it/en/shops/page167.html

Pastor Peters said...

West End Avenue, Nashville, TN

Anonymous said...

I concur that there is nothing this side of the Atlantic like a good, preferably old, Catholic bookstore. We in Arizona have Autom, er, I mean Christian Brands, but that is just not the same. Milwaukee has Stemper's, St. Louis has a good one right across from Ted Drewes. I have recently discovered the wonderful vestment stores on eBay from Poland. Oh my, the prices are amazingly low and the quality very high. I highly recommend doing some shopping. I bought one each red, purple and green and 2 albs with lace trim very tasteful and 3 or so tab collar shirts all for less than I paid from a Slabbinck chasuble on sale from a reputable place in Wheaton, IL. And $17 to ship by mail, very prompt and excellent service with returns accepted.

I'm done for now...but then there's that place called Creator Mundi in Boulder, CO where my newest everyday pectoral cross is from, and Spain via eBay where my "Bishop's chain" complimented the Cross...Oh, I love being a Pastor!

Matt Carver (Matthaeus Glyptes) said...

Next time you're in our neck of the woods, stop by Redeemer if you have time.

Unknown said...

Why are everybody so bothered about the store when there is an online Church Supply Store which is available for your service 24x7?