From on High

Photos by Mike Harris and Bill Mc Mahon

The Friday before our festive Palm Sunday visit by Bishop Smith, the call came in that we had some non-responsive floodlights up in the high rafters in the Altar Zone. This is not a simple task of getting a step ladder and swapping out light bulbs. It calls for some technical machinery to get up to the light fixtures. Also, the fixtures are incased in a wood to blend with the rafters. There is also need to not be frightened by high altitude. Our good Sexton (Mike Harris) made me aware of the problem and advised that he had contracted for a machine to get to the problem. When the machine arrived he called again and said, the thing would not work, too big to get in the church; however, another firm was to come to our rescue and would get their equipment to us by early afternoon. But, to get to the Altar area we would need some muscle to get up the stairs. So we recruited some stout fellows (Steinwender, McMahon, a good friend, Gerry Bruger, and myself) and met in the Nave. We managed to get the machine up to the Altar and leveled. Mike took the light bulbs and proceeded upward. The first problem he found was the connecter on the burned out bulb was loose (consensus was sound vibration has power). We solved the problem which was a burned out light bulb, as well as a loose wire. Mike came down, got Bill’s cell phone, went back up, and took some photos from what would be an angel’s view. It is quite a different perspective from on high. We all learned some new skills in this experience.

Submitted by Walter C. Jaap