McHenry County Blog

The uncle and aunt of of bride Elizabeth Robinson Campos were in a mobile home fire at Myrtle Beach earlier in early April.

Mary and Terry Desmond got out just in time, as you can see by photos a neighbor was taking as the conflagration occurred. The fire started in the shelter to the left of the mobile home.

The wind was blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean where they parted their retirement mobile home. The black part at the bottom front of the mobile home is for storage. It had not gotten hot enough to burn yet.

A father and his son who had just arrived at the park noticed the fire and warned the two just in time for them to get out safely, albeit in bed clothes.

The three wooden crosses survived.

Labels: Cross, Fire, Mary Desmond, Mobil Home, Myrtle Beach, Terry Desmond

There is something of a controversy about South Carolina's putting a cross on a license plate.

Before that a proposal in the State of Florida made the news at the end of April.

That ground was plowed by the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake in 1990.

The church had a commemorative license plate with the symbol used by Methodist churches nationwide—a cross and a flame.

The Crystal Lake church was founded in 1939 and is the oldest congregation in town. The plate celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding. I have no clue why it is dated 1990.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, License Plate, South Carolina

Instead of peeing on a window, this Calvin, from the “Calvin and Hobbes” cartoon of times past, is praying.

And the Cal is taking his picture on a sunny day in the parking lot of the Illinois State Museum.

The Illinois State Museum is my son's favorite in Springfield.

Labels: Calvin and Hobbes, Cross, Illinois State Museum, Message of the Day

I was out in Bull Valley gathering signatures the Saturday before last and look what I found on the side of a home on Cherry Valley Road.

A cross.

With bulbs, no less.

Labels: Bull Valley, Cherry Valley Road, Cross, Message of the Day

Yesterday afternoon, all that could be seen of the Easter version of Dominick Zinanni's cross was in a bag, which you can see below.

It was unwrapped for the three Easter services.

Above, you can see what it looked like at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

The altar flowers and candles were beautiful.

It was certainly strange weather for Easter.

It didn't stop some little girls sitting near us from wearing their Easter finery.

But walking to our car after the service, the ice cycles hanging from the church roof and the cross behind our outdoor sanctuary seemed a bit strange standing in the snow.

Below is what was posted last night:

Or is it?

With the garbage bag over it, I don't have a clue what is inside.

This where First United Methodist Church Sculptor Dominic Zinanni put his Easter Sunday rendition of the cross.

What will it look like tomorrow?

Find out for yourself by venturing to the corner of Dole and West Crystal Lake Avenues in Crystal Lake Sunday morning.

8 AM., 9:30 and 11.

Or, you can wait until I get home and post the picture.

My wife was kind enough to take this picture Saturday afternoon.

She observed that it was like Jesus was still in the tomb.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Message of the Day, Sculpture

This fourth week of Lent's cross, sculpted by First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake member Dominic Zinnani.

The week, the crossbar reads,


There is an edging treatment around the outside of the cross this week.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Lent, Sculpture

On this is the third Sunday of Lent, sculptor Dominic Zinanni created this cross for the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

The symbolism on this week's version is a combination of the delicate and the lighthearted.

The rose is just exquisite.

At least that is what I think most adults would conclude.

On the cross bar are the words,

The smiley face may be designed to catch the attention of kids.

It is located right at the bottom of the cross.

All the pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Sculpture, Smiley Face

The cross by Dominic Zinanni continues to evolve.

This Lenten Sunday, it read,


Turned around, one could still see the apple tree from the previous Sunday at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Lent

Sculptor Dominic Zinanni is using his skills to create different crosses leading up to Easter.

This one looks more like an apple tree than a cross.

Is it symbolic of the Garden of Eden, the place where man disobeyed God?

Are we starting a story about grace?

First we must fall.

Not to difficult a task, as Adam and Eve found out.

Labels: Apple Tree, Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake

When my son and I returned from a two night stay at Woodstock’s BSA Camp Lakota, I stopped at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake to take a picture of the permutation of sculpture of a cross created by Dominic Zinanni.

I was wondering how it would be changed.

The only difference I could see from week three was in the text on the cross bar.

This week it says,


Last week, it said,


There are also sun-like rays surrounding the center of the cross, mainly on the vertical post.

The photograph may be enlarged by clicking on it.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Message of the Day

This is the third statue by sculptor Dominic Zinanni in his series taking Christians from the manger to the cross.

We have a second clay cross this week. The first one said, “Worship” on its base.

This one has “bring His light to the world” on the cross bar.

I took it before and after church. The picture before is dark. In the one after the service, we moved it into the light.

Considering the message of Bill Muilkens’ sermon—bring Christ’s message to someone near you—and the symbolism of the candle during the song before the sermon, maybe moving the cross was just the right thing to do.

The words on the screen say,

"Make my life a candle,
A light to shine through
the darkest night.

"Make my life
a candle,
A flame to melt the
coldest heart."

Muilkens, who was in the Disciple I class that my wife taught in the 1993, went on to become a minister.

He pointed out that the 11 o’clock service’s music ministry was only one way, but a moving way, for those attending to worship God.

You can see this week's whole team singing one of the closing songs.

The verse on the screen says,

"Every prayer I make
Is a prayer of faith.

And if my God is with me,
who can be against me?"

All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Bill Muilkens, Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church

This cross began out as a manger.

Just as Jesus began in a manager.

Every week between now and Easter, sculptor Dominic Zinanni will alter his creation.

They will be on display at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

This week it says, “Worship” on its base.

Labels: Cross, Dominic Zinanni, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Message of the Day

Today’s message of the day is a continuation of a Christmas and Easter tradition of Hobby Lobby.

I saw a black and white version in Elgin’s Courier News.

Then, while at my brother and sister-in-laws’ home for Christmas morning, I found this color version in the Daily Herald.

The owners of Hobby Lobby put their Christian beliefs in practice by closing their stores on Sundays and by playing Christian hymns other stores don’t.

This year's ad shows the shadow of a cross on a manger. It's the top half of the ad, but the part with the message.

Labels: Christmas, Cross, Hobby Lobby, Manger

So, we’re coming back from McHenry on the shortest day of the year. It’s about 5:30 and traffic is not moving well at the intersection of McHenry Avenue and Route 14.

A marked police car with mars lights blazing pulls into the closed furniture store parking lot. Someone is working on putting up a stop sign in front of the plain clothed policeman.

Then, she walks across the street where I took this picture of the policewoman putting up a second stop sign to replace the traffic lights.

But, you can see electricity at the gas station across the street, the used car dealer and the mattress store.

We picked up a friend of my son’s. His Windsor Avenue home was lighted

Driving through Wedgewood, we saw a lighted cross. I took this picture of a lighted cross on a home.

I pushed the button on the garage door opener, but it didn’t open. Maybe I was too far away.

The light on the lantern by the snow fort was dark.

I pushed the button again in the driveway. Nothing happened.

Then, I noticed our house was dark.

Usually, when we lose electricity, the homes on the other side of Meridian Street are lighted. We have electricity coming from both directions and this township line street is the dividing line.

Not tonight.

All of this part of Lakewood was dark.

My wife got home and said Jewel was dark.

I picked up another 10-year old and we had three of them sitting in the dark playing or watching some battery operated game.

By the time I was back, all those candles she has purchased over the years were being put to good use.

Just as I was setting up the tripod to take a steady picture in the shadows, the electricity came back on.

Bummer. I missed a good shot.

= = = = =
Click on the top photo and see if you can pick out the policewoman lowering the stop sign.

Labels: Com Ed, Cross, Crystal Lake Police, Electric Outage, Wedgewood

Fresh from Disney World, McHenry County Blog offers up its first tee shirt.

It says,


This is my fourth extended visit to the “biggest carnival in the world.”

To help you get the message on this man's chest, he adds a prominent cross.

I’d say there were a lot more Christian tee shirts than in previous years.

Labels: Cross, Jesus Christ, Message of the Day, T-Shirt, Tee Shirt

Seen in front on me on Dole Avenue south of Route 14 was this bumper sticker that says


It’s most like from someone who attended the Catholic Church’s short course in Christianity, which it calls “Cursillo.”

The three-day seminar idea was brought to Texas by a Spanish priest and somehow made its way up to the Peoria area.

There Methodists started attending and at one point put started putting on similar retreats.

Catholics decided they didn’t want Methodist sponsoring Cursillo weekends, so the Methodists renamed their version “Walk to Emmaus.”

Those from both denominations who have discussed their experiences have concluded that they are pretty much the same. From the talk about Peoria, I would assume that Cursillo is not limited to Catholics and Walk to Emmaus certain is not limited to Methodists.

Indeed, as Methodists who have attended Walk to Emmaus spin off from the church (mainly because of the really weird things its national leaders do), if anything, Walk to Emmaus is drawing attendance from more and more churches.

In any event, the rainbow colored chicken and “De Colores” are symbols of the experience.

As a bonus there is one of those support our troops ribbons. This one says,


and has a a cross where the ribbon loops.

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Cross, Cursillo, De Colores, Message of the Day, Walk to Emmaus

This one is newly emphasized at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake by the addition of a back lit cross and flame superimposed on the concrete cross that has been at this, the oldest Christian congregation in Crystal Lake, since it moved from Downtown Crystal Lake over 50 years ago.

The cross and flame have been the symbol, the “branding,” if you will of the denomination for several decades.

In Crystal Lake, the church is located at the intersection of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues.

The service at 5 PM Saturday afternoon is a "Praise and Worship" service, lots of singing.

At 8 and 9:30 Sunday morning, there are more traditional services.

We go to the 11 o'clock service. It has musical instruments, including piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, flute, trumpet and more some days. Lots of singing again and Pastor Health is trying to get us to say "Amen."

Out loud, yet.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Message of the Day

This one was in the 4th of July Parade this past year.

It was on top of an old red truck.

It really stuck out.

Spectators could see it a long way before the Crystal Lake Gala Parade entry was in front of them.

It was sponsored by Immanuel Ministries.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, I would imagine.

Labels: Cross, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Immanuel Ministries, Message of the Day

This cross is at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

It has a red banner on it this Pentecost time of year, representing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ fifty days after his resurrection.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Pentecost

When our family visited the U.S. Capitol last June, I saw all sorts of symbols of religion.

They probably wouldn’t be allowed if the Democrats in charge today had their way.

This was placed in the Capitol by some state.

I can’t remember which one.

Does anyone know which state?

Labels: Cross, Statue, U.S. Capitol

I found this cross at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake at pre-schooler level.

The message the top says,
God loved the world so much that he gave his only son for…

Then, there are red hearts with the names of the pre-schoolers on the white cross.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Pre-School

Another cross from in front of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

Made by Sunday School students, this one has little stickers on it.

Four different stickers say,

I am with you always.

There is also a drawing of Jesus and two smiley faces.

As usual, you can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Smiley Face

The Sunday Schoolers at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake made crosses to stick in the ground outside of the entrances.

Here is one the front door.

There's a Bible verse:

Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything that is written by the prophets about the son of man will be fulfilled. Luke 18:31

You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

Labels: Cross, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake

This cross with its accompanying symbols of Christ’s passion was found in The Pointe, part of Crystal Lake’s Immanuel Lutheran Church’s ministry.

There's the dice symbolizing how the Roman soldiers decided who would get Jesus' cloak.

The spikes symbolize how He was attached to the cross.

I think I see a sponge symbolizing how he was offered vinegar to quench his thirst.

Does the purple cloth represent Christ's royalty?

I saw it after the conclusion of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s City Hall candidates’ luncheon on Tuesday.

And, Jesus, of course, is missing.

He has arisen with the promise of new life for us all.

Labels: Christ, Cross, Crystal Lake, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jesus, The Pointe

On the way to the First United Methodist Church last night I saw a marvelous sunset over the west end of Crystal Lake.

It was so beautiful.

When I arrived at the church, there were little crosses which had been made by the Sunday School children.

The sanctuary was quiet.

The cross was draped in mourning cloth.

The altar was bare except for a small, simulated fire on what appeared to be a black draped stool. I’m sitting in the front row next to two little girls who have the aisle seats. Their parents are behind them.

astor Heath introduced the extremely short service:

"We welcome you to this place…to this time…

"Focus in on tonight…

"We are going to leave in silence tonight.

"Just get up and walk out and reflect upon what you have seen."

“Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord?” was part of the Michael Card song “Why? that Jay Hemphill sang.

A litany appeared on a screen.

Here’s part of it:

"We come again in search of you; in search of you…Once again we sing."

Hannah appears from behind the curtain wall.

“I have got to find him.

How am I going to go home without talking to him? Especially the way I greeted him in Jerusalem.

(Actually, Hannah didn’t see Jesus on his triumphal entrance. She was too busy talking to her father. She missed Jusus’ healing of her niece.)

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she says, remembering what we call Palm Sunday.

“It was amazing!”

“There’s somebody I could ask,” she says.

But the woman runs past her so fast, I didn’t even get a picture of her.

Hannah wonders to the side asking a woman where she could find Jesus.

“Where have you been?

“Haven’t you heard?

“He’s been arrested.”

She also learns that Jesus has been sentenced to death, that the joyous crowd of less than a week ago has turned on Jesus before Pontius Pilot.

Hannah is incredulous.

“Arrested?

“What can they possibly arrest him for??

“Why would they want to kill him?

Hannah is told that the Roman soldiers put a purple robe of royalty on him, made him a cross of thorns, then, fell on their knees and mocked him.

The congregation hears (and those farther back see) two Centurions driving a cross-bearing Jesus down the center aisle.

The two girls sitting next to me are watching intently.

A man hiding his face passes Hannah.

She thinks she recognizes him.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are,” the man tells her.

“Hey. You’re Simeon.

“Didn’t I meet you are Lazarus’ house?

“If you were smart, you’d be quiet.

“There’s nothing more we can do for him.

“It’s over,” he says as he hurries away.

“What’s happening?” Hannah cries out. She cannot believe that Jesus’ followers are deserting him.

“Please don’t let him die before I meet him.”

Back to the Centurions.

“You! You, carry the cross!” a man is ordered.

Jesus stumbles by on his way up the hill.

Hannah is on her knees sobbing.

“Here, let me dry your tears,” Elizabeth, who has just walked by, says.

“I’ve been looking for him my whole life,’ Hannah says.

“I’ve dedicated my whole life to him and now he’s going to die.

Elizabeth’s husband catches up to her:

”We need to be going.”

"We don’t know him.

"We’ve never known him."

The couple hurries off.

A well-dressed man comes down the street.

“Excuse me, excuse me,” Hannah says.

“Do you know where I can find Jesus?”

“What’s bothering you?

“You’re not one of those Jesus freaks, are you?

“What was he trying to do? Make us look bad?” the man says and walks away.

Another, taller man enters.

“Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Hannah inquires.

“Woman, are you crazy?” he shouts.

“Why did you betray him?” Hannah asks.

The action is moving fast, too fast to take notes and pictures. I’m sure I missed crucial parts.

A man tells Hannah,

”You’ll find him at Golgotha.”

“Why?

“Isn’t that where people die?

“Why are they killing him?

She walks toward the hill.

“Why did you betray him?” Hannah cries as she kneels before the Cross.

A voice that has been reading the Bible story at various times, says,

”It is finished.”

Hannah collapsed on the ground, sobbing.

“A Centurion said,

‘Surely, this man was the Son of God,’”

a voice intones.

The service ends with a sad flute and a mournful trumpet. As each musical part ends, the musician leaves the sanctuary.

The lights are dimmed significantly.

Eventually, Hannah rises and leaves through the center aisle.

As I am almost to the front parking lot, a woman who is the mother one of my sister’s high school friends says, “It was fantastic.”

It took less than a half an hour.

= = = = =
The whole series of Lenten performances has been fantastic.

If you haven’t dipped into my reports about them, Hannah has been seeking the meaning of life over the three-year period of Jesus’ ministry.

This is a light-hearted, at times funny, virtually every week moving look of this young girl’s search. I could certainly relate to it.

First she meets Jesus in the wilderness at the end of his 40-day fast. She thinks he’s crazy shouting at no one she can see.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera, so my articles pick up Hannah’s seeing out Jesus’ family, friends and neighbors in Nazareth.

Next, we see Hannah at Lazarus’ house in Bethany, where Mary and Martha are throwing a big party celebration his being brought back from the dead. Hannah’s best line is, “He was really dead.”

Onto the Temple, where Hannah just misses the overturning of the tables, but meets more people whose hearts Jesus has touched.

Hannah decides to lure Jesus to her boat rental booth at the Sea of Galilee. You have to read the cover of the Enquirer-like magazine she reads while waiting for Jesus to come. (You’ll have to click on the image to make the headlines legible.) Naturally, by the time Hannah figures out Jesus is teaching a bit away, she is too late to hear him.

Let me add here that the people who participated in the creation and production of this worship series are among the most creative folks I have ever seen. I hope our church will figure out how to share it with others.

From the Sea of Galilee, Hannah goes to Jerusalem, arriving just in time for Jesus’ praise-filled entry. This is a two-part story: Part 1 and Part 2. As I mentioned above, she again misses Jesus, as she does the day he is crucified.

Hannah has one more chance—Easter morning.

Do you think she will finally see Jesus after his resurrection?

Most assuredly you be able to read about it here, but if you want to see it in person, be at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake at 11 AM on Sunday morning.

You’re going to have to be there early to beat me to the front row.

= = = = =
The cast was made up of

• Logan Fraser as Hannah,
• Dave and Linda Hill as Rufus and Elizabeth,
• Jeannine Patterson as Anna,
• Suanne Fraser, Marland Gall and Stacy Cook as three people who question Peter,
• Bob Brandt as Peter,
• Merle Patterson and Paul Metivier as the Centurions,
• Brian Morrow as the well-dressed priest,
• Terry Santos as Simeon,
• Past Health as Veronica, the woman who wiped Jesus' face,
• Mike Fraser as Simon, who carried Jesus cross,
• Kristin Brandt as the woman running,
• Tim Pontius as Jesus, and
• Bob Brewer as the narrator.

The script was written by Jay Hamphill.

As usual, any of the photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Cross, Crucifixion, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Hannah, Jayson Hemphill, Logan Fraser

His body language says,

I really want to chase that squirrel.

The crystal cross box on the window sill, by the way, was made by Oakwood Hills craftsman Robert Stewart. It costs less than $100.

Labels: Box, Cross, Crystal, Keely, Oakwood Hills, Robert Stewart, StewArt