Sunrise to Starlight: Sabbatical Songs: Portland Pie and Pacific Storms

First thing this morning, right after our free breakfast, Sarah and I packed up Prudence; but before we got the heck out of downtown, we took a walk to Pacific Pie. But no! We open the door to the shop, but Jessica tells us they don't open until 11.
I throw up my hands and cry, "Noooo!!!"
She laughs and says, "What do you want?"
I say, "Salted caramel chocolate tarts."
She says, "Okay. c'mon in. I will get 'em for you."
Yessssss!!

We chat while she boxes up two tarts. She tells us about the housing crisis in Portland and how the one bedroom apartments above the shop are going for $2000 a month. And how she's a single mom and her friend who makes $60,000 a year just had to leave because she can't afford to live there any longer. We promise that we are not staying, just spending money and moving on. She visibly relaxes and we laugh about how much we love these tarts. The day is off to a good start.

We have decided to spend one more night in the Portland area because weather is moving in and the NW is about to be hit with a major storm system. So we can't just scoot up into Canada like we hoped. We will have to hang out an extra day here and then spent 3 days in Seattle before we hop into Vancouver. The storm up there will pack 70 mph winds with 85 mph gusts. So we will just bide our time in my old stomping grounds.

Honestly, I can't wait.

But this gives us a chance to see a church or two in Portland. Coming back through at the end of next week we will participate in the regional Sacred Harp sing in Portland. But for now, I have drawn a bead on the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Baptist, because their website is www.wheretraditionwelcomesdiversity.org.

It was a bit challenging to find, but we were surprised to find it located on the campus of Oregon Episcopal School, a pretty upscale prep school. Busy campus. Massive building project and a parish church that is used as the chapel for the school (it has three chaplains). Kind of St. Matthew's, Pacific Palisades on steroids. The parish pays the school a property use fee to continue in place. Very interesting.

The parish administrator, Brent Miller, was so kind. And the rector, The Rev. Canon Robert Bryant, returned from lunch in time to meet with us. As it turns out, Mark Asman is a mutual friend (Mark is rector of Trinity, Santa Barbara). His associate, The Rev. Heather Wenrick, also came into the church to find out who we were. While we were talking to them, Brent came in with directions to The Bishop's Close. So thoughtful.

Fr. Robert told me a little about the history of JtB, how it was originally intended to be the cathedral of the diocese and how that all fell through. Fascinating. The building is not much to write home about, 1960's architecture. But the furnishings are pretty spectacular and testify to the cathedral posture. Really beautiful.

Robert and Heather had other things to do, so they left Sarah and me to take photos and sing away. The acoustics were really excellent. We sang "There is a Balm in Gilead" and "Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life" and "Only Begotten Word of God Eternal."

Once we sang, we waved goodbye to Brent and headed off for Elk Rock Garden of The Bishop's Close. So beautiful.

The office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Oregon is here and the grounds are open to the public. It is called Elk Rock Garden. Amazing gift to the diocese. Anyone can come here and walk these grounds. I have tons of pictures. Sarah has posted some of hers on Facebook.

Here are some of mine: