Our new Narthex mosaic

The mosaic installed in the Narthex floor this week, as part of the Nave renovation, stemmed from the idea of including meaningful symbolism as a visible representation of the values of our parish. The stunning artwork is by our parishioner Bob Erskine, captured in stone with old worldartisanship by Matteo Randi of Rugo Stone. The overall design was a collaborative effort, with significant input by Father Jon Buffington of Trinity Iconography Institute at Trinity EpiscopalCathedral in Portland, Oregon. The mosaic portrays our communal journey as Christians,honoring the legacy of St. Columba in our common mission of outreach in the name of Christ.

St. Columba is portrayed at the helm of the traditional Celtic currach in which he and his fellow travelers journeyed from Ireland to Iona, Scotland (the Iona monastery shown), where his accomplishments are legendary. Among them, the first written record of an encounter with the Loch Ness monster as depicted. His twelve fellow travelers in our mosaic are diverse; all are welcome on our shared journey. The Dove as the Holy Spirit, the scallop shell, and the baptismal font centered on the mosaic (when not in use for sacrament) remind us of the beginning of our Christian journey, and our baptismal vows, in transitioning from the Narthex to the Nave.