Mae Runions

St. Brendan's Episcopal Church Banner

Banner for St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, Juneau, Alaska, 1998

Through the vision of Ven. Mark Boesser, Rector at St Brendan’s and his associate Rev. Deb Vanover (who worshipped at St. Faith’s while studying at Vancouver School of Theology) I was commissioned to do a work to hang in the entrance vestibule, over the door to the sanctuary. The patron saint of this church is St Brendan, an Irish Celtic monk (c. 500) from the British Isles linked to sea travel; a legendary trip to the Alaska region suggests he brought Christianity to this continent. He was a visionary, and the church seeks to follow him in this way.

The natural beauty of this area in Alaska inspired me. My interpretation of this church’s worship and ministry is not a literal one, but the main elements are easily recognized: mountains (suggesting eternity), a glacier (mystery), fireweed (cleansing), sunrise and sunset (hope in God’s faithfulness), ship with sails and crosses (death and resurrection). The Celtic lettering is to honor St. Brendan. There is tumult and there is serenity, and the church is there.