Choir of Angels

by Pr. Laurie Neill

We may look at art from all over the world and from many different eras, but sometimes it’s good to look in our own backyard. This painting, done by local award-winning artist and First Lutheran member Ellen Jean Diederich, depicts a scene that may be familiar to those who have been around First for a while. Clara Piepkorn was the much-loved director of the children’s choir and Ellen’s painting shows them singing in front of the magnificent mural in the Sanctuary. Rather than me write about the painting, let’s hear what the artist herself has to say.

Ellen writes (givinity.com/blog/), “My girls and their cousins both sang in the children’s choir so I included them and many of their friends. What really challenged me were the beautiful stained-glass windows by Cyrus Running. I worked so hard to do them justice, as I felt responsible for portraying his work. Hopefully he would give it a thumbs up. The blue violet robes (the color complement) helped bring out the gold tones of the glass the most.

“Music seems to be a bond that brings many together and I hope you are enjoying it. I love singing Christmas carols. In fact Bob Lind of The Forum newspaper, at Clara‘s suggestion, interviewed me about the painting and asked me if I was a singer. I explained how I loved choir, but apparently was the only one who thought I could sing. In fact, my kids came up to me after sitting in on another service and said loudly, “Mom, we sat next to a lady who was even a worse singer then you!” To that I asked the man who sat in front of me each Sunday, “I’m not that bad of a singer am I?” He looked at me and didn’t answer.

“Bob Lind finished his article stating, ‘It’s a good that I painted better than I sang.’”

Thanks, Ellen, for this bit of FLC history. Music does indeed create a bond that brings us together—as does art. 

+Pr. Laurie Neill