The Annunciation, 1480, Carlo di Giovanni Braccesco, The Louvre, Paris, France Do not be afraid, Mary ... Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, ..." Luke 1:26-38 Some paintings draw us in to look and think. We decipher the details and discern what the painting means. Painters filled art with symbols to enhance storytelling. Sometimes the painting beckons us to look and feel. The painting immediately draws us to the emotions of the figures and asks us to feel along with t

The Annunciation, Leonardo Da Vinci, 1472, Uffizi Gallery Florence, Italy In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of Mary. The virgin's name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27 The Annunciation was a very popular subject for painters through the centuries. I recently picked up a book with 100 masterpieces depicting this scene. The book does not include Da Vinci's well know

Decorative Vine and Branches, Pastor's Office Trinity Lutheran Church, Milaca, MN In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, ... John 15:5 Abba Ephrem, a prominent teacher of the early church (306-373 CE): "While yet a child, Abba Ephrem had a dream and then a vision. A branch of vine came out