VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 49
AIR DATE 12 21 2018
FULL TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Living Her Faith
((SOT))
We both have accepted Lord Jesus as our Lord and savior and that makes us adopted into his family. That makes us sisters.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Painting with Light
((SOT))
Stained glass is built on a tradition that can also create something in a modern-day audience.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Getting Your Merry On
((SOT))
It’s important to make people happy, and take them back to their childhood, and just being happy at Christmas.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) SHARON DICKEN
((Banner: A Giving Spirit))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Banner: Churches of Christ (about 1% of Americans)))
((Map: Cumberland, Maryland))
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
I’m Sharon Dicken. I am the sole proprietor, owner of Signet Designs Styling Salon.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
This is one of the biggest blessings God has given me. I live here, I walk through the door and I’m at work. I don’t wear the tread off my tires, that’s for sure.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
I always try to keep the Lord focused in my business. Same ritual every morning. I retired from JC Penny’s Styling Salon and broke away and just wanted to be more independent and have my own business. So that’s why I left Penny’s and retired and opened my own salon. I’ve been in my salon for 13 years now. I’ve been a beautician for going on 34 years.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
And we’re open for business. I love the connection that I have with my customers. They come once or twice. They’re a customer. They come after that, they’re family. And we go through a lot together. I mean, we’ve gone through a lot together. I’ve lost a lot of customers that I’ve just dearly loved and it’s like losing a family member.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN))
Her daughter was supposed to have a baby close to Christmas but she’s having complications so....
((CUSTOMER))
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Thanks.
((CUSTOMER))
I’ll pray for her.
((SHARON DICKEN))
You can just pray for Sharon’s sister-in-law’s daughter.
((CUSTOMER))
Ok.
((SHARON DICKEN))
My business is very God focused. My customers, the majority of them, I would say at least 99% of them are Christians or at least believe in the Lord. And we have good discussions. There’s times when we pray together. There’s times when we cry together. There’s times when we worship together.
((SHARON DICKEN))
You’ve got a nice shine here again.
((CUSTOMER))
That’s good.
((SHARON DICKEN))
We both have accepted Lord Jesus as our Lord and savior and that makes us adopted into his family. That makes us sisters.
((CUSTOMER))
Oh Sharon that looks nice, that looks nice.
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
It is scary when you start a new business but, God was right there walking through it right with me. I mean, everything was, just fell into place. The contractor, I contracted him for half of what the other contractors had wanted. He was a good Christian friend and the electrician was a Christian friend and he actually did all the work and everything for very little. And I’m just thankful that God just put people right in my path that helped me right along and everything just fell into place.
((SHARON DICKEN))
21st you want Friday at 10?
((CUSTOMER))
I pray for her all the time.
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
It’s been kind of a bad year with surgeries and stuff. I have had heart surgery, and I had an adrenalectomy in October, and I have to, I’m facing some more heart surgeries also. But I have a lot of folks that pray, and we have to pray for each other, we have to be there for each other. And before I went in, I prayed and I knew that God was watching over me and He takes care of me. So, we have to praise Him in the storm. I mean, life’s not a bed of roses and even through the bad times, we have to find something in those situations that is a blessing. And if you think about it and ponder on it long enough even through your storms, you will find a blessing.
((SHARON DICKEN))
I’m just not just getting my strength back like I should. Do you want a haircut?
((CUSTOMER))
Will you cut my hair? How you been girl?
((SHARON DICKEN))
Ok, how are you?
((CUSTOMER))
Good.
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
The name of the salon is Signet Designs. Signet actually comes from Hagai 2:23 where it talks about the signet ring. And I just figured when I opened the shop that when I do somebody’s hair, that’s their own personal hair-do, and that’s kind of like their signature hair-do. So, that’s why I named the salon Signet Designs.
((SHARON DICKEN))
I think one of the biggest things right here in Cumberland is homelessness. We have a lot of homeless people in this area and…. ((CUSTOMER))
Sharon started feeding people right here.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Yeah, we did.
((CUSTOMER))
She set up tables in her house.
((SHARON DICKEN))
We did, that was, that was quite a bit. We used to take all the salon furniture out and set tables up in here and then we’d have a serving table over here and we’d serve those that were less fortunate. It’s fun.
((CUSTOMER))
The minister would come in and say a prayer.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Yeah. I was recuperating from surgery this year but I think we need to do that again.
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
Our community actually has a big homeless problem. We have the drug issue. We have unemployment issues. And I think, as Christians, we need to be addressing these issues more because I don’t honestly think we are doing enough to help the folks in our community. I know another issue that we have in the United States is immigration. If you read in the Bible, it tells you that we are to welcome the foreigner. We are to help and aide the foreigner. I know I have a lot of people say, ‘well they should do things legal.’ Well, since when did we start to pick and choose who we’re going to help? We, as Christians, shouldn’t pick and choose. We should do what we can to help anybody that needs help, because we may be the only Jesus they ever see here.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
I go to the Paw Paw Church of Christ in Paw Paw, West Virginia. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and we believe that Christ is our creator. Anything more than that is too much. Anything less than that is not enough. We just follow Jesus. Sunday mornings, I get up and I usually really don’t do a lot of work, work, work on Sundays because I like to have that time.
((SHARON DICKEN))
We’re heading out now to Paw Paw Church of Christ in West Virginia. I know some people would say, ‘why do you travel so far when there’s all these churches around here?’ Well, Paw Paw’s my home church and I’m thankful for it and I love worshipping with the folks. That’s why I do it. Besides, 26 miles (41 km) is nothing. Paw Paw’s just a little country church. Don’t blink going through it because you might miss it.
((NATS))
((MAN))
Hey girls. Morning.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Morning Doc.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Going to church is a joy because I get to fellowship with other Christians and Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the fellowship because that’s what helps build us up and connect to each other so that we have that strength through Christ and so we can continue to go on. And I think everybody needs that building up and loving on each other fellowship on Sundays.
((NATS))
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
Good morning. We have been waiting for the return of Jesus. He’s coming back. And right now we’re in, that’s the mode we’re in today. We’re in that mode to prepare the West, to turn the hearts of the people to the Lord. Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near. And then ask, who are you? Because I am one cent, to prepare the way of the Lord. But we’re waiting. And maybe it’ll be another 50 years. We’re waiting. But I know this. When it happens, we’ll know it. And I’m just going to ask this one question right now. Are you ready? Are your hearts prepared to receive God? Just think about all the things that have happened this year. All the hurricanes, all the earthquakes, all those natural disasters. We are warned about this in the book of these things will happen, and they will happen closer together and in greater force. If anything, 2018 serves as a warning, he’s coming back. And if he were to come back today, would you be ready? Prepare your heart.
((NATS))
((SHARON DICKEN))
I feel that God has called me to help wherever I can. And I find great pleasure in cooking for folks and doing whatever I can to help someone.
((SHARON DICKEN))
I need to talk to you about something, maybe putting something in the bulletin, about anybody that has any coats that they’re not using, coats that they’re not using or blankets that are gently used, scatter rugs, that kind of thing.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
Ok, let Cindy know and she’ll put it in the bulletin.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Alrighty, yeah because we should have been doing this a while back.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
She’s talking about getting all the things that we don’t use that are just cluttering in our closets and there are people that can use them.
((SHARON DICKEN))
Well, coats and blankets and even throw rugs.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
Yeah.
((SHARON DICKEN))
And carpet remnants that are pretty big, you know, because they lay them on the ground and put their blankets and stuff on them and that way they don’t get soaking wet too.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
Sure.
((SHARONDICKEN))
Send me Cindy’s email.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
Ok.
((SHARONDICKEN))
Thank you. God bless you.
((Rev. Richard White, Preacher, Paw Paw Church of Christ))
God bless you too.
((SHARON DICKEN, Owner, Signet Designs Styling Salon))
I actually live a very busy life. I try to stay busy. I try to keep doing things. And one of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalms 46:10. It says: Be still and know that I am God. To me that means a lot because we do get too busy sometimes, and we’re praying about this and we’re doing this and we’re doing that, and I think sometimes I just need to stop and just refresh and just be still and know that He is God. He’s in control. He’s going to handle all the anguish and all the heartache and everything and it’s going to be OK.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
The Church and Art
((SOT))
We’ve come up with a technique of painting on the glass using fused glass to create a very contemporary method that really has not been seen before.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) PIA – DAVID JUDSON
((Banner: Inspirational Light))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
It’s hard to be part of a five-generation business because you have to kind of make your imprint but you also have to understand you’re just a chain that’s going to continue on. And so, there’s something really kind of rewarding in that. What we’re making is something that will affect people’s lives on a very personal level.
((NATS))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
Stained glass has been in my blood for generations. My name is David Judson. I’m the president of the Judson Studios here in Los Angeles. We design and manufacture stained glass windows for churches, hotels, residences. And so, from design to installation, we are manufacturing these windows for custom projects.
((NATS))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
Well, when I was really small, this is what I wanted to do. This is where I loved to be. I loved kind of knowing that this was in my family and something I really wanted to be involved with. Judson Studios was founded in 1897 by my great-great-grandfather and I’m now the fifth generation that’s owned and operated he studio. When you think of stained glass, and you think of it, a lot of times, you associate it with the cathedrals of Europe, for example. These were originally drawn to show figures in the bible, to maybe tell stories about the bible to people who couldn’t necessarily read or to bring in inspirational light. And so, by designing images on glass, you can incorporate it into an architectural setting that allows light to come in and create an environment that can’t be done in any other art form or any other material.
((NATS))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
We just recently completed a 3,400 square-foot (315 square-meter) window for a church that was just built in Leawood, Kansas, just south of Kansas City. And it’s nearly a 100 feet by 40 feet (33 x 13 meters), which is about the size of a basketball court. No window had ever really been made like this before. And so, Tim and I, my creative designer, we found a gentleman named Narciso Coraleotta. Narciso is kind of the most knowledgeable about fused glass. And so, we’ve come up with a technique of painting on the glass using fused glass to create a very contemporary method that really has not been seen before and, I think, will change the future of stained glass.
((NATS))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
By combining traditional techniques with fusing, with the capabilities of technology, those things, I think, are what we really focused our energies on here at Judson Studios, to really push the envelope and create new possibilities in what people think of as stained glass. It attracts a certain personality and people just really love to be involved with it. And that’s the people that stay here the longest are the people that are passionate about it. That’s one of the kind of most rewarding things about working here at the studio, too, is to see those people all contribute to something that didn’t exist, you know. It’s something that you created from nothing to something that gets installed in someone’s environment and it’s a really rewarding experience.
((NATS))
((David Judson, President, Judson Studios))
For me, personally, what I want to kind of leave behind is that this perception that stained glass is built on a tradition that can also create something in a modern-day audience. It just doesn’t have to be necessarily limited to a church or a religious institution. And so, I hope that we can enter this artistic world not only through fine art and the galleries but also in public spaces where people feel like stained glass has kind of just improved their life, just at least for a few moments in the day.
((PKG)) RUSSIAN ORGANIST
((Banner: Holy Acoustics))
((Reporter: Elena Wolf))
((Camera: Max Avloshenko))
((Map: New York, New York City))
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
When I was small and spent summers in our country home, I was looking at the grass and flowers and thinking that life isn’t here, you know? It’s somewhere there, and what is happening here is some sort of a preparation. And when I came to New York, I suddenly realized, that’s it! This is where life is happening, here and now. It’s so condensed and it’s where I belong.
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
What should I play? Something mischievous?'
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
When I was six, I was sent to a music school, like any other kid from a good intellectual family. And I wasn’t happy about it. I didn’t like sitting in front of the big black box with keys. I was quite resourcefully torturing my teacher and my mom, of course. But when I turned 12, something clicked. I decided I wanted two things from life: to read ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and to play Bach.
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
When I encountered the organ for the first time, saw an empty church and sat down at this thing, I said, “Wow! Can I touch this?” I was totally euphoric at first. I kept repeating, “Hello, my name is Masha. I play the organ.”
((NATS))
((MARIA RA YZVASSER, Organist))
I love coming to churches, especially when they are closed and empty in the evenings, when it is dark and there is no one there. There’s something very special about them. You come in, go to the loft. It’s a little spooky there. I spend some time alone with this creature there.
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
These are special organ shoes. Everything is thought through. A leather sole that’s quite thin. It allows you to feel the pedalboard, and has a special heel which allows you to play with your toe or with the heel. In order to play very fast, you go like this, tip, tip, tip.
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
Even though I am a professional piano player and I have conservatory training, it was, to be honest, quite hard to figure all this out: how this thing works, how to deal with it. I became desperate so many times. I thought I’d never be able to learn it. I remember I was on a bus and I burst into tears because I dedicated so much energy to it, but still was failing and I thought I’d never get the hang of it. ((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
This is a unique organ, truly historic. I came here to try and play because I was curious, and I fell in love a little bit. When you play the organ, you don’t just play the musical instrument. You also play the interior. Here, for example, the acoustics are amazing. You play something and you hear the echo that lingers for a few seconds. We can produce powerful sounds, and then this sound will ‘whoosh,’ flying inside the cathedral for a little while.
((NATS))
((MARIA RAYZVASSER, Organist))
It’s about music for me, not about religion, though they are very intertwined. We just give the same things different names. It’s important for people to have a place where they can come. Because when big important things happen, things we have no power over, when countries try to blow each other up, what can we do? We can hide in our own affairs. We can water our garden, write poetry, make jam or play the organ. I really think it helps us to survive.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
‘Tis the Season
((SOT))
Yeah, we just enjoy coming out and seeing all the other dogs dressed up.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((Banner: Holiday Spirit))
((Reporters: Deborah Block, Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Deborah Block, Adam Greenbaum))
((Map: Washington, D.C. Area))
((PKG)) SUPER DECORATED LIGHTS
((Kurt Farmer’s House, Alexandria, Virginia))
((NATS))
This is very nice for the kids, for all the families, happy. For my daughter, it’s just incredible. It’s beautiful, very beautiful.
((NATS))
Just it’s so much joy, and it’s great that people keep traditions going. My friend and I were talking in the car about how, like, I wonder if our generations are going to keep this going, the whole Christmas spirit, and it would be great to see if people do.
((Kurt Farmer, Homeowner))
My father started it 40 years ago. This is the house I grew up in, and it’s just a tradition I knew I was going to have to continue once I moved back in. And it’s important to make people happy, and take them back to their childhood, and kind of forgetting about the real world for a little while, and come in here, and just being happy at Christmas.
((NATS))
((PKG)) SANTA DOGS
((Banner: Santa’s Best Friend))
((Dogma Dog Bakery, Arlington, Virginia))
((KIRA BERTHEUSSEN, PARENT))
Why every parent takes their kid to get their photo with Santa. You know, it’s fun, it’s festive. We’re going to put them on our Christmas cards. We’re going to hang them around the house and send them out to everybody.
((NATS))
((SHEENA COLEMAN, DOG OWNER))
One of our friends did it on Facebook, and we saw it, and we’re like, we have to do it. We like that the money goes obviously to a charity, and it’s some of the best Christmas photos that we get. So, we ended up putting it in our calendar for the family, or we also put it in our Christmas cards.
((NATS))
((JIM GREER, “Santa Claus”))
Dogs are just like kids. Some of them will jump up in your lap, other ones will run away from you. Some will sit in your lap and cry the whole time. Everybody says, “How are the kids?” I say, “The kids are great. Once in a while the parents aren’t so easy to get along with. (laughs)
((NATS))
((PKG)) BOTANIC GARDEN CHRISTMAS TRAINS
((Banner: Choo Choo Trains))
((Devin Dotson, Spokesman, US Botanic Garden))
We have 31 different train station models here and they really cover the breadth of the United States, all the way from Hawaii to Washington State to Florida.
((Wendi Elgh, Visitor))
It’s gorgeous. Every year they amaze with the beauty that they, you know, the ingenuity, the creativity.
((Devin Dotson, Spokesman, US Botanic Garden))
And we use the trains because I think trains really celebrate the holiday season for people from two to 92. I think people get excited about trains.
((Visitor))
Oh, it’s beautiful. All the stations from the different locations are really well done.
((Kashmira Bhati, Visitor))
He likes that the trains are moving and he can see the train station and the surrounding of the train station too.
((Devin Dotson, Spokesman, US Botanic Garden))
You know, I think model trains are so synonymous with trees and Christmas trees, especially in the United States, where for a lot of families will have a small train to go around their tree.
((Visitor))
She loves the trains. They’re everywhere.
((Devin Dotson, Spokesman, US Botanic Garden))
It’s something not everyone rides all the time anymore and so I think there’s a little bit of whimsy associated with them.
((PKG)) HOLIDAY MARKET
((Banner: Handmade Gifts))
((NATS))
((MICHALE BERMAN, EVENT CO-FOUNDER ORGANIZER))
We do something a little bit different here where we really focus on the entrepreneurs, the small businesses, the artisans, the creators of their own products.
((NATS))
((RYAN EICHER, GLASS ARTIST))
I am doing flame working. I’m making glass pendants with a torch.
((NATS))
((BARBARA JOSEPH, VISITOR FROM COLORADO))
It’s a way to get real authentic things that are handmade, that have meaning, perhaps beyond what you can find in a department store.
((NATS))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
