The Harvest

I love going to the farmer's market. I'm a bit of a foodie so I adore the fresh local produce to cook with but I'm sure the attraction is also the vibrant palette of colors....just like I respond to color used in the textiles in worship! Last night I was particularly struck by the variety of colors in the apples. So many different kinds of reds, greens and golds!

The bounty of the season and the harvest make me think of the Shakers who are renowned for having pioneered the packaging of garden seeds for sale. Did you know that they produced seeds in great quantities in the early 1800's and the Shaker business was recognized for its quality products. Seed salesmen worked routes extending well into the Midwest by the 1830's. The seeds were gathered during the growing season, packets were printed, cut and pasted by hand. Once filled, the packets were placed into wooden Shaker seed boxes which were then placed for sale in stores by salesmen working routes into the Midwest or by mail order to the southern states. The Shakers celebrate the harvest with this hymn....

The Harvest

Our support we'll gather in.

For the harvest time is come.

Now to reap we will begin

Will you all now help us on?

Twas by Christ the seed was sown.

Now the harvest does appear;

Now the crops are fully grown.

Reap, o reap, get every spear.

The second thing that struck me at the farmer's market last night were the hands that passed me the produce that I was purchasing. Time after time these hands seemed so strong and weathered. They were a symbol to me of the hard work that it takes, to bring the food I often taken for granted, to the table. I am thankful for the vast amount of choices God has provided us, for the bounty we have and for the many hands that it takes to grow the food we eat. At the end of harvest season many cultures take a moment to be thankful. Here in the United States we of course call this holiday Thanksgiving. Carrot Top Studio celebrates the harvest with this stole embellished with pumpkins, gourds, corn and apples. The falling leaves add delightful detail to this stole. Wear this stole to lead worship as we come together in unity to be thankful for so many things.  


The stole front is crafted from acreamy white cotton blend. The produce is appliqued and finished with machine embroidery and is accented with hand painted falling leaves. It is lined with the same fabric as the front and is interfaced for added body. Stole is 49" long measuring from back of neck to the bottom of the hem on one side.   It measures 4 1/2" wide at the hem and tapers to 2 3/4" at the neck. 

All Saints Day

All Saints Day is the celebration of those who have contributed successfully to the creation of the kingdom and is traditionally celebrated on the fast approaching date of November 1st. As a church we remember and honor all the Christian faithful, both known and unknown.  Reflecting on the lives and examples of the saints has been a widespread practice of Christians since the earliest days of the church. 


It's interesting to note that Philip Melanchthon, Martin Luther's most important colleague in the Reformation, wrote of three ways that Christians should honor the saints:  The first is thanksgiving.  For we ought to give thanks to God because He has shown examples of mercy… because He has given teachers or other gifts to the church… The second service is the strengthening of our faith; when we see the denial forgiven Peter, we also are encouraged to believe the more that grace truly super-abounds over sin, (Romans 5:20).  The third honor is the imitation, first, of faith, then of the other virtues…  (Apology of the Augsburg Confession,  Article XXI, paragraphs 4-6)


I certainly can't argue with Melanchthon's suggestions! Here are a few more:

• recall family, friends or neighbors that have died...tell stores you remember about them. Light candles for them and say prayers of thanksgiving for how they touched your life.
• create a family tree. This can be done with your family and is a lovely way of telling the story of past generations to your children. This also could play out with a church congregation, Bible study or small group...ask members to chose someone from the Bible that they find inspiring. Write the name on a card. Have participants take time sharing what they have learned from this person's story. Place the cards in a time line or a family tree.
• embellish your worship space and wear stoles in white. As the Book of Revelation bears witness, God's saints are those who have ...washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14) 
• sing or meditate on the hymn For All the Saints written by William Walsham in 1864. This hymn is a commentary on the phrase "I believe in the communion of saints" from the Apostle's Creed. An interesting note about the tune of this hymn is that it was first rejected as being "jazz music." It's nice that we got past that! The original hymn had eleven stanza's. Here is the first:

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

* the stole illustrated here is from the Carrot Top Studio Haiti collection. The Haiti collection is a series of ministry stoles embellished with hand dyed silk from La Femme de la Croix in La Croix, Haiti. Fifty percent of the proceeds of these stoles is donated to this ministry. See the collection here.

Stoles are Teaching Tools

My young adulthood found me teaching art in Houston, Texas. That's me in the picture on a field trip with students to the contemporary art museum. If you can get past the kelly green shirt (oh, the 80's!) and the permed hair (why did I waste all of that money?) you'll see the smile on my face showing that I was really enjoying the teaching! I took pleasure in finding teachable moments in everything I did. Today at Carrot Top Studio I see a lot of similarities with ministry and have always thought of clergy stoles not just as a representation of leadership but also as a teaching tool. The colors and symbols on a stole, if they connect with worship, reinforce the Word and the moment.


I babble on like this to introduce a new concept for a stole. This summer one of our clients had an idea for an Advent stole that would engage the children (and adults) of her congregation during the children's moment because it would have interchangeable images that would help tell the story of the long awaited Messiah.

This project was a challenge and a good bit of time was spent figuring out the logistics of trying to make a stole that involved Velcro parts that maintained a level of integrity. We feel that this concept has great possibilities! The stole starts with four symbols of Old Testament prophecy: the snake (Genesis 3:15), the crown (Psalm 2:6), the tree (Isaiah 11:1) and the stone (Psalm 118:22). Each week during Advent a symbol is removed to reveal candles set in evergreens to represent Christ coming as the light of the world and God's everlasting love for us (the evergreens.) The star cross on the chest of this stole references the Christmas celebration we are preparing for. The inside of the stole has pockets for the symbols when they are not in use...this is not a time of year to be disorganized!See the entire stole here. If you have time we'd love to hear what you think...email us! 

Can the Church Celebrate American Craft Week?

A stole with a unique design-
Inspired by Matt. 6:26

October 1-10th is American Craft Week. I like "craft" defined as: An occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or skilled artistry. This is not a celebration that Christians and churches should ignore. Scripture makes it clear that God is interested in craft/art. If this is a new thought, you might enjoy delving into Exodus 26 where much detail is shared about the particulars of the tabernacle. Throughout the history of the church, art has been crafted for precise purposes such as Communion serving pieces, calligraphy in Bibles and even the architecture of a church building. 

Carrot Top Studio of course focuses on the art and craft of textiles (particularly ministry stoles) to aid worship. In our case we apply the definition of craft as: making or constructing something in a manner suggesting great care or ingenuity. We aim to offer a clever, unique product that has evolved from the original purpose for a stole.The story goes that the stole originally derived from a kind of liturgical napkin called an orarium. Some think it is linked to the napkin used by Christ in washing the feet of his disciples, and is therefore a fitting symbol of the yoke of Christ, the yoke of service. Today the craft that comes from our studio supports those in ministry that make a visual connection using color and symbols for those that you minister to.


Do you ever question what art or craft is for?  I like to apply author Lauren F. Winner’s quote for an answer: “God reveals himself to us—if only we take the time to linger.” So I encourage you to linger in spaces where you happen upon art and craft and be moved by how the artists react to the world around them. You might also pray for the artists. And last but not least, help the church to identify artists in your community and push their gifts outwards to share their creativity on a Sunday or as beacons of Christ’s light as their serve outside of the church building. So, I wholeheartedly say YES we can celebrate craft week...worldwide.


*pictured green stole can be found on the Carrot Top Studio website here.

Hope Rooted in Promise

A beautiful, early fall day on a college campus last weekend found me to stumbling upon this sculpture--

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 25:8 (The artist is unknown to me. I am sorry I cannot give him credit.)


In the studio we are preparing for Advent. When I read scripture, such as this passage from Isaiah, I never cease to be in awe of connections made between the Old and New Testaments. I shouldn't be amazed because of course Gods plans and actions are all bound together! So we look forward to welcoming the baby Jesus at the end of November when we prepare our hearts for Christmas. This of course starts the cycle of the church recalling Christ's life and leads us to Easter when we remember that by his death the power of death was destroyed. I believe this is what Isaiah 25:8 refers to. 


This verse from Isaiah is an example of how God gives us visual images to help us relate to his message. "He will swallow up" is probably a reference to a whirlpool or violent, turbulent situation in the ocean. I don't know about you, but that presents a very scary image in my mind. Thankfully this image is presented to us so we'll know that God will abolish death and He will triumph. As we follow God's example of including an image to emphasize a point I wonder what you are planning for Advent? Will your worship space entice our senses with purple for royalty or blue for the heavens that we aspire to? Will you include hung banners, Bible book marks, or processional banners in these colors? Is your stole ready...cleaned and pressed? Maybe this year you'll wear a different stole for each Sunday of Advent with symbols that match how we move through the teachings of the season. And we know you won't neglect the visual possibilities when sharing the "children's moment" in worship. This is a great teaching time that usually speaks to everyone in the congregation--not just the children. Perhaps this is when you teach about the symbols we often take for granted during Advent such as the candles, the evergreens, or the Jesse tree. 


As we all prepare for Advent, I'll leave you with some thoughts from William Dyrness, professor of theology at Fuller Seminary..."paying attention to visual elements need not distract from the central elements of worship—preaching, prayer, singing—but can enhance and accompany them with a kind of visual continuo. Heaven is often pictured as a place where all our gifts will be given over to the eternal and joyful worship of God. In this respect our worship on earth can surely anticipate that celebration."

Shall We Fight On?

In Happy Valley with my dear daughter.

Sometimes our minds are nudged to think about faith in the oddest places, aren't they? Last Saturday while visiting my alma mater I had one of those moments. I know most of this audience doesn't bleed Penn State blue and white the way I do, but maybe you'll hear me out anyway. 


My thinking all started as we settled into the football stadium and sang our National Anthem and the Alma Mater. The Beaver Stadium crowd takes this seriously and they sing with much gusto--even those like the gentleman behind me that can't carry a tune! So I was thinking, when we join together in worship do we sing the Doxology this way? Do we sing praises and thanksgiving like we really mean it? 


Additionally, people that are Penn State fans tend to be very enthusiastic, hospitable and welcoming. For example, Penn Staters tailgate like no others. The cars line up in make shift parking lots for miles around the stadium. Regardless of the weather and regardless of whether they even have tickets for the game or not, they spend the day in fellowship. Tailgating involves sharing a meal, catching up with old friends, making new friends, and setting aside the demands of daily life. So my analogy is that as Christians I wonder how often we take the time for this type of fellowship and hospitality? Tailgate enthusiasm is like a magnet. Moreover, since I was a student 20+ years ago I've witnessed the tailgate area around the stadium grow and grow. Does our faith have this type of magnetism? And what are we doing to grow the Church?


Finally as the Carrot Top Studio owner/artist I can't resist also making a visual connection in this line of thought. Penn State events prompt most everyone to be decked out in blue and white. Most everyone joins in the enthusiasm and wears it with pride. They call it spirit wear for a reason! This makes me remember the first game a friend's wife tailgated with us. She was not a Penn State graduate and having no idea what she was getting into she mistakenly wore red to the game...the opposing team's color. We of course love her regardless of this misfortune but she wanted to be part of the spirit and has since then accumulated blue and white in her wardrobe for such events. You know the passages about putting on the armor of God (Romans 13:12-14)?  I'm not talking about t-shirts that proclaim our faith, but I'm wondering if our actions and deeds proclaim that we are Christians. And, is what we are wearing--what people see-causing others to come along side of us? 


At a Penn State sporting event we sing the song "Fight on State", but I'm not in the stadium today. Today I say fight on Christians. I sign off to go sing my praises loudly and with passion, to be open to whom I can show hospitality to, and to dust my armor off. Join me today in these tasks....and if you're ever looking for a Penn State tailgate let me know because I'd love to have you over! Fight on!

Book Review-Part Two

Sofonisba Anguissola, Self-Portrait, ca.1556

I've wrapped up my summer reading and I'm here to report on the second half of For the Beauty of the Church. Each chapter is written by a different author and I found this refreshing to have so many viewpoints within one text. If you missed our, you may read my last post here. And now some more points that were interesting to me:

• "there are two kinds of people in the world: people who are artists and people who are supposed to support them. We should figure out which you are and do it with vigor." Isn't that a lovely notion?
• artists aren't the easiest bunch to shepherd. They need patience, prayers, and love just like everyone else so that their gifts can be nurtured.
• the arts are not buttons to be pushed just to enhance a sermon. The arts in worship should bear witness to Christ in a way that artistic creativity can flourish.
• "a full, gospel vision for arts ministry is one that attempts to nourish a wide spectrum of the arts, both inside and outside the church building." Christian artists are needed to work in the church and there need to be those that work in the marketplace. This is not just about Sunday mornings!

Lastly, whether you are an artist or are an arts supporter this book is a recommended read for the content and for the bibliography at the end of each chapter....the generous and intriguing lists will keep your bookstand full for quite some time! 

In the afterword the book's editor, W. David Taylor has written a lovely list of prayer requests for artists and pastors. He ends with "may each of us remain faithful to the calling God has placed upon our life and upon the life of our church. And may it give us great joy." I recently have been thinking about the differences between a vocation and a job. With the exception of the drudgery of keepings the books, I think most of what I do in the studio is vocation. Having found my way to being an artist for pastors and churches gives me great joy. For this I remain thankful and am appreciative of God's patience with my endeavors as I attempt to serve. 

For the Beauty of the Church, Book Review-Part One

Summer allows me some extra reading time for both pleasure and for professional growth and development. One of my selections this summer was For the Beauty of the Church edited by W. David O. Taylor. This is a really unique book...I haven't stumbled upon too many others regarding church and art and how they connect. Here are some things I found interesting to ponder from the first half of the book...

• how can art serve to deepen and challenge our corporate worship? Artists should think specifically about how their art strengthens the communal dimension of worship.
• the best liturgical art expands our awareness and experience of the church as a functioning corporate body that transcends time and place.
• liturgical art should deepen the relationship between God and the gathered congregation.
• liturgical artists should be able to get feedback from the congregation such as, "your song, your poetry, your dance helped us to pray, to hear God to know and love God."
• thinking about Exodus 15:2 (The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.) how can an artist beautify God with praises?

The first half of this book is making me think I need to revisit the last chapters of Exodus beginning with 35 where instruction was being given to bild the Tabernacle. I know that, because of Jesus Christ we no longer need a temple to be The Church. But what can artists, pastors, and those that worship in community take from this Old Testament wisdom? I leave you with this thought and will look forward to posting about the second half of this book next week. 

Lectionary Art: Eating Meals

If you follow the Lectionary you probably know that one of the text's this week is the story of Jesus at a Pharisee's house. It is found in Luke Chapter 14. This story speaks to me because I'm a bit of a foodie and absolutely love it when our house is full of people sitting around the table for food and conversation. I'm thankful that there are so many Biblical examples that involve scenarios around sharing a meal because I can relate to them. Luke shares this story so we can see that service is more important than status and that the table is open to everyone. Here are two master art images that illustrate this lesson...

Tamalada, Carmen Lomas Garza

Making tamales is an experience of food and gathering of people around a table...often for a special occasion. Everyone is welcome! Everyone has a job to complete and no job is more important than another. The tasks are all required for the end result to occur. 

• how does your family celebrate special occasions?
• how do you include everyone in your family whether they are a blood relative or not?
• why do you think the artist chose such vivid, happy colors for this painting?

Mother with Baby, a Child Placing Bread in an Oven, Hablot Browne 

Artist Hablot Browne sketched a child serving by helping with the bread baking. This is fitting for our Biblical text because it can cause us to think about who is able to serve.

• how do the simple colors and loose lines make you feel? Do they enhance or detract from the story the artist is telling?
• examine the facial expressions. What do they imply about the scene and everyone's level of "status" at this frozen moment in time?
• how old do you need to be to serve? How do you serve in your home? 

Faith, Hope and Love

Finding the batik fabric on this stole, knowing we have several more weeks to honor Ordinary Time, and recently reading a reflection on 1 Corinthians 13:13 (and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love) led us to create a new stole focused on this passage.


I appreciate the study notes for this passage that are in my NIV Bible. The author shares: In morally corrupt Corinth, love had become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Today people are still confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God himself. Love involves unselfish service to others; to show it gives evidence that you care. Faith is the foundation and content of God's message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves.


We have messages of love all around us. Some are positive examples and some are not. At the forefront of my mind is the flooding in Pakistan and the apparent lack of support these people in need are receiving. It seems as if Americans showed their love in a different way when there was an earthquake in Haiti last February. Secondly, while in the studio this week I've been listening to the novel Glass Castle. It's the story of children raised by parents who had issues with alcohol, sexual abuse and neglect but the children unconditionally love their parents who really short change the love back at them. The children shouldn't have to be more mature in their loving than the adults. They are a positive example. Lastly, my oldest child becomes a college freshman next week. I'm having to lean on my faith, hope AND love on this one. I'm so proud of this young man that leaves his heart open to listen for God's guidance, and I have faith that while listening he has made great choices for his future. And now I am leaning on my faith, and hope and God's love as I prepare for this next stage of parenting. We wish that this stole will be a visual reminder of love being more than an emotional high; it is a conscious choice, a continuing commitment as we chose to nurture that love so it can grow.

What Others Have Said about "Church Art"

A few bits of wisdom to dwell upon from those who have gone before us on the topic of "church art"...

We are able to feel and learn very quickly through music, through art, through poetry some spiritual things that we would otherwise learn very slowly.- President Boyd K. Packer, 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year

When I was teaching (yup, that's a very 80's looking photo of me) I tried to implement activity for all learning styles into my lessons (as the quote above implies). Now I have also come to understand that this applies to people of all ages and carries into worship and the work we do as the church.

The invention of the arts, and other things which serve the common use and convenience of life, is a gift of God by no means to be despised, and a faculty worthy of commendation.- John Calvin

I recently stayed in an old monastery turned inn and was delighted to see the baptismal font still on the premises. It was literally simply elegant. It served as a reminder to me of church art that is functional and has a common (yet special) use. The simplicity of the font drew a vision in my mind of the water being poured from a shell....a wonderful specimen of art gifted from God's natural world. Maybe Calvin would have appreciated this?

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.- Thomas Merton

Art can be complex and deep in meaning or simple and superficial...such as these fabric banners seen this summer at Laurel Mountain Christian Camp. They are a simple use of color and line to evoke the feeling of joy for the Lord that is felt by these campers as they worship in the mountains away from their city homes. With the aid of the visual and the art in the music the children find themselves and lose themselves all at the same time as Merton suggests is possible.          Photo credit: Ian Gallo.

Christian art is by no means always religious art, that is, art which deals with religious themes. Consider God the Creator. Is God's creation totally involved with religious subjects? What about the universe? the birds? the trees? What about the bird's song? and the sound of the wind in the trees?- Francis Schaeffer

Did Schaeffer mention the bird's song? You might recall reading about these babies born above our back door. We're proud to announce that just months later the nest is being used again and each morning I am greeted with the song of hungry little ones. I thank God. 

Arts in the church can be many things. How are you and  your congregation doing? 

Five Favorite Faith Based Children's Books

Several friends having babies recently found me in a children's book department scooping up copies of beloved titles to enhance these little one's bookshelves. Children's picture books can be a great source of faith based images and symbols. Here are five of my favorites...

Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn tells the story of a journey to Bethlehem to meet a special newborn baby. This is a lovely tale of a star, an angel and the swirl of mystery. What draws me into this book are the illustrations by Sophie Fatus....the camels seen on the cover are a great example of her whimsical artistic style.

I had a phase in which I was obsessed with versions of the Noah story. Maybe that's why I love making our Noah's ark stole? Regardless, Noah's Wife by Marty Rhodes Figley is one of my favorite Noah version for children. This delightful tale focuses on Noah's "very, good wife." If you're a wife you'll love the symbolic image this woman sets forth to be. She'll make you laugh and appreciate what a caring and capable person God gifted Noah with.

Speaking of women, another beloved tale is titled Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks by Amy Schwartz.This is the winner of the National Jewish Book Award among other accolades. It focuses on ritual, tradition, family and making a home. I've enjoyed using this book when discussing keeping the Sabbath and traditions and symbols that span from our Jewish roots into our Christian faith. The author's black and white illustrations are especially charming and cozy.

An additional book filled with delightful black and white illustrations is A Children's Guide to Worship by Ruth L. Boling. This pack filled resource/story will engage children and adults alike while it defines the breadth and depth of the rhythm of liturgy. I've used it with my children at home, in classes on worship and have seen it in pew racks in church sanctuaries. If you like this you'll enjoy Ruth's other titles on worship and the seasons of the church year also.

And last but not least is One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham. This is such a unique version of the Christmas story spanning from the creation story to the Resurrection. And, Richard Jesse Watson's illustrations are nothing short of amazing. They are artistic interpretations that tell the story just enough so you know what it's about but then leave you thinking and wondering. This is a great title to venture through slowly--savor it throughout the days of Advent.


What are some of your favorites?

Angels With Highlights and Other Encouragements

This is part of the scripture I read at the start of today:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

I lean on Paul's teaching that our inner thoughts don't have to reflect our outward circumstances. He did write the above while in prison, didn't he? His words are encouraging. I remain grateful for Carrot Top Studio's friends and clients and their words of encouragement. Here's a top five list of things you've told us. You humble us and cause me to rejoice especially while in the studio (which is thankfully not a prison!)--

Currently on our design wall.

1. "God's word will be experienced more fully because of the visual images created by your studio."
2. "We were able to give some of your stoles to visiting Russian pastors who felt stoles would give them credibility in a country where they aren't always respected."
3. "I wear the same black dress and black robe every Sunday. Carrot Top Studio stoles are my bit of Sunday morning expression!"
4. When adding angels to a church's banners I inquired about the skin tone and hair color...the client replied, "Pale skin, brown hair--with highlights..this is California after all." 
5. "The images on my new stole are a learning tool for the children on Communion Sunday tieing together the liturgy, the song, and the baking of bread in Sunday School."

Thank you for supporting us by sharing how and when you wear our stoles, how you use the visual to educate and motivate and for making us smile and laugh (what else would angels with highlights do?)

Peace

Peace has been on my mind this week. I started the week working on the pictured stole that will be offered on eBay beginning tonight. Maybe these symbols of God's love caused the Spirit to heighten my awareness and thinking of peace? For example, one of the books I'm currently reading is The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever In An Age of Less by John Robbins. Robbins is from the Baskin and Robbins ice cream family. His book is not on the subject on peace per se but rather his story of why he chose not to inherit his family fortune. This author goes against the grain of popular American culture to embrace a lifestyle focused beyond money and status. While enjoying this read and believing in these principles I am seeing how his choices have created peace in his life. A lesson to be admired and learned from!


Another awareness came to me in my yoga class yesterday. Of course yoga itself equates peace but interestingly my instructor referred to the lotus blossom as a peace symbol. Even though I was struggling through my tree pose my ears perked up because Carrot Top Studio employs symbols and colors in everything we do. Symbols interest me! My instructor went on to explain that the lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, the lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind and the peace that is found through this purity. We've had requests over the years for the lotus bloom on a ministry stole and now I have a greater understanding of why.


Lastly, having recently sung the hymn "It is Well With My Soul" in worship has caused the words to spin round and round in my head.  Horatio Spafford wrote these words as a response to personal tragedy. He found peace through horrific events and made life changing decisions because of these experiences. Consequently I will keep meditating on these varied thoughts of peace. I wonder how it will impact my personal life?  I hope I can discover what gets in the way of finding peace and that when I have peaceful times God will use me...because this fruit of the Spirit can be contagious!


P.S....I suspect this pondering will also cause me to add to our peace and healing ministry stole collection.

Art for This Week's Lectionary Text: The Good Samaritan

If you follow the lectionary you know that one of this week's texts is the parable of the Good Samaritan.This is a familiar story from the Bible and has been illustrated by many artists throughout history. Here are two interesting examples...

The Good Samaritan, Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

Portrait of YOU As Good Samaritan, James B. Janknegt, contemporary

Some questions to help you think about this art in relationship to the Luke 10: 25-37 text:

• Do you recognize any images?
• What kind of lines do you see? How are they used?
• What do the colors remind me of, or what feeling do they give?
• Where are the important images placed?
• Would you like to meet these people?
• What does this art mean to you?

Verse 37 (go and do likewise) is currently speaking to me. Last weekend my family had the chance to serve a meal to several families from our community that are temporarily without housing. The program they are in provides shelter, food, and any other support needed to help get them back on their feet. My teenage children brought several friends with them to help prepare and serve the meal. At the beginning of the evening while explaining the program to one of our friends it was interesting to hear her responded with, "Wow, my church needs to be doing this too!" I had a second "ah, ha" moment while conversing with a client as we ate our hamburger dinner. This woman was in her 60's and listening to her banter about her children and grandchildren, her past experiences with her church community, and her pondering about how her husband's day at work had been caused me to think that I could have been talking to so many different women that I know. Her reflections, wonderments and worries were universal. She became my neighbor. Lastly, after dinner was served and the adults were settled in for the night my husband and I returned home. The teens stayed and played with the children because they were all having so much fun. Late into the evening we were all gathered back at our home and listening to everyone's reflections made me proud of the teenagers involvement but also found me causing to confess that we don't do enough to love our neighbor. I'm praying this week that I can have open eyes for who the neighbor is each day and a willing heart and hand to "go and do likewise." I hope the scripture this week and the above artwork will inspire you also.

Vacation Bible School: Craft or Art?

It's Vacation Bible School week at my home church. The time spent planning, the gathering of supplies and the amount of energy doled out by the volunteers always amazes me. My church follows the American standard of the children rotating through stations to learn the Bible story through music, drama, snack and craft all united under a Biblical theme for one week. I've spent several weeks of my life (or maybe a few more than that!) in the craft room. This brings you to my point today. Because I'm a former art educator I'm sensitive to the art vs. craft debate. I think there is a time and place for both and either can be matched with a vacation Bible school curriculum. Where I draw the line is having children produce items that all look the same after they've made them, that have nothing to remind them of the Biblical message, or will be promptly thrown out once they get home. Here are a few alternative ideas:

• create banners out of paper that can be used in worship for the Sunday after VBS. Butcher paper painted or enhanced with construction paper cut outs can make a large impact visually.
• construct masks that can be used in a drama...I particularly like the directions for paper sculpture masks in the book Paper, Masks and Puppets by Ron Feller. Feller's paper relief techniques are easy to do and the kids will be amazed at what they've accomplished.
• pose an "I wonder" question to the children (something regarding the Bible lesson)...let them illustrate their answer...place their drawings or paintings on large cardboard boxes...stack the boxes for a sculptural display of their work in a prominent place in the church building or in your community.
• develop puppets to retell Bible stories...give children wine bags instead of lunch sacks for a little something different. Allow them to use basic scissors, construction paper and glue...don't hand out any patterns! Encourage them to add large details so people can see the puppet and maybe finish it off with a prop (Moses needs a walking stick, Dorcus has to have her sewing basket and Elizabeth should have her baby somewhere near by) You'll be amazed at how clever they are in their interpretations.

So while I'm on my soap box today I'll encourage you to be a creative planner for this year's VBS or revaluate so you can improve your week next year. Think about how the children can express themselves as individuals, how the craft/art can be used or appreciated after the week is over and if the craft/art will allow others that appreciate it to see the story that is reflected in the VBS Bible message. Not using craft "kits" will probably save you time and will make your art/craft room overflow with inventive, imaginative energy!


Putting my soap box back under the desk--for the time being (grin.)

How Many Stoles?

I was recently blessed by visit from an old friend. While being a great encourager she inquired about my studio work. She wondered how our style was developing, the type of hours I worked, and how many stoles pastors typically had. So I shared that I was really enjoying creating stoles that had a feel of a collage created from using batiked fabrics and interesting fibers in combination with exciting colors and the appliqué process we've used for years. I added that I was thankful that my in studio hours were able to vary due to the season of the year and the needs of my family. But the question that got ME thinking was how many stoles do pastors have or need? I chuckled because I have one pastor friend who wears the same stole every Sunday. But of course there are many others that "collect" stoles and each week wear something new or different. 

This has caused me to remember a workshop I led on "Spirituality and Learning Styles." The time in this workshop had the participants examining seven different learning styles--such as kinesthetic, linguistic, and logical/mathematical, etc. The participants first touched base with their own learning style. Then we thought about how this applied to those whom they ministered to. Among other things we learned that:

• varying an approach in ministry connected the leader to more people because not everyone has the same learning style, 
• knowing your own personal strengths and way of learning can better match you to someone else when doing one-on-one ministry, and
• learning someone you are ministering to's strengths will help you encourage them in their faith walk.

And of course this reinforces that in worship you can't ignore that some of the congregation is visual/spatial. These people think in pictures! So if you tend to think that your stole is not important or wearing the same one every week has become a habit we think you should change it up a bit. Stoles are a visual message that enhance the Word and might even give a parishioner a little something extra to think about.

The green stole shown is our bargain buy on eBay this week. Find out more here!