Author: Editor

October 2026 Gathering

How wonderful to be able to meet again at Kingdom Arts.
It was wonderful to see familiar faces and to greet new members too.

This morning, we looked at the work of John Reilly 1928-2010, a painter in oils and a ceramicist, specialising in bright colours and geometric patterns.

We all had a look at his oil painting of “The Miraculous Draught of Fishes” while Alex explained the Christian symbolism the meaning of 153 fish, and John’s Christian philosophy. Barbara then read John 21 verses 3-7.

The aisle was a sea of blue interspersed with fish to announce the theme

The day’s activities were linked to the theme of Fish.

There was a table with chalks and a variety of paper. This inspired several, and the results were beautiful.

There was an opportunity to make small, personalised booklets for holding notes and keepsakes.

A table with colouring was also a popular place to gather and have catch up in quiet conversations.

Alison brought fish templates, material and coloured threads to start off a new hanging based around the shoal of fish. The paper template was used to cut the fish which were then stitched and embroidered with pattern. Several fish were completed and this will be a regular feature each month until we achieve 153 fish!!

David M encouraged those who enjoy singing by quietly playing.

A new activity has replaced the knitting and is a 1000-piece jigsaw designed by Hannah Dunnett.

The writing table had the theme of Miracles.

We were kept refreshed with tea, coffee and biscuits!

We ended the morning with lunch –  a variety of sandwiches and plenty of fabulous cakes, even some decorated with edible pansies. Many grateful thanks to Jane.

We really hope that you will join us on Tuesday December 1st at 10.00 for coffee; worship, a variety of activities, and lunch all with a Christmas touch.

 

June 2026 Writing

Peace

Clasped hands give touch and love to one’s beloved.
Silence is loved in a fast-paced world
Meditation on God’s word gives solace.
Hugs give warmth and comfort.

As we walk through God’s world, we feel His creative spark and His compassion.
Fear and pain will be no more and we shall be restored.
In garden or city God will live with us and all will be new.

Absence of war, the lion will lie down with the lamb and the dove will return with an olive branch, that needs to be accepted.
Peace is a feeling or state of being.
Trust in our God who makes all things new and dwells among us for ever and ever.
Amen

© Julia Holdsworth Kingdom Arts June 2026

What causes quarrels and arguments amongst us?
What divides one neighbour from another?
One country from another?
What divides yourself from yourself?
Is it not the desires and passions and rights you feel you want and yet cannot obtain?

You notice differences more than what unites and what you have in common.
You want and cannot have and so you fight, disagree and separate.
The chasm that divides, grows larger and the atmosphere grow colder until life freezes over and your heartbreaks beneath the weight of frozen water.
And you cannot feel warm again!

How or what or who can restore: harmony acceptance togetherness.
Love hovers over the waters of division.
Forgiveness is the pickaxe that breaks up the ice.
Love hovers over the waters.
Words of Hope: possibilities. What is void and barren
Love hovers and melts and we choose Reconciliation.

© Shefalie Kingdom Arts June 2026

My Rock of Peace

When life severed my anchor and set me loose in a buffeting wildness in overwhelming seas – I called to you God.
While my rock submerged under chaotic waves and I was unattached to my anchorage my reference points – I called to you again and again.
When crying took my voice away in the wind, and all my ways of coping with it, my broken heart, my aching sole – Cried out to you.
No longer able to locate any sense of safety.
When the void pulled so hard that something vital snapped beyond mending – I could not cry.

I took up a smooth stone instead in the palm of my hand and remembered the rock that seemed impossible to locate any other way.
When my hand warmed the stone, enveloped it, then I felt Your hand in mine.
That warmth was calling out to me – “I am here”
“I am brooding over your chaos and I am enveloping you”

Like the ark took up Noah, carrying me on the storm, adrift but present with Jesus himself, My peace!
When I realised that He was in the storm with me, embracing my undoneness, leaning across the chasm, being the reconciling space in an unreconcilable wounding, I found my voice.
My pain decides that it’s time to let Him carry me.
I whisper in the darkness – My hope is in you alone.

© Chris Graham Kingdom Arts June 2026

Back in the early 90s, I was in Coventry Cathedral and found myself drawn to the sculpture of Christ’s head.

Reading the inscription, it became clear that the sculptor had lost their spouse in a car accident – and out of the mangled metal had made the beautiful and yet heart rending sculpture of Christ’s head with a crown of thorns.

The following words came to me “however awful – remember there is always hope”

Within a few months, a neighbour’s husband was killed in a car accident, leaving his wife with a SEN child. So, I don’t say it lightly, but it may be its timely to say “however awful – remember there is always hope”.

Thanks be to our compassionate God.

© Kingdom Arts.

 

June 2026 Gathering

What a wonderful feeling to be able to meet again at Kingdom Arts today after such a long break!

Our opening worship was followed by a short talk given by Jan B, the subject being the sculptress Josephina de Vasconcellos, who also had many other talents. She created wonderful sculptures during her long life. Her work “Reconciliation”, originally titled Reunion, inspired this morning’s theme of Peace and Reconciliation. The sculpture depicts two figures reaching out and embracing each other across a line of barbed wire.

It was cast in bronze and placed in Coventry in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. A matching cast was gifted to the Hiroshima Peace Park. Additional copies can be found in the grounds of Stormont in Belfast and near the Berlin Wall.

Today’s activities:
Charcoal and pastels
This inspired several and the results were beautiful and demonstrated great artistry.


Colouring
A popular place to gather and have catch up lively conversations.


Coventry Cross
An unusual activity was designed by John B, creating a “Coventry Cross”.
Clicking on the link will take you to the story of the original Coventry Cross on the Wikipedia website (you will leave the Kingdom Arts website):
Coventry Cross of Nails

Candle holder
The beautiful sample of a hand clasping the candle holder, complete with night lights.

Singing
David M encouraged those who enjoy singing to experiment with a new song for the future sessions.

Writing
The theme of Peace and/or Reconciliation resulted in thoughtful writing.
See today’s contributions on the Creative Writing page.

Knitting
As usual, the meditative, prayerful knitting was available.

We ended the morning with the “Litany of Reconciliation”. You can find this prayer on the Coventry Cathedral website by clicking this link (you will leave the Kingdom Arts website):
Litany of Reconciliation

Our thanks go to Margaret plus Jane and Ruth for organizing the lunch at the end of the morning.

We hope that you will join us at the next gathering, on Tuesday October 6th at 10.15 for tea and coffee; with worship at 10.30.

 

December 2025 Gathering

December 9th

It was good to return to Kingdom Arts today!

The aisle was decorated in gold and international Nativity artefacts as the theme was Christmas!

We sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night” This was followed by a time of prayer.

The talk was given by Alex, who interpreted the painting The Adoration of the Kings by Jan Gossaert. B.1478 showing them visiting the infant Jesus. The original is in the National Gallery.

If you click the link below, you will leave the Kingdom Arts website and go to the painting in the National Gallery website.

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-gossaert-jean-gossart-the-adoration-of-the-kings

There are so many details in this painting referencing other themes or events in the bible which made the talk interesting and engaging. Thank you, Alex!

Sue then explained all the crafts available, which were linked to the theme of Christmas.

There was a table with a still life set up featuring a Madonna statue, with pastels and paper. This inspired artistic interpretation and the results were varied and demonstrated great artistry.

A table with colouring was also a popular place to gather and have quiet conversations.

The next craft table was a sewing task, with red and green fabric to stitch flowers. Cherry was on hand to guide and encourage.

An unusual activity was provided by John who had designed a template to cut with craft knives and fold. It demanded patience, concentration and care. A very quiet table of intense work. Once the tea lights were inserted a delightful scene emerged.

Alison has designed a Christmas star decoration with the legend “Unto us a child is born” on the reverse. The interpretation by the many who tried it out, resulted in an amazing variety of stars to grace the Christmas tree.

David M encouraged those who enjoy singing to experiment with a Christmas Carol Karaoke! This provided background music and was greatly enjoyed, with lots of background singing as we joined in.

We were kept refreshed by Margaret, who kindly took over the coffee and tea and kept up the replenishment of the biscuits!

The meditative, prayerful knitting was able to continue, and “new balls” of wool means the start of a new piece.

The writing table had the theme of Shepherds and thoughtful, detailed accounts of the shepherds from the Nativity story resulted, which were shared at the end of the morning, when everyone gathered and we had the opportunity to share crafts, thoughts and feelings about the morning activities.

We ended the morning singing by candlelight “Like a candle Flame.”

The Christmas lunch was something different as we ate in the church, with a choice of sandwiches, wraps, nibbles, crisps, and a generous supply of cakes, brownies and fruit.

Please come and join us in 2026 Tuesday June 2nd after 10am for coffee; with the morning’s activities starting at 10.20. – Worship, introduction to the morning’s theme, craft activities, and lunch.

 

June 2025 Gathering

The aisle was decorated in shiny red fabric and an American flag, as the subject for the day was Martin Luther King Jnr. His portrait and most famous quotes from his speeches were also on display.

Our worship included two songs: a gospel song, “Soon and very soon” by Andraé Crouch,  and a song we have only recently learnt, “Is He worthy?” by Andrew Peterson, Ben Shive (First line – Do you feel the world is broken). This was followed by a time of prayer.

Barbara told us all about the life and work of Martin Luther King Jnr; his mission, and his passionate speeches highlighting the need for desegregation and racial equality, and his untimely assassination at the age of 39. I doubt anyone could listen to the tale without being moved.

And so, on to the morning’s activites:

There was a table with ideas for a poster with quotes from Martin Luther King Jnr. This inspired many of us and the result was colourful and varied.

A table with book marks was also a popular place to gather and have quiet conversations.

The next craft table was a sewing task, with white doves to be stitched stuffed and embellished. Fortunately, Alison was on hand to guide and encourage, with wonderful doves as a result.

An unusual activity was provided with small stepping stones, to be arranged  to map out personal life events and reflect on  that journey. The explanations at the end of the morning reflected the deep thought that had taken place.

The writing table had small cards to write about what inspired us and the pieces were read out at the end.

We were kept refreshed by Lyn, who kindly took over the coffee and tea this week and kept up the replenishment of the biscuits!

David M encouraged those who enjoy singing something new, to join him and his guitar. This provided background music and was greatly enjoyed, we hope that it will be repeated in October.

Having rediscovered the missing knitting needle!! the meditative, prayerful knitting was able to continue, and it has come to decision time about how to use the knitting and display it.

 

We ended  by gathering to share and talk about all our efforts, and singing “Benediction” by Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin to end the morning’s activities.

The picnic lunch was something to behold, tables laden with food brought to share. Jan had put a lot of work into organising and setting out all the contributions as well as making a delicious selection of sandwiches. If only it had been warm enough to sit in the garden this year! The applause for her was well deserved!

Please come and join us at our next gathering, on Tuesday November 11th at 10.00 for faith-inspired activities and friendly conversation.

 

May 2025 Writing

This piece was written by Chris following a long period of nursing her mother in law.

 I Stand Amazed

In a world full of broken trust and wariness;
She trusted me
She understood that I loved her,
She permitted me to walk the distance with her,
To describe the landscape we were travelling through,
To help her understand the incomprehensible,
And when the diagnosis took her beyond hope, she trusted me…

As we walked on water together,
out beyond the boundaries of solid ground on to an ever-changing surface.
“Am I drowning?” No, let’s keep our eyes fixed on your beloved, both yours and mine…

And out on the stormy waves of intrusive physical procedure and painful uncertainty, together we trusted our Saviour.
Then came the time, when He took her in His capable arms and lifted her to safety.
No more pain, no more hesitant breaths.
I stand on the rocking waves, awestruck by the sacred moment.

Jesus has won the fight to draw her on up, through the veil of death and into His nearer presence.

Awestruck by the sanctity of life and the preciousness of what we have shared. Grateful for the very spectral grace that we have received and the wings of mercy that have been spread over us.
Now when we sit round the table with Jesus, the remembrances will be richer, fuller, deeper…

The bitter sweet of life is more bearable because death has lost its sting.
His body already broken for us
His blood, spilt and speaking a better word that I can trust
I go forward, amazed.

© Chris Graham, Kingdom Arts May 2025

All are welcome

 What is your mask today?

I am Coco the clown. I make people laugh at my antics. Facial expressions, joke, smiles and hugs, but it is a façade.
I am sad and broken but I have this one love who saves me. Compassion rolls over me whenever I meet His eye and I know he knows me through and through.

Beside me sits Leon, lion by name and lion by nature, clever, assured, confident and yet empty, heart broken by a woman, betrayed and left alone.
Yet he who sits at the head of the table gives him comfort.
He knows the gamut of human emotion and understands.

Next to me is Rosie, a widow, also left alone by death but she has faith in a new life and helps those who are in a similar position to herself. She sheds her mask to show others her hurt, her anger and her pain and yet she rises above it when she is with her Lord.

Gary is injured. He had a fight in prison and is now recovering. He killed a man but is sorry and knows he is forgiven. He is called to this special diner for the Master’s friend. The Master invites everyone with welcoming hands and loving arms.

Jacob does not know where he stands. He loves the Master but his live is ruled by ritual. What people see seems important but his heart is not in it. He wants to see true love, unconditional love despite all his errors and wrongdoing.

Pauline is experienced in men. She has had so many relationships but the Master forgives her and tells her to sin no more. She sees purity and innocence in his face but also knowingness of everything humans feel.

Then there is Lois. She is old and near the end of her life, but the Master promises her new life for ever and she waits patiently for that.

The Master picture upholds them all through thick and thin.

Sieger Koder : All are welcome.

© Julia Holdsworth, Kingdom Arts May 2025

All God’s Children

We are all God’s children.
Through His son’s sacrifice we are all forgiven,
His love includes every one of us.
He invites to His table the outcasts, the unfortunates the needy and dispossessed.
But do I belong?
His loving arms reach out
His compassion surrounds the bereft and tormented,
All cultures, colours and differences are brought together as one family.
We are all God’s children
We all belong.

© Barbara Rolison, Kingdom Arts May 2025

 

May 2025 Gathering

This month’s theme was based on a picture by a German artist

“All are Welcome” by Sieger Koder.

The aisle was decorated in white cloth and a large copy of the picture, in front of which was a depiction of a simple last supper, with candlesticks, bread and wine. (If you would like to see the picture in more detail, you can search the internet and find it easily).

Our opening worship included two songs –  “I stand amazed in the presence” and a song we had prepared previously with David M “I rest my soul on Jesus.” This was followed by a time of prayer.

Alex told us of Sieger’s life and gave us an insight into the meaning of the picture, unpicking the details.

The morning’s activities were inspired by what we saw and heard.

There was a modelling table using mod rock and wire, where a representation of the supper with Jesus and the “sinners” was recreated. The forming of the people was tricky and needed some strength and perseverance. The result was impressive.

A table with a still life laid out to interpret using watercolours and testing the eye and drawing skills.

The next craft table allowed imagination to flow as faces were created using collage techniques.

The writers’ started from the scene sometimes called “Jesus eats with Tax collectors and Sinners”. You can read their contributions on the May 2025 Writing page.

The colouring table, a popular and regular activity, allowed for conversation and thoughts to be shared.

David M encouraged anyone inclined to join him and his guitar, later in the morning for a short singing session. This provided background music and was greatly enjoyed, it will be repeated! The song practised will be sung by all next month.

We were kept refreshed by Pam, who keeps coffee and tea available all morning, and replenishes the biscuits!

Also, we had our own mystery – one of the large (very large) needles used for the prayerful knitting had disappeared! There may well be more on this story next month . . .

We ended the mornings activities by gathering to share and talk about our efforts, and singing “O spread your wings of mercy over me (Holy Overshadowing).”

This month’s soup choice  was tomato and basil or parsnip and apple; with  bread, cheese, fruit, and home-made cakes.

Next month our meeting will be followed by the annual picnic lunch (hopefully out in the garden).

Please come and join us on Tuesday June 10th at 10.00 for coffee with worship, a short talk, activities and lunch; before we take a break for the summer.