Author: Editor

10th December 2019

Women in the Bible: Mary

With Advent in full swing and Christmas nearly upon us, the theme of women in the bible continued with the story of Mary and the annunciation and birth of Jesus according to Luke chapter 1 from Verse 26.

Alex welcomed everyone and there followed praise and singing of favourite carols accompanied by our wonderful musicians and vocalists and a reflection on the story led by Rev. Peter.

Some seasonal activities had been organised and the floral decoration session led by Jan T enabled the making of a Christmas a wreath or table decoration and was very popular. There will be a special handmade decoration in many houses.

David’s task to reconstruct a temple building continued to enthral and exasperate as it is work in progress demanding team work, craft skills and concentration.

Another task involved clay and was to design and mould nativity figures whilst a new activity was the design a Christmas icon using a variety of paints and brushes. Imagination and careful hands meant that some amazing images were produced.

We also had the opportunity to admire some creative work from South America. These stars were produced by a Ladies’ Cooperative in Lima, Peru.

The creative writing activity promoted some discussion about the meaning of the crib and what gift one could truly give him. The resulting work was wonderful.

Mary.

Mary, Mary your face is a picture…
Has something happened?

The work of the morning was displayed, celebrated and admired with some explanation by participants.

David M led a music session teaching us to sing “Mary did you know” which enhanced the final candlelit worship led by Alex, when we were joined in prayer and harmony.

Finally we celebrated the coming of Christmas with our shared lunch of soup (either chestnut & orange or a really nice spicy soup, the ingredients of which I have forgotten!), bread, cheese, grapes and seasonal cakes and convivial conversation.

We wish you all A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

We would be delighted to welcome you to our first meeting of the new year with tea and coffee at 9:30.
Tuesday January 14th : Anna and Simeon.

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You may well have noticed we are trying a new style of report this month, with the photographs and writing included within the report.

If you just wish to look through all the photographs,
you can still see the Gallery

 

12th November 2019

Women in the Bible: Elizabeth
Luke 1: 5-24, 39-45, 57-66

Alex warmly welcomed everyone on our Fourth Birthday which was to be celebrated at lunch. We sang the obligatory chorus of Happy Birthday with gusto!

There was praise and singing accompanied by our musicians and vocalists.

We then continued our theme for this season, ‘Women in the Bible’, with readings about Elizabeth and Zechariah, recounting the story of a visit to Zechariah by Angel Gabriel, up to the birth of John the Baptist.

There were five interesting activities relating to this reading.

David’s task to reconstruct a temple building was a group effort and is a work in progress demanding team work, craft skills and concentration.

A table with a “pile of fluff” generated a host of angels, making a dazzling display.

The creative writing activity promoted discussion about Elisabeth and the disgrace of infertility in biblical times.

Another task was to design and craft cardboard shields with a family related crest, while another group wrote their chosen names using wax resist.

The work of the session was displayed, celebrated and admired with some explanation by participants.

Our special guest was Mother Victoria who taught a group how to sign the blessing which we used to great effect at the end of our morning activities. A very special blessing for us all.

Finally we celebrated in style with our shared lunch of soup, bread, cheese, grapes a wonderful fruit birthday cake and a glass of fizz for a special toast to Kingdom Arts.

We invite you to our next meeting beginning with tea and coffee at 9:30.
Tuesday December 10th : Mary.

For this month’s pictures and videos, see the Gallery

8th October 2019

Women in the Bible: Naomi and Ruth
Ruth 1:1-18 and 22

This morning’s reading told the touching beginning of the story of Naomi and Ruth. David New expanded on this with an interpretation of the purpose of this book. It was followed with singing and praise accompanied by our musicians and vocalists.

David continued on his interpretation by designing a task involving the making of brick shapes and then writing words that may be seen as negative and divisive. The purpose of this challenge was apparent in our feedback session. [See the photos]

There were four additional tables of interesting activities relating to this reading.

Sue had an activity to make a card to give to a loved one. The most attractive results were worth the concentration and effort. Later in the morning she led a musical group with percussion instruments.

Alex had been learning an embroidery stitch like ears of wheat, which she shared this morning. Several people enjoyed learning from her and the delicate stitching was much admired in our sharing session at the end of the morning.

The creative writing activity promoted conversation and debate taking up the theme of women and the relationship of Naomi and Ruth.

There was a free table to explore watercolours.

After plenty of conversation, discussion and cups of coffee (thank you Pam and Carolyn) we gathered to share our experiences. It was agreed that a session of Kingdom Arts is refreshing and cathartic!

Then a song of praise, before a shared lunch of soup, either roasted cauliflower or pea, both were delicious! Bread, cheese, grapes and a wonderful fruit cake were also available to all.

We invite you to our next meeting beginning with tea and coffee at 9:30.
Tuesday November 12th : The story of Elizabeth.

For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

at Worcester Cathedral

Kingdom Arts was asked by the Diocese to create a project for visitors to take an active part in during the Kingdom People Day in the Cathedral on September 28th.

We chose to create something that spoke of the Kingdom values of

Compassion, Love, Justice and Freedom.

We enjoyed creating it with help from our visitors .

Bishop John loved it so much that he asked for it to stay and be displayed in the Cathedral for a short time.

It’s situated by the Friends’ door.
Go and see it and let us know what you think.

10th September 2019

Lydia
Acts 16:13-16

We began our September meeting after a summer break with a warm welcome followed by singing and praise accompanied by our joyful band of musicians and vocalists.

The theme for this season introduced by Alex amid a sea of purple; is women in the bible. The reading was from Acts Chapter 16 v 13-16 telling the story of Lydia who traded in purple cloth and was baptised by Paul. There were five tables of interesting activities relating to this reading. Do look at the photographs of the morning.

Our guest artist Karen firstly showed and then encouraged a group to make small books. There was lots of discussion and the dainty and very pretty results were worth the concentration and effort.

David had a craft task to make a delicate model stall with small items for sale. Careful hands were needed to hold and stick.

The new material called “brusho” was well received and gave a chance to experiment, lots of trial and error and a bit of mess, with the powder sprinkled onto or by spritzed water! A waterfall of colourful pictures emerged with stencilled cut outs adding images.

There was a beautiful purple orchid placed on purple tissue to sketch with pastels or charcoal and delightful images resulted.

The creative writing activity promoted conversation and debate taking up the theme of women and particularly Lydia. Follow the link to see the end product.

After plenty of conversation, discussion and cups of coffee we gathered to share our experiences, before a shared lunch of soup [tomato, apple and celery, or celeriac and spinach].

We invite you to our next meeting beginning with tea and coffee at 9:30.
Tuesday October 8th : The story of Ruth and Naomi.

For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing