Category: News

13th November 2018

“The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders”
Matthew 7:24-29

After praise through songs accompanied by our own musicians and vocalists and a reading of the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders, an explanation of the parable and prayers were offered by Alex. Then followed starting points from members of the team to help us all decide which of the activites on offer we would like to try.

This month, our group consisted of many familiar faces as well as some more new members. Everyone enjoyed the arts and crafts on offer.

The skeleton for our Christmas tree (which goes on display on December 8th at Worcester Cathedral) had already been prepared by Trevor, and one group spent time decorating the tree branches with stencilled golden stars.

Characters for the accompanying Nativity were stitched in glorious and elaborate colours or more subdued fabrics. “It was a bit of fun but you needed skill”. They will look amazing when completed.

David’s design of an eight pointed ribbon star was complex! Comments included “It’s awkward and finicky to hold onto but great if you get it right” and “You need time to get the glue off your fingers”.

The sand pictures were thought provoking and glittery and one lady exclaimed “it was great fun drawing with glue”.

The creative writing table attracted new talent and our first Rap was produced, along with thoughtful prose.

We ended with a sung grace.

A delicious new soup was offered for lunch, spinach, pea and pesto which was greatly enjoyed by many with the alternative potato and leek, accompanied by bread, cheese and home-made cake alongside plenty of conversations.

Our last meeting for 2018 is on Tuesday December 10th.
We will be delighted if you would join us.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

For next year’s dates, see dates for your diary.

9th October 2018

“The Parable of the Prodigal Son”
Luke 15:11-32

Our new season of meetings is based on the parables of Jesus and interpreting their meaning or sparking interpretational ideas through writing, craftwork, art or music.

Following praise through songs accompanied by our amazing musicians and vocalists, a reading of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and starting points from members of the team; our group, including new members and visitors explored the activities on offer.

Creative writing explored feelings and how to express or seek forgiveness, while the free drawing with charcoal expanded the parable into visual art.
Words around the concept of feelings were translated into posters.

Felting [in this instance, making pig shapes with felt pressed through by stabbing with a needle] was offered for the first time and was so much enjoyed that it will surely be offered again.

The making of a “simple balance” was a challenge in dexterity and scientific principle. [Do look at the photographs.]

Finally came an innovative retelling of the Prodigal Son using a puppet theatre. The performance was a unique presentation, so enjoyable and such fun.

The discussion and sharing of ideas at the end of the morning was dynamic, personal and very thoughtful. The exploration of the meaning of the parable and the concept of forgiveness had been explored both on a personal level and within several of the groups.

We ended with a sung grace.

A delicious choice of pear and parsnip or mushroom soup was offered for lunch accompanied by bread, cheese and cake with an opportunity to continue conversations.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday November 13th.
We will be delighted if you would join us.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

For this month’s drama, see Oct 2018 Puppet Theatre

11th September 2018

“The Parable of the Sower”
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Our new season of meetings will be based on the parables of Jesus and interpreting their meaning or sparking interpretational ideas through writing, craftwork, art or music.

Following praise through song, a reading of the parable of the sower and starting points from members of the team; our group, including new members and visitors explored the activities on offer.

Interesting Origami birds were a new challenge to interpret the birds who fed on the seeds, whilst stones representing the rocky ground, were decorated in colourful designs.

Watercolour paintings using seed as inspiration led to philosophical interpretation of seeds bursting forth and dispersing. This idea was also discussed by the writing group.

Meanwhile embroidery and beads embellished the earth coloured squares interpreting the meaning of the good and fertile soil bringing forth abundance.

The discussion and sharing of ideas at the end of the morning was dynamic, personal and very thoughtful. The concept of ourselves as seeds waiting for the point of germination and growth into Christian belief and action was explored in several of the groups.

A delicious choice of soup, bread, cheese and cake was offered for lunch with an opportunity to continue conversations.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday October 9th. You are most welcome to join us.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

12th June 2018

“Jesus calms the storm”
Mark 4:35-41

Today, our songs, worship and prayers were based around the reading and made for calm and a quiet meaningful start to what was the last session for the next few months, as we all take a chance to refresh and renew.

The central aisle was decorated with fabrics representing water and a rather striking boat which announced the theme.

There were several water based activities:

Origami boats with a range of difficulty and complexity. So many rose to the challenge and a colourful selection resulted.

The free painting opportunity to create seascapes was joyfully accessed and paint and water flowed across the paper with stunning results and much satisfaction.

The pillows for Jesus to lay his head were beautifully embroidered and decorated, please see the picture gallery.

Drawing and colouring and creative writing were also available giving more opportunities for quiet discussion and thought.

A highlight was the music making with percussion listening to each other and making sounds to reflect storms and tranquillity was for some a moving experience and left us all with a sense of achievement and unity.

A time for sharing our work was an essential part of the end of the morning and after prayer we enjoyed either mushroom or “enhanced” vegetable soup (or both!)

We meet to start a new series of Kingdom Arts on Tuesday September 11th with coffee at 9.30 when we all hope to welcome you again.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

“A truly wonderful and inspirational exhibition. Thank you very much.”

“So many amazing displays and all of them shining with the Light of the Lord – very uplifting.”

“The children enjoyed exploring and learning. Thank you for inviting us.”

“Beautiful Expressions of Faith, Love and Life.”

“Very inspirational display. Beautiful creations in a lovely setting”

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For three days our church was open to the public, displaying some of our work we had created over the previous two years. We were delighted to have some 70 or 80 visitors each day. In addition we had 3 groups of primary school children with their teachers and they were given a quiz to do as well as a craft activity and refreshments. A small team of tireless helpers served endless cups of tea and coffee along with home-made cake, talked with visitors and helped the schoolteachers with the children.

We have an open plan church building with moveable chairs. This provided plenty of space for display boards and tables down the sides of the church. In the centre of the body of the church we opened out a labyrinth drawn on canvas (some 15ft square) with a card of prayerful suggestions for devotional use.

Many varieties of art and craft were on display – painting, collage, drawing, paper-craft, Lego, tapestry, sewing as well as creative writing.

Some exhibits were individual contributions, other were the collective work of a group of people. All the exhibits were based on Bible themes and were accompanied by a brief word of explanation which many people greatly appreciated.

Modelling with paper and Lego

Some people took the opportunity for a time of quiet prayer. Others enjoyed having-a-go at simple craft work or creative doodling. I think everyone enjoyed the sense of community and friendship.

We are a small parish group of people, meeting once a month, to reflect on a passage of the Bible, express our response in creative ways, share what the morning has meant to us, and finish with a simple soup lunch. Others have joined us from neighbouring churches and this has greatly increased the number of varieties of arts and crafts that we are able to offer. We are registered as a ‘Fresh Expression’ and are open to anyone who would like to join us.

One person perceptively commented, “I loved the fact that, side by side, there are works of which any professional would be proud and work which even someone of my limited skill and experience could aspire to!”

Mosaics, Decoupage and Pop-ups

Creative Writing

Search and you will find . . .

The Tree of Life

Anyway, never mind looking at pictures – come along and have a go!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re the next Van Gogh or Banksy (there’s a thought – anyone got a spray can?) or Joe Bloggs, all are welcome.

Check out the dates of the meetings in Dates for your diary.

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8th May 2018

“The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes”
Mark 6:30-44

The worship began with joyful songs followed by the reading and prayers led by Alex.

Today’s activities based on the reading included making a print block and designing a pattern with it on a fish outline. The artistry and the colourful range of patterns were wonderful.

David had a more challenging paper folding activity this month which was to make a rectangular box to represent a basket.

A new and unusual craft activity involved recycling plastic carrier bags, thus an assortment of objects were designed including a flower and a fish.

There were both oil and chalk pastels for free drawing, and opportunities for conversation and laughter encouraged at each activity.

The writing table was well used this time with acrostic poems using the word fishes or loaves or the challenge of composing a haiku.

At the end of the morning, anyone who wished to talk about the activities they had been part of was invited to share their thoughts.

After grace was sung lunch followed, with a choice of cream of cauliflower soup or tomato and basil from the soup book.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday June 12th. We look forward to meeting you then.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

17th April 2018

“The Wedding in Cana”
John 2:1-11

This month the central aisle had been decorated with yards of lace, confetti, flowers, wedding shoes, invitations and a bottle of bubbly!  Thus the theme was apparent before we began with celebratory songs, followed by the reading from John Chapter 2, verses 1 – 11, recollecting the wedding in Cana in Galilee, which describes the first miracle of Jesus.  This was followed with prayers led by Alex.

The craft tables were filled with activities to reflect on a wedding theme. There were blank cards to design on the front and make an invitation inside to call the recipient to think, maybe of faith.

A still life was set up with a group of empty vessels to depict the filling of wine jars, which invited drawings with pastels.

An activity to make a wedding guest figure from wire, dowel, fabrics and all manner of embellishments called on the inner fashion designers amongst us. The ingenuity and variety was wonderful.

Lastly there were even more intricate, decorative handmade flowers crafted with paper which were quite detailed and very lovely. [Please look at the photographs.]

We finished with opportunities for anyone who wished to, to talk about the activities they had been part of. Lunch followed, with a choice of butternut squash or celery soup delicious as usual, and an array of cake!

Our next meeting is on Tuesday May 8th. We look forward to meeting you then.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

David New has contributed a poem about the wedding in Cana, see Creative Writing

The Kingdom Arts Exhibition is fast approaching and preparations are already in hand. If you can get to us on May 17th, 18th or 19th, do come along and see our work, while you drink tea or coffee and munch a cake with our compliments!

 

13th March 2018

“I am the Resurrection and the Life”
Luke 11:17-44

This month completed the cycle of the “I am …” sayings of Jesus.

We began with joyful songs, followed by our reading, contemplation by David New and prayers led by Alex. It was so enjoyable to greet new participants who all seemed to have a good morning, and conversation flowed.

The surprisingly original new activity was based on the Lego Bible and 3 Lego scenes were built, the journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. There was such enjoyment and wonderful cooperation during the trickier assembly and as the painted or collage backgrounds were created to accompany each scene, the final result was amazing. [Please look at the photographs.]

Creative writing was on the theme of life after death.

There were decorative handmade flowers for an Easter garden crafted with paper which were quite detailed and very lovely.

The free art table with colour pastels gave scope for imagination and talent with wonderful results.

The tree of life project is nearing completion and apples were hand embellished as a penultimate stage. The completed work will be hung for our Kingdom Arts Exhibition from May 17th until 19th, so save a date and come and see our amazing work.

The session ended with song accompanied by David and Vicky M.

Lunch followed with a favourite soup, curried parsnip [from our recipe book] and a new pasta soup.

Our next meeting is on April 17th [a week later than usual]. We look forward to meeting you then.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s written word, see Creative Writing

Also, make sure you see the news about our upcoming exhibition.

 

13th February 2018

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
John 14:1-7

An astounding wooden signpost greeted us on arrival at Kingdom Arts. All was later revealed!

We were delighted to greet some new members to the group before we commenced with two joyful songs [music for the first composed by our very own Sue]. Next came the bible reading “I am the way the Truth and the Light” followed by prayers.

The significance of the signpost became clear; it was showing us the way past some of life’s challenges to join Jesus in heaven, and had been cleverly constructed by Trevor by recycling our wooden Christmas tree from the Cathedral exhibition.

This month’s further challenge designed by David New was to create a paper construction of a stairway to heaven, which some embellished with symbols.

A lifeline of twisted material hung with handmade pom-poms began to emerge across the church signifying points in life.

At the writing table some original postcards to Heaven were creatively written.

Work continued on additional ornamentation of the Tree of Life hanging, by making and stitching apples from fabric and threads.

Several wonderful and varied pastel drawings with thoughtful explanations of how they were inspired were shared with us at the end of the session.

The soups, both watercress and broccoli, and potato and leek were much enjoyed and may very well inspire a second soup book! The social lunch is a most enjoyable end to each session and we would love to see you there.

Our next meeting is on March 13th

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

 

9th January 2018

“I am the Good Shepherd”

This text from John 10:11-18 inspired our morning.

New Year greetings were exchanged and we began our worship with singing, the reading from John 10 and prayers.

The Arts activities, which were focussed around shepherding and sheep, included a paper sculptured shepherd described as “David’s Challenge”. It needed plenty of concentration and agile fingers.

There was a music and contemplation session using a new instrument known as a “tongue drum”, played by Sue. It was later described as wonderful, great and calming.

At the watercolour activity there was some experimentation which turned into a sheep with stars in its eyes. There were drawings and paintings of hands “the protective hands of the shepherd round his flock”. Some amazing and colourful collage emerged of Jesus the shepherd.

There was also mindful colouring of mandala patterns and creative writing.
[Follow the links for examples and photographs.]

At our gathering after the prayer and before the delicious soup, a new member described his painting of hands “Behind my hand is the hand of God. He is behind everyone’s hand”. That was the perfect summing up for the morning.

Our next meeting is on February 13th. We hope you will come and join in the fun, engaging with others in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

PS A few soup recipe books are still available, beautifully illustrated and a very reasonable £4 each.

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For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery

For this month’s written word, see Creative Writing

To see and hear the music and contemplation session,
click here:- Percussion workshop