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June 2019 Festival Contributors

Report date: 1st March 2020:

In June 2019, Kingdom Arts held a Festival celebrating the exploration of Christian Faith through the creative arts. The displays were a mixture of in-house creations produced by our regular attendees at our monthly meetings, together with art work kindly loaned to us by a variety of other artists.

A commemorative book of the Festival has been produced. Our grateful thanks go to the artists whose work was on show at the festival and is displayed within the book:

Sue Ashby-Davis
sueashby183@googlemail.com

Christine Benson
christine.e.benson@gmail.com

Andrea Chance
andrea3david@yahoo.co.uk

Hannah Dunnett
www.benandhannahdunnett.com

Mary Fleeson
www. Lindisfarne scriptorium

Sara Hayward
www.powishayward.co.uk Instagram sarahaywardart

Christine Morgan
www.brandywineart.co.uk

Mercedes Pearson
mercedes.pearson@vaporum.com

Marcella Spreadbury
marcelladyson@hotmail.com

Karen Stone
info@stonefineart.co.uk

To see the Festival report, click here

 

Visitors’ book Feb 2020

12th February

What a wonderful day yesterday…. such a joy to spend it with the usual people plus our visitors from The Bridge.

Here are the comments from our visitors’ book for you to see and to be encouraged by them:
“I love the small service to give us ideas for the craft time… gradually the crafts ‘release’ me and I can’t decide which craft to do next. The idea of dance for the last song of worship was the icing on the cake”.
Joan
“I was impressed with how the morning felt unhurried and relaxed. How the whole flowed from worship to craft to sharing. I was also impressed with how at all points the focus was on God and responding to God. Too often we make worship about us!”
Rev Glenn Reading
Mutual Flourishing
From Victoria (E-mail)
Can’t tell you how lovely it was to see you all this morning. And thank you for kingdom Arts itself – it was restorative.
I thought you needed to see this e-mail I received. Can you pass on my thanks to the people he mentions?
I confess that ‘John from Ipsley’ has been a big inspiration to me in my journey, also.
From John at the Bridge to Victoria. (E-mail)
Thank you for letting me accompany you and your clerical colleagues to Worcester and St George’s. What a lovely day! The whole day was so enjoyable, joining in worship (hymns or are they called faith songs now ? No matter, I did feel quite at home with it)
Meeting such a lovely, friendly group of people so helpful in every way. Just being Christian, as I like to think we at the Bridge are. One shouldn’t really name certain people, but the following were really good to me and for me-
John from Ipsley, Vikki, David also from Ipsley, musicians, Trevor and Clive.
I wrote a thank you note on Facebook (I think) to Kingdom Arts . This is my thank you note to you.
To all our regulars and helpers: All the hard work is worth it isn’t it? Thank you all for sharing your amazing gifts with so many people and so regularly!

February 2020 Writing

Moses

The water flowed
The bitumen and pitch safeguarded the basket
Loving watchful eyes
Saved the child
As God protects us in our ever changing lives
Cradled by moving holy water
And weeps for our lost ones
Those who never see light
But are life-long shadows
Ever flickering on souls
Some with short glimpses of life
Leaving footprints so deep
No tears can ever erase
Others left in strange “receiving homes”
Struggling to find their true identities
In their bewildering world
But their cries are heard
By the reconciling loving God.

© Helen McNicoll Kingdom Arts February 2020

Moses

Born but separated
From all that is familiar
Smell of mother, of home
Voices
Warmth of womb, holding darkness enclosed
No sounds, but warm, encased, entombed
Smell of mother’s linen surrounds me, comforts me
Water running
River upholding, sound of wind
Alone, drifting separated, waiting
Found!
Crying, wailing, an unfamiliar touch and voice
Soothing voice of sister, saved for a purpose for all I know
Yet separated
Mother’s arms, Mother’s breast, now safe, familiar for a time
Born at such a time as this for the greater good?
Possibly
But I miss my Mother and family
Born into one world separated into another
A purpose carved out, a basket, a river
A journey
A destiny for a people

© Shefali Hollis  Kingdom Arts February 2020

Giving Back to God

What is this cradle that holds so small a child?
Strengthened on the outside, placed amongst the reeds
How long? How long will it last?
Will it float away?
What will happen to my dear baby boy?
My longed for child will you be safe?
Have I really let you go? My heart aches
Dear God what plan do you have for one so young?
Surrendered to you as I let him go I look to you
My daughter calls what’s that you say?
Will I come to care for my son?
The one I released just moments ago
Already returned to me
My God how can this be?
Truly your goodness is beyond measure
This must be part of a bigger plan
I take him back for now but he is given to you
And I, his mother will watch to see his life unfold
A deliverer of your people you say?
Just as you have rescued him he will rescue them
I gave back to you the gift you gave me
So now I wait and watch.
© Ruth Campsall  Kingdom Arts   February 2020

February 2020 Gathering

11th February 2020

Women in the Bible: Miriam

“What an amazing space this is!” exclaimed one of our visitors to Kingdom Arts this month. The entire session was remarkable, and the church buzzed with activity and conversations among members of other churches.

Alex warmly welcomed everyone, especially the visitors from the Bridge in Redditch, mentioning that it was also a special day for three of our members. We love to celebrate birthdays!

We commenced by singing praises accompanied by our band of musicians. The theme of women in the bible continued with Miriam (Exodus 2:1-10) and the well-known story of Moses in the Bulrushes, then following her to Exodus 15:20-21 after the Crossing of the Red Sea and Moses’ victory over the Egyptians. There was a reflection, led by Alex with prayer.

After the intricacies of the temple build, this month David had a new and simpler task to construct a basket, with paper, scissors, and glue.

There was an opportunity to create a still life of a group of objects including a basket using pastels or charcoals. Not all the work was based on the objects displayed, but some really interesting results appeared.

A new activity was to make a bulrush using wool and fabric, the results were delicately beautiful.

The creative writing activity inspired several writers who captured aspects of the story of Miriam from different angles. The resulting work was inspiring.

Moses
The water flowed
The bitumen and pitch safeguarded the basket
Loving watchful eyes
Saved the child
As God protects us in our ever changing lives
Cradled by moving holy water
And weeps for our lost ones
Never to see light
Uncared unloved souls
Others left in strange receiving homes
But binding us together
Male and Female
Rich and poor
Lost and found
With rich glue fast love.
©Helen McNicoll Kingdom Arts February 2020
This is one of three pieces of creative writing this month. To see the others, click on ‘Creative Writing’ at the end of this report.

Another small group were introduced to the art of calligraphy. This requires much care and precision. The participants were rewarded with some fine results.

As always, there is time and space to sit quietly and knit with prayer. This is a welcome respite from the bustle of busy lives.

Following on from last month’s successful activity with the ribbons, Alex taught a group a dance, such as Miriam may have performed to glorify and praise the Lord. The dancers used claves (sticks to the uninitiated!) in time to the music provided by Sue on the accordion and Trevor on the tambourine.

Click on the link below to see a short video of their efforts.

Claves rehearsal

The work of the morning was displayed, celebrated and admired with some explanations.

The grand finale was to accompany “You shall go out with joy” with singing, clapping and with the special dancing group to praise the Lord in our own way.

Claves performance

Our shared lunch was black bean spicy soup or leek and potato soup. There was cheese, grapes, cakes and a chance to converse with our visitors and each other.

We would be delighted to welcome you on the second Tuesday of March with tea and coffee at 9:30
Tuesday March 10th : Mary Magdalene

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

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

 

January 2020 Writing

Waiting and Worshiping

Waiting. Not a popular word in our 21st century society of instant gratification
Where seemingly all we need is just a click on a screen away
Where marketeers convince us we need things we’d never considered, and need them NOW
Simeon waited
Anna waited
What was the difference?
They knew God
They’d heard God’s promises, quietly, uniquely, individually
They both knew his voice
They trusted him
But how did they wait? What did they do with their time?
Were they passive? Were they bored?
Were they discouraged? Frustrated
NO!
They believed what God had promised, and they gave thanks in advance
They waited prayerfully, but also with a heart of worship.
They were fully convinced, confident that God would be faithful
They knew he would do what he said he would, and the time scale didn’t matter
(After all for God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is just a day)
How are we waiting for God to bring into being promises He’s made to us?
© Alison Moore  Kingdom Arts   January 2020

Anna

There is a saying; you’re a long time dead.
But you were such a long, long time living.
Living In the temple for many years you waited,
For many years patient in prayer,
For many years fasting in faith,
For many years trusting in the Lord,
Watchful until the Holy Child was revealed.
Your faith rewarded you praised the Lord
In certainty you proclaimed
“Look no longer for redemption, for I have seen the Messiah.”
©  Barbara Rolison Kingdom Arts   January 2020

Simeon’s Prayer

Oh Lord, my soul has yearned to see your face, to live in your courts with praise.
I have feared for future generations and have asked daily to see the Messiah.
Your people have suffered at the hands of others and I have such love for them as well as the Gentiles.
But today you did a great work.
Today I saw the Messiah and now I can leave this world in peace.
© Frances Burton  Kingdom Arts  January 2020

Patient Waiting

Simeon and Anna
The Holy conception from God
Then a time of waiting
As Mary pondered and prayed
Birth within the stable
So long ago
A Saviour to awaken the world
Shake the unbelievers
Fully recognised by the patient
Simeon and Anna.
Leading the way to full belief
Young and old being united
Can we stay the course?
However long or short
Hard or smooth
With patience for the unfolding grace
Spreading the fragrance of belief
To others far and wide
Calming minds and bringing
Helping the unfathomable Godly peace
To hover over the world.
© Helen McNicoll  Kingdom Arts  January 2020

The Temple

At Bethlehem the shepherds were watching their flocks
They were lowly, humble men, no ladies I think, and their job was to protect the sheep from wolves or robbers then.
A sheep’s job is to eat grass;
Sheep’s wool grows then when they are shorn, their wool warms people. Maybe those shepherds who came to see baby Jesus had a sheepskin in their packs to give to Mary for a blanket
Mary had been waiting 9 months for her baby.
Right at the beginning, with the Angel, she had agreed to have a most irregular pregnancy. Anyone who is pregnant has worries; will the baby be alright?
Will I be alright?
She waited whilst maybe the people in the village tut-tutted and stared.
So afterwards, when she and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple.
The words of Simon and Anna must have given her so much encouragement,
Affirmation that God was in charge
Perhaps she hugged them.
I hope so.
©  Janet Kingdom Arts January 2020

Waiting in the Temple

Waiting, always in the waiting room,
How long…
Praying, asking, seeking, searching..
Remembering
Sitting in the shadows of your wings… closed away, waiting
How long?
Shall I give up, give in, will it ever happen whilst I live. Is it true?
Will the answer find me here?
Come… My heart waits in silence…
Only to you God do I yield… I live to serve.
To Pray, asking, seeking… looking.
Up from the shadows.
My heart races, light streams in.. a baby is born..
Rivers burst within as I look upon his face..
Truth rises up, a song dances from my lips and for all the long years of hoping, trusting, weariness, doubting and faith
Waiting is over and the answer to life,
My life, your life… every present and future citizen of this world will find themselves in you..
Waiting is fulfilled.
Fulfilment
It is over.
Relief, joy. I dance in the streets..
It’s been fulfilled… Waiting is over.
©Shefalie Hollis  Kingdom Arts January 2020

January 2020 Gathering

14th January 2020

Women in the Bible: Anna

Alex warmly welcomed everyone, especially visitors, and there followed praise and singing to welcome the new year accompanied by our faithful band followed by a reflection, led by Alex.
The theme of women in the bible continued this year with the story of Anna when Jesus was presented in the temple, according to Luke chapter 2 verses 23-28.

David’s task to reconstruct a temple building proceeded and this was the last session before it is complete. The work continued to demand team work, craft skills and precision.

There was an opportunity to create a picture of a dove or two using wallpaper and other paper textures.

Some chose to sit quietly and colour Celtic patterns or knit and pray. This was a welcome respite from the bustle of busy lives.

A new activity was using oil pastels on cloth, drawing and colouring circles which overlapped in a blaze of colour. It was later described as “cosmic.”

The creative writing activity inspired several writers of prose and poetry who captured the patient waiting in the temple of Anna and Simeon. The resulting work was inspiring.

Waiting in the Temple
Waiting, always in the waiting room,
How long…
Praying, asking, seeking, searching..
Remembering
Sitting in the shadows of your wings… closed away, waiting
How long?
Shall I give up, give in, will it ever happen whilst I live. Is it true?
Will the answer find me here?
Come… My heart waits in silence…
Only to you God do I yield… I live to serve.
To Pray, asking, seeking… looking.
Up from the shadows.
My heart races, light streams in.. a baby is born..
Rivers burst within as I look upon his face..
Truth rises up, a song dances from my lips and for all the long years of hoping, trusting, weariness, doubting and faith
Waiting is over and the answer to life,
My life, your life… every present and future citizen of this world will find themselves in you..
Waiting is fulfilled.
Fulfilment
It is over.
Relief, joy. I dance in the streets..
It’s been fulfilled… Waiting is over.
©Shefalie Hollis  Kingdom Arts January 2020
 This is one of six pieces of creative writing this month. To see the others, click on ‘Creative Writing’ at the bottom of this report.
 Alex encouraged  a group in the use of colourful ribbons as a way of expressing praise in worship and they later used these ribbons  as part of our final worship adding a new and spirited dimension.

Click on the titles below to see short films of the rehearsals

Ribbons instruction             Ribbons music

At the end of the morning, the work was displayed, celebrated and admired with some explanation and obvious enjoyment by participants and pieces of creative writing read aloud.

Our shared lunch was pumpkin or tomato and apple soup, bread, cheese, grapes, cakes and a chance to catch up on conversations after the holidays.

We would be delighted to welcome you on the second Tuesday of February with tea and coffee at 9:30
Tuesday February 11th : Miriam

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

For this month’s words, see Creative Writing

 

December 2019 Gathering

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?

For a while I couldn’t catch my breath…
everything had changed but outside of myself all looked the same.
How could I tell them I just seen an Angel
With a message for one…
Who am I – that he should single me out?

My heart, my ears, my thoughts are all alive.
With the sound of many words as the Angel told me of what will be.
I am to bear a child… little insignificant me… not just any baby… a holy child….
My insides were filling up with warmth, hope of a promise that was growing in me….

A seed planted… and I was changed for ever – who am I… Mary…  that you should show such Favour and as I stood there quaking with growing excitement.
Mingled with fear I heard a new song forming and opening my mouth.
Rivers of living water tumbled out in words of sheer emotion and praise…

It’s not about me, Mary,
It’s about who Jesus is

 

© Shefalie, Kingdom Arts December 2019

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.

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