Exploring faith through creativity
Everyone was focusing on practical craft work this month. however, David New has contributed a poem he wrote a little while ago:
We are getting ready for
The Love Feast of the Lamb.
So let the water of your living pour
Into the waiting jars.
He’ll take your sighs and tears.
He’ll take your cracked endeavours, but
Most of all your heart’s confession that
You cannot do without him.
David New 2013
The central display
Greetings Cards
Still Life
Wedding Guests
Flowers
See the Easter Garden at our exhibition, 17th – 19th May.
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.
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!
LEGO
Imagine designing the sets for a stage play.
Each of the 3 scenes involved the construction of the ‘stage’ using Lego,
and the design of the background ‘scenery’.
1. Entry to Jerusalem
2. The Last Supper
3. Crucifixion
FLOWERS (See the finished flowers next month)
FREE ART
WRITING (Check out the poetry in the ‘Creative Writing’ area)
FRUIT (for the Tree of Life)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The tomb was empty
Jesus had resurrected as had been foretold
Filling the world with new life
Lasting hope and promise for everyone
Flowing from the changed body
Cradling with His Holy Father and Holy Ghost,
For all generations through the ages
Here for us to savour and touch
To bring feeling within us
Treasure revere and spread,
With a heartfelt response and action
And giving with sincere thanks
Thank you Lord
We are yours.
Helen Mc Nicholl ©
Lord, Lazarus, his sisters Martha and Mary were your friends
and you often stayed with them.
So when you said” Lazarus come out”
Lazarus would have recognised your voice.
I think he must have nearly burst with joy
at hearing your voice speak his name.
Lord I wonder if Lazarus had been in heaven when you called him?
Did he think or talk about his experience?
Was he able to settle back into everyday life afterwards?
Lord I am so glad you called him;
please when we die,
may we hear your loving voice welcoming us.
Amen
With my last breath as my Soul flies
His Spirit will surround me.
In dying my body will remain a while
But I have gone to Him.
You may feel great sorrow for your loss
Deep grief for all you will miss,
But be reassured that I am in a glorious place
Where the love of Christ abounds
Rejoice and thank God for the memory of me.
Barbara Rolison
©Kingdom Arts 13/03/2018
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.
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.
Signpost
Stairway
Pom-poms
Writing
Fruit
Pastels
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
For this month’s pictures, see the Gallery
In the closing session of the morning, this prayer was accompanied by a Tongue Drum.
Good Shepherd,
help me to be like a good sounding tongue drum.
May the sound I make in my life
enable others to hear your voice.
When I feel tired
let the sound continue on and on,
giving me strength for the journey ahead.
Give me courage to take these sounds into the world
to help others hear you speaking through the noises of the world
that clamour for our attention.
May the sound I make be beautiful to others
and to you.
Amen
Alex New
So often dismissed to the lower rungs of the animal world.
But they float through our Christmas cards.
Feed and sustain many nations. Clothe and warm chilled limbs.
Our wise ones know their wealth and their need for a loving shepherd.
With homes and food just right. A lifelong caring.
Psalm 23 echoes down through the ages.
Pictures with Christ in their midst calling out from the flock.
I am their shepherd and YOURS! Follow me.
Stray not from the path I love the weak and the strong. The marginalised the forgotten.
I will bind broken limbs, rescue you from briars or pits, and feed you richly in pastures old and new.
And raise you all up, upon my shoulder into life eternal.
Helen McNichol
In those days long ago shepherds were lowly, isolated poor and not regarded much, tending others precious flocks in scrubby pastures. They travelled on foot in search of grazing, slept on the ground, and guarded the sheep from wolves, lions, eagles and thieves. They lit fires for safety and a little warmth.
Astonished when the brightest most radiant light disturbed them so, voices sang praises to God on high. They heard the message, trusted in the Angel and left everything to see the new born Son of God.
Back on the quad bike with helmet, padded jacket and mobile the shepherd and her sheepdogs ascend the hillside to feed the flock. They are well nourished with bales of hay kept under cover, a bin of pellets and clean water. She checks the ewes for lameness, any sign of illness or harm, for they are almost ready to lamb.
Whistling to the dogs they gather the sheep and slowly bring them down to the shed. There they are nurtured and protected awaiting their time.
But what if God, just now, sent his Angel messenger? How would she receive the message hear the voice?
For Jesus is our shepherd, gathering, nourishing, nurturing and protecting us.
Slowly guiding us to his presence.
Barbara Rolison
Experimenting with sounds produced by a variety of percussion instruments, some old and some new.
Click below to hear short extracts:-