“you are Gods work of art...” Ephesians 2 v 10

Michelangelo : Slave

God’s work of art.

That’s me ?

Then Beauty must lie

In the eye of the

Beholder.

I feel more like

One of those statues

Michelangelo left

Half emerging

From the marble block;

Full of potential,

On the verge of life,

but prisoned still

By circumstance and

Fear.

Michelangelo : Slaves

yet part of me is free -

And you are still creating,

Bringing to life

The promise that is there.

Michelangelo : Slave

Sometimes by 

Hammer blows

Which jar my being,

Sometimes by

Tender strokes half felt

Which waken me to

Life.

Go on, Lord.

Love me into wholeness.

Set me free 

To share with you

In your creative joy;

To laugh with you

At your delight

In me,

Your work of art.

poem by Ann Lewin, ‘Revelation’  found in ‘Invitations’ by Francis Dewar p 98

Praying through Creative Art

Weve had two good Sunday afternoons so far 

& one more to go in August...Sunday 21st.

Lost amidst the chaos of weeding & clearing our front garden, someone dropped by to chat...

 & said the art & prayer sounded interesting....but....well, could someone like me join in?

...I mean what do you actually do ?

Well, a few brave souls decided to come & dip their toe into the water, so to speak...

& the first afternoon we began by looking at Jesus Calming the Storm: Mark 5 v 35-41 

Annie Valotten : Line drawings for the Good News Bible : Jesus stills the storm

Then, taking the storm as symbolic of chaotic events in our lives, or in the news,

Tsunami : etched & sandblasted antique glass panel

we chose pastel colours to doodle...shapes & colours to express our/angry /fearful / chaotic feelings
then took time in silence to pray that Christ might still this storm within us,....

finally drawing a symbolic shape to symbolise His presence within & among us,
whether expressed as calm on a wide sea...

or a variety of other colours & shapes...

Anyone can join in...at any level... its simply a way of going more deeply into what you really wish to bring before God in prayer... & maybe, a way of getting away from the wordy "shopping list"!

On our second afternoon we had a go at intercessory prayer, without using words, but instead using coloured pastels & drawing shapes to represent the people / events we wished to bring before God in prayer.

Interested?  
then do let me know...and we might plan some more small groups in Wivenhoe...
or a Quiet Day somewhere, focusing on silent prayer through creative art.

 ( click on page "Prayer painting/Quiet Day" above for more details )