A photo of the audience and the panel of young student artists, enjoying an evening of celebration
and banter with an encouraging community
having to do with art.
and banter with an encouraging community
having to do with art.
One of the things that impressed me was the special gift St. Aidan's School was giving these art students and the church community.
How many christian schools are making an effort to include and encourage visual arts in their curriculums? Not many! Mostly these schools have embraced the much more comfortable world of music. After all it's not only much safer but is related to worship which has much more to do with the core of christian living. Not only that, but schools need students so to embrace and encourage and teach creative arts is much more risky, it could affect your attendance. Many believers have a huge problem with the arts and cannot see how this could enhance one's spiritual life in any way. If you want students in your school, this is one of those areas school boards will want to stay away from or tread very carefully.
I believe we are seeing a change towards the arts in the church. Churches are now cautiously allowing individuals to do paintings at the front of the church during worship time. One church I know has a volunteer artist giving guiednce and shepherding up to three artists painting during worship services. Thes are sold, given away, or hung throughout the church facilities. They also inclde printed cards for sale of each painting done. Is that not awesome?
Some pastors/speakers are including visual arts in their power points or have may have someone paint or draw an illustration related to the subject as they speak. One of the churches in our own city hires an "Artist In Residence" position, who then provides technical training and faith based art projects within the various church programs. There are also gifted artists available as itinerant speakers who's presentations center around creating art to make a spiritual point. Some of the larger churches are beginning to have a volunteer or paid position giving leadership, guiding, teaching and encouraging the arts as group activities, therapy, prophetic arts for worship, evangelism and so on.
These art students you see above are artistically gifted. They are sensitive, creative, imaginative, smart, intuitive and loving disciples of Jesus. What's not to like abut that? I pray that now that at least their own churches know of their growing artistic abilities, will welcome them and begin discussions with them around ideas of how they can make their art an avenue of ministry in their home church and community. How incredibly exciting would that be?
Thank you St. Aidan's for this gift and leadership in our community.
How many christian schools are making an effort to include and encourage visual arts in their curriculums? Not many! Mostly these schools have embraced the much more comfortable world of music. After all it's not only much safer but is related to worship which has much more to do with the core of christian living. Not only that, but schools need students so to embrace and encourage and teach creative arts is much more risky, it could affect your attendance. Many believers have a huge problem with the arts and cannot see how this could enhance one's spiritual life in any way. If you want students in your school, this is one of those areas school boards will want to stay away from or tread very carefully.
I believe we are seeing a change towards the arts in the church. Churches are now cautiously allowing individuals to do paintings at the front of the church during worship time. One church I know has a volunteer artist giving guiednce and shepherding up to three artists painting during worship services. Thes are sold, given away, or hung throughout the church facilities. They also inclde printed cards for sale of each painting done. Is that not awesome?
Some pastors/speakers are including visual arts in their power points or have may have someone paint or draw an illustration related to the subject as they speak. One of the churches in our own city hires an "Artist In Residence" position, who then provides technical training and faith based art projects within the various church programs. There are also gifted artists available as itinerant speakers who's presentations center around creating art to make a spiritual point. Some of the larger churches are beginning to have a volunteer or paid position giving leadership, guiding, teaching and encouraging the arts as group activities, therapy, prophetic arts for worship, evangelism and so on.
These art students you see above are artistically gifted. They are sensitive, creative, imaginative, smart, intuitive and loving disciples of Jesus. What's not to like abut that? I pray that now that at least their own churches know of their growing artistic abilities, will welcome them and begin discussions with them around ideas of how they can make their art an avenue of ministry in their home church and community. How incredibly exciting would that be?
Thank you St. Aidan's for this gift and leadership in our community.
“The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit,
the greater your capacity to create.
That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny
in the life to come.”
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Nov. 2008 general conference
the greater your capacity to create.
That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny
in the life to come.”
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Nov. 2008 general conference
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