Bricknell Avenue Methodist Church Hull
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Bricknell Avenue Methodist Church Hull
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| Pastoral Letter |
PASTORAL LETTER
Still Waters ~ Reflective Art Local Lay-Pastor Karen Clark
Since the dawn of time, humans have responded in art form to wonders and God’s creation.
God the creator, the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters ready to create…. And then boom! Early man used cave painting to tell the story of migration and planetary courses and to show awe at God’s creation.
As we travel through time we see illuminated letters, stone carvings, glass windows, paintings and we read poetry and story that further develops this creative response.
When I began working in the church at Brough my previously creative time was taken up with a myriad of tasks and as time passed by I created less and less I missed it, but there was so much to keep me busy and then a couple of years ago, in a tombola at Brough I won a beautiful blank page hardback notebook. I recognised it as something incredibly special and although I desired to be able to use it, the intimidating white pages were too precious to use and so the book sat on my bookshelf waiting……. Occasionally I’d take it down and look at the pages longing to create and then one day I needed an image and although I searched the internet, I couldn’t find what I was looking for and so I took the book down and delicately drew and coloured the woman at the well.Then it returned to the shelf. Fast forward nearly a year and I saw a retreat advertised …. Well the rest is history. Over a week I felt the incredible presence of God as I worked through a series of mixed media art challenges and well and truly got to grips with the book. My confidence grew as did the boldness of the images and the risk taking, the joy of paint and glue and paper freed my mind into beautiful encounters with God and all too soon the week was over and yet I had opened my mind and I continued to engage with God in this creativity.
In late summer I felt the holy spirit urging me to share this with others and I began to plan.The first picture I’d drawn had come from Psalm 23 “He leads me beside still waters ~ His goodness restores my soul!” and the concept of Still Waters was created.September saw our introductory session attended by people from church and none church backgrounds joined together and after an introduction and a demonstration of a skill and the reading of a Bible passage, we sat in calm and peace with beautiful music filling our minds and freeing our souls,and as the Spirit allowed, we created. The church was also open for those who felt the desire to light a candle or to talk or to be prayed for.
Our second session took place in early October.It has been wonderful to be part of this evolving and sharing community and to hear stories of the impact of the Still Waters sessions.
The sessions are once a month although throughout the following month, more materials are provided and for those on Facebook in a private group which has allowed those who cannot join in person to be a part of Still Waters as we continue to share and encourage.The next sessions are at Brough Methodist Church on Tuesday November 1pm - 2.30pm and 2nd December 1pm - 2.30pm.You just turn up. All materials are provided. You do not need to have art skills, just a willingness to explore.
What to expect?
A calm and peaceful space.
A place where you can be you.
A sense of God’s presence.
A chance to explore and use creativity to engage.
Introduction to skills and techniques.
Inspiration and materials to explore and build upon the sessions
If you want to know more, then get in touch with Karen Clark @ Brough.
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