Read the Bible. Make Art. Drink Coffee. Live!
OK, maybe you don’t like coffee, but you can substitute it with water, tea, milk, juice, a soft drink, or a smoothie! The point is that since God created us in his image, we all have certain creative gifts too. We just need to reach down and draw from that imaginative child that still lives within us. By reading the Bible, and meditating on its meaning, we can then respond through doodles, sketches, lettering, journaling, poems, lyrics, or other creative expressions. In other words, we’ll use the arts as a vehicle to express our feelings and respond to what God is trying to tell US through his WORD. I’ve been doing this since I was a child, and it’s truly a meditative and transformative process to live by. As Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” So, please do join me!
The Bible response group will meet once a week, from Wednesday, October 28th, through Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020. We will meet in the mornings, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, via Zoom. If you’re interested, please contact the church office for the link. Below is a list of the readings we’ll be using. You may join one or all the sessions, so don’t worry about missing one if needed.
- October 28 – Matthew 5:1-12
- November 4 – Matthew 25:1-13
- November 11 – Matthew 25:14-30
- November 18 – Matthew 25:31-46
- November 25 – Mark 13:24-37
- December 2 – Mark 1:1-8
The goal is to increase our knowledge of God’s Word, as we foster an environment of communion with Him through our personal gifts and talents. The class format is simple. We’ll use the following weekly schedule:
1 – Prayer (3-5 minutes)
2 – Lectio Divina (5-10 minutes)
3 – Sharing of reactions (10-15 minutes)
4 – Your choice of Creative response (10-15 minutes)
5 – Voluntary Sharing Time (10-15 minutes)
There will be no critiquing of any of the works, plus finished works and perfection are not necessary. It’s about our personal journey with our Lord in a safe and loving environment. So in addition to an NRSV Bible (you may also access the readings through the links I provided above), all you’ll need is a notebook/sketchpad, plus pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and/or other simple art materials.
If you have any questions, please ask me at Church or via Facebook. I’m excited and looking forward to seeing you there. Shalom!
Arnoldo+
