HopeArts

Updates from HopeArts.

  1. Art Topic: “Friendship with the World”

    How does a Christian Artist avoid “friendship with the world”? Being “in the world, but not of it”?

    As a one with a degree in Philosophy I almost choke on my own question — the amount of presuppositions and implicit assumptions upon which that question rests, as well as all the undefined elements (to the question), is huge.  But I think I kinda like asking it that way, for that reason.

    Involved in the question are my unexpressed notions that Christian Artists somehow interact with the world, such that they could be at risk of becoming “friends with the world” (whatever that means, since I have not yet explained that phrase). Well, I would certainly hope the Christian Artist, in one sense, is always at risk of being friends with the world in which they are, but are not of.

    But here is where the storyteller has to take over the philosopher. I was thinking the other morning, in a flight of fancy, about the old descriptive chestnut,

    “that [child] has a lot of their daddy in them.”

    I began considering how the Christian ontology changes the way we speak, even on such a level as making such expressions as that near meaningless, if not judgmental and wrong. I started wondering how such colloquialism at one time provided an ability to make declarative, “naming” statements which imparted (facets of) identity. As humans (and especially as artists) we are made to call out — ex-nihilo of the conceptual / intellectual landscapes and emotional  ethers (in the fashions of ones created in the image of a creator God and bearing His creative stamp) — the truth and identity and even worth of (created) things.

    See, here is where the real “Existential Rub” comes in for me. Frederick Buechner wrote a book which spoke to me in the final year of my father’s life, “Longing for Home.” In it Buechner describes a moment of shared joy, an experience of joy his wife and daughter and himself all felt at watching a killer whale leap from the water into air, before crashing back down into the water. In this book, and in other, fictional works, Buechner explores what it means to long for a fatherland as yet to come — that land to which such moments of joy and beauty as that with the whale harken. The saying goes something like, happy  is the man for whom any land is whom but blessed is the man who eagerly awaits a certain fatherland as yet to come.

    Matt Ryniker’s sermon on Hebrews 11 (indeed the whole chapter in and of itself) sort of speaks to this sojourning pilgrimage through these earthly and mortal coils while looking onward in faith. It is about hope, I guess, that quality produced through suffering leading to perseverance leading to character leading to hope that doesn’t disappoint because God has shed the Love of His Son into our Hearts through His Holy Spirit.

    How do we not live as friends of this world? Well, it is living in or at least living for that far off fatherland to come, which we know of in part… but only in part. I think it is that part we know of which we as artists absolutely have to be making our subject matter. A tiny picture of that is writing about the joy coming from seeing a killer whale leaping out of the water, and about the reminder this is of where we have yet to see and explore.

    I have to wonder if, on some level, that that is not the very role of the Christian Artist — to harken (not necessarily in an evangelical way solely, since evangelism is for those not in relationship with Christ) to that far-off land, the onus of the artist so to speak.

     

  2. Weekly Arts Update 09/25

    W.A.U. (Weekly Arts Update) 09/25

    Last Week’s HopeArts Group:

    Last Week’s Arts Hope Group (the first in over a half decade, I think), was very well attended, with 10+ attendees. We read aloud through the first chapter and a half of Hebrews, and the introduction to Buechner’s “Telling Secrets.”  The conversation revolved around the notion of Story, and our stories, chiefly the importance and place of stories in relevantly communicating. One dissenting voice offered a counterbalancing perspective (also raised within the Buechner reading) of the relative importance of subjectivity in receiving and telling of stories.

    The beginning thrust of the conversation was upon how the  telling our secrets, if even just to ourselves, helps us to connect with the core of what it means to be human, the quintessential and existential experience we all share, most notably in that of the gospel.

    From the discussion of the Buechner material, done in light of the grander meta-narrative (of our lives) as indicated in the first chapter of the epistle / book of Hebrews, we concluded by raising the question: into what are we calling people when we tell our secrets and stories? Continued discussion over these topics are encouraged here on Realm in this Group.

    Upcoming Group Meeting:

    This week (for the HopeArts Hope Group) is “open creative time”. While there is no group meeting this Wednesday evening, the writer’s workshop is meeting at Genuine  Joe’s coffee shop on Anderson to workshop any pieces for which folks  are wanting input (same time, 6:30-8:00 P.M., NO childcare).

    However, the next Art Hope Group will meet Wednesday Oct. 3rd, 6:30-8:00 P.M. (same place; childcare at Hope Chapel).  We will spend a goodly amount of time in chapter 2 of Hebrews, and will need to have read (if possible) the first two chapters of both the Buechner and L’Engle books.

    Events on the Horizon:

    Saturday,  Oct. 6th Gallery Reception for the Textile Art Show “Fabric of Community”; 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. ; bring a pre-packaged finger-food/reception style treat.

    Saturday, Nov.17th Arts Group Fundraiser “Crafted with Hope: Makers Fair” all day in the Hope Chapel parking lot. Booth space for selling work is available, as well as donation pieces are welcomed. Check with Richard C. and Ashley Littlefield for all details.

    Did you Know:

    HopeArts has  Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and web pages? And that along with Hope.Org ministry section? Follow Us!

  3. Women’s Ministry Gallery Exhibit

    Currently on the walls of our Gallery is the progressively-revealed Women’s Ministry art show, entitled “Women of Hope”. The show runs from mid-Aug through September, and is an evolving show, which means its content is dynamic and changing over the course of the run. Show features artists from Hope Chapel and abroad, and explores the questions of Womanhood and Hope in multi-generational experience. For more information be sure to check the Women’s Ministry blog.

  4. Sherwin Shindig Back On!

    The Sherwins have returned and their baby is healthy! Please join us in welcoming Michael, Allison, and Aeden Sherwin home for a short respite. They will be sharing about God’s movement in South Africa and how He’s expanding His kingdom throughout the nations!

    We will serve a light lunch in the Lighthouse September 23 beginning at 12:30 PM, so please RSVP to Marty St. Onge by September 20.

  5. Calderon Training

    Last Year

    377,710 Gospel presentations

    37,471 new Followers of Jesus

    20,997 Leaders identified, trained and mentored

    2,643 Churches and small groups planted

    Carlos Calderon has served with Partners International for 27 years and has been instrumental in training and mentoring local leaders to equip them to reach their own people with the gospel. Come receive practical tools that will enable you to engage the culture around you while loving people well. RSVP Ceci@theproegers.com

    September 15

    9am-12pm

    Hope Chapel Lighthouse

  6. Register for Senders U!

    Register Now

    Jesus sends his followers to make more followers in all nations, just like He did when He was walking the earth in human form. Be like Jesus. Either GO or SEND!

    Would you like to learn more about how to be a good sender, like Jesus?

    Spend a day with the Hope Global Team as we host experts from All Nations who will teach us how to better serve our people working abroad.  Learn how to be effective in caring, equipping, and sending!

    April 13, 6-9:30pm

    April 14, 8:30-4pm, Lunch Included

    Red River Church, 4425 Red River St.

    $25 singles/ $35 couples, Students by donation

    *no childcare available

    Register Now