Dandelion Worship & Artist Retreat!
We are building community with artists who want to use the arts to share the grace of Jesus with those outside the church. Of course, we want to bring healing and encouragement to those inside the church too. But when you aim beyond yourselves, you end up doing both!
We began by hosting an artist retreat last weekend with artists in the Northeast, some new and some with whom we have already partnered, where the musicians would write collaborative worship songs. We are grateful for a grant through Creo Arts that allowed us to offer this retreat for free! We used Incarnation Center in Connecticut and kept the fireplace lit through a rainy weekend.
We wanted to feed people with the Gospel for them first. The first night I preached on the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume in Mark 14/Matthew 26… and John 12 (with a little Luke 7). That led into a group art project where each person poured acrylic paint on a large piece of primed plywood. Their “perfume” was colorful, chaotic, and disarmed those who poured. It was a tangible way to shift from travel into a creative mindset. Before the end of the retreat, Dan Miller touched it up to pull it together. We all agreed it actually stands on its own now! The “Color Blob,” as it was affectionately coined, will likely become a welcoming table for future art outreaches. It is filled with our prayers, our grateful response to Jesus’ love for us. It will continue to be a way to disarm and invite people into his love.
Sean cast the vision to use the art we create in an arts night at a church and then go out into our communities. The arts night would provide a safe place to practice. The outreaches would provide the trajectory to share this art with our neighbors. He continued to reiterate this throughout the weekend. At first folks were surprised that the art didn’t just end in the retreat. Then a little intimidated. Then emboldened and pumped to partner.
We worshipped and waited on words and direction from the Holy Spirit the first night. We wanted to be encouraged; we wanted a timely Word to fill others who are hungry and thirsty. We got many pictures and Scriptures: light flooding from scars, massively crushing waves that bring new life in their wake, and Jesus’ immense love like a father holding a baby close to his chest.
Then each night, some retreated to bunk beds seeking sleep, some chatted around the fire, and many continued to sing in worship late into the morning hours.
Saturday was a work day. Folks brought their gear! I supplied art materials, but Dan Sylvia also brought plenty to share! Tables of paint, charcoal, paper and canvas lined the entrance for folks to use. The musician group had three electric pianos, amps, a Viper (electric violin-cello-base!), electric basses, and of course, guitars. We didn’t expect so much gear but it was perfect. Two goals of this retreat were to write a collaborative worship song and for the visual artists to dream about how they might do live-art in worship. On Saturday FIVE new songs were written! We went crazy to each of them. They hit the heart and lift the head. One person even said, “This is the new Oceans!” Bp. Drew likes to say that creativity is a mark of the Spirit; the Spirit was at work in all of us.
The visual artists enjoyed meeting one another. Some made finished, beautiful pieces. Others are still in process. The artists each carried powerful testimonies and skill. All the visual artists wanted to listen in on the music being made. Music influences our mood and art so much. Dan Miller and I began to dream how we might design a performance art piece that uses the themes in the music to share the grace of Jesus. We had at least 3 ideas that we shared. It wasn’t a problem of too little creativity; it was a flourishing, an outpouring. Now for the editing, refining, and focusing time. Sean and I were blessed that the people seemed more interested in partnering, not less so, as the weekend went on.
On Saturday, Sean led a meditation on the Beatitudes. He showed how the woman who anointed Jesus with oil embodied each one. It was a powerful insight that spoke to us all. Jesus’ love is for broken people; he makes us bold through his forgiveness and ability to bring life from death. We were each the forgiven, grateful woman testifying to his extravagant love through extravagant oil - in paint and song form.
We ended the weekend by worshipping to the songs that were written. They really work! Then there was a spontaneous time of vulnerability where we invited anyone who needed prayer to share with the group and receive it. We were honored that people felt safe and free to do so. We ended with Communion. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer liturgy really sung as the final chorus, a crescendo of all that Jesus’ body and blood did and does for us. Sean had no voice the whole time, but that pushed him to help others write instead. I didn’t make much art but I got to pray for a ton of people. Sean and I felt our pastoral muscles get flexed all weekend; it was great.
We were so grateful to each person who came. We are so grateful to the Lord who surprised us with the caliber of art and camaraderie. We are grateful that Creo Arts wants to inspire and contribute financially to such things! And thank you to you for your faithful support of Dandelion. You are on the front lines as the Lord grows these seeds.
The Color Blob is on the move!
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