Promise North Fork Arts Night and Show
Last Saturday we gathered with old friends and new ones to share a promise that has changed our lives and inspired our art.
Our friends own a church building, now out of use. They always saw art and faith in that space. They welcomed us to use it. Thank you J and S!
The neighbors were curious. Some visited. Those who stayed said they were blessed. Others were just glad the place was open once again. That is what Jesus does, after all - bring life from the dead.
We brought Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and life beyond death through song, poetry, dance, ink and paint. It brought creatives together and churches linked arms over what is most important. It opened up conversations with new and old friends and the Lord’s grace slipped into the places in all of us needed his promise the most.
We didn’t take many pictures… we were too busy talking to folks! But this gives a glimpse. Thank you to our friends, Bethany and Doug Fotia, for helping! Check out Bethany’s music here!
Thank you to our friends from The Porch started by Jay and Erin Urena who brought coffee, music, and new friends! They have a coffee ministry and do lots of things to love folks in Riverhead, NY in Jesus’ name.
We were blessed by the support from Mattituck Presbyterian, Mattituck Church of Christ, The Vine, and True Light plus other friends who joined in. More to come. Perhaps you could see this blessing your neighborhood?
Sean shared some of his newest songs… check out his music here!
“God is Bigger” by Jen Welsh
Micron pen and watercolor paint on Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor paper 17.5 in x 11.5 in
When my nephew was small he compared everything to my husband who is 6'5". He would say "That's big. But not bigger then Uncle Mike right?" To him, nothing was bigger then Uncle Mike. When I was speaking to God about this image He gave me He reminded me that the Blue Whale is the largest animal in the world. And He said to me "I am even bigger then that. Even bigger then Uncle Mike."
“Who’s Driving?” by Jen Welsh
Micron pen and
Ticonderoga 2 HB pencil on
Strathmore Bristol vellum 11 in x 14 in
The inspiration for this was a message I heard from Krystal Miller of Home church in Shirley, NY.
Sailboats have motors so we can drive them and sails which rely on the wind. The Holy Spirit is the wind from which we are meant to get our sails filled. Who is driving your boat?
Watered Garden
Sally Cummings
Mixed media on 16" x 20" canvas.
Isaiah 58:11
"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Isaiah 43:18-19
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"
Proverbs 4:23
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Lost Sheep by Bob Mueller, Oil on panel, 10 x 8 inches
This is the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18: 12-13) exemplifying God’s covenant promise. The view is from Mount Nebo in Jordan where Moses viewed the promised land. It magnifies the wilderness we all experience and in turn, magnifies God’s saving grace. The painting was used to illustrate the cover of Rev. George Gaffga’s devotional book “Grace in the Wilderness”.
This Is the Story of a Place, 2025, Mixed Media on Paper
by Kelly Collamore
As a writer, place is a critical character in all my stories. It can be rugged and unforgiving or nurturing and peaceful, but in every story, the setting can teach us something. When I think about the promise of grace and unconditional love, a place comes to mind where we are welcome with open arms and we are safe. I think about forgiveness that we sometimes struggle to give but that God gives freely to each of us. This is the story of a place where we are loved for who we are, where there are no borders, no boundaries, and no fear. Where God's love is all we need.
In this piece, I arranged photographs that I took (Paris, France; Havana, Cuba; the North Fork) that had strong imagery of place – a home, a village, a street. Fragments of maps and contour lines depict a journey to go with a destination in mind, and the flower arrangements made of various foods and flowers represent beauty and nourishment.
Medium: watercolor, pen, pencil, acrylic, newsprint, maps, and magazine images.
Can I Heal, Now That You’ve Broken Me?
by Rhyan Norris
(Reverse Poem)
You hurt me.
How can I ever believe that
I’ll move on?
I know that
You’ve damaged me beyond repair.
It can’t be true that
You loved me once.
That was a false notion.
You broke me
And now that will always be true.
Somebody told me, “You are loved”.
You broke that too.
How could I ever believe that
I have hope?
You ended me, obliterated me.
I now know that it was never true that
I can be loved.
But that doesn’t even matter.
You hate me.
Maybe
That’s all that matters.
I’m not surprised that
I’ve shattered.
Now, it’s untrue that
I can heal.
(Now in reverse)
I can heal.
Now, it’s untrue that
I’ve shattered.
I’m not surprised that
That’s all that matters.
Maybe
You hate me.
But that doesn’t even matter.
I can be loved.
I now know that it was never true that
You ended me, obliterated me.
I have hope.
How could I ever believe that
You broke that too?
Somebody told me, “You are loved,”
And now that will always be true.
You broke me.
That was a false notion.
You loved me once.
It can’t be true that
You’ve damaged me beyond repair.
I know that
I’ll move on.
How can I ever believe
You hurt me?
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