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Black Lives Matter

Posted on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 by lookandhear

My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness is on my eyelids… My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
Job 16:16 and Job 17:1

Today’s lectionary led us to Job 16:1-17:2. The passage dives us deep into the depths of lament. I wonder how often you allow yourself into the depths of lament? Job helps us to go to a place of raw honesty. A place where we need to pour out our hearts. A place where hope can emerge from the depth of despair. We are preparing for a 24 hour period of continuous prayer across Manchester diocese from midday on Sunday 28 June to midday on Monday 29. I look forward to being involved in posting content onto the Thy Kingdom Come Facebook page. Our theme will take people from a place to lament to a place of hope.

The image on this page is part of a series of photographs by James C. Lewis. They have crossed my path as we make our stand and say that Black Lives Matter. This photograph helps us to re-imagine who Job was. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job” (Job 1:1) This is such a wonderful book opening, introducing us to the homeland of Job. Uz is sometimes identified with the kingdom of Edom, roughly in the area of modern-day southwestern Jordan and Southern Israel. The peoples skin actual tone may not be the tone of the Job you imagine in your minds eye. Now is the time to reflect on the diversity of faces of our bible heroes. Now is the time share our faith stories. Stories of variety and wonder that unite all people no matter what creed or colour.

Elijah Encounters God

Posted on June 12, 2020June 17, 2020 by lookandhear

In today’s lectionary we read the story of the great prophet Elijah encountering the presence of God on Mt Horeb in 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13. It is an evocative story which I love. Elijah was aware of God’s presence, not in such dramatic events of a raging wind, earthquake or fire but in peaceful sheer silence.

Look and Hear

I spent some time imagining Elijah’s time of encountering God on Mt. Horeb. 1 Kings 19:13 made me imagine Elijah inside the cave before sensing the sheer silence. Using Artrage 6, I created this digital painting using paint and digital collage (photos from pixabay). The dramatic events in the text line the cave walls.

Elijah 2: *Sheer Silence* – Artrage 6 digital painting by Revd Tom Studman

After encountering the wind, earthquake and fire Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. In this second painting I imagined Elijah stretching out His arms. He was standing in wonder, praising God for the beauty of the silence in which he had sensed the Lord’s powerful presence. I pray we may all encounter the sheer silence of God in this season of pandemic. May you sense the purity of the peace God gives us.

Creative response?

Stand on the mountain before the Lord

Maybe you imagine that Elijah was standing out on the mountain observing the wind, earthquake and fire. Explore using the space I have edited into this image, to create your own art response to this story. As you spend time making, may you enjoy the company of God and encounter the pure silence of His presence.

Dance of the Trinity

Posted on June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 by lookandhear

Look

Rev’d Gill Sakakini is a good friend and inspiring colleague of mine. I love Gill’s ink and collage titled ‘Dance of the Trinity’. Gill provides some insight into her piece in her book (written in collaboration with Karen Case-Green) called Imaging the Story Rediscovering the Visual and Poetic Contours of Salvation. I wonder how you respond to the image and what description you would write in response to spending time with this artwork?

In this painting. Dance of the Trinity, 2005, three individual but overlapping figures move together against a background of fragments of the sixth-century Athanasian Creed, which explores the doctrine of the Trinity. The forms have a layered transparency making it unclear as to who is in front, in fact, the intention is to show each dancer taking a turn as the principal while the other two recede but are never out of contact. As the figures flow in dynamic movements they interact with and make room for each other, which reflects the mutually indwelling persons of the Trinity.
Karen Case-Green, Imaging the Story: Rediscovering the Visual and Poetic Contours of Salvation (Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2017), 112.

Hear

As I prayed with this image, I had to figure out how the three Persons merge and blend. Once again I have been challenged by art, like in my last Trinity post, to question my understanding and faith expression of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a majestic beauty about their dance. The mystery of Trinity draws me in and causes me to want to find out, to search, discover and encounter each person. I sense Christ is the most obvious figure but could it be the Holy Spirit leading me into the dance?

Creative Response?

Gill spent time reflecting on the Athanasian Creed. Why not spend some time creating a colouring watercolour blend of pencil blend upon which you can prayerfully write the words of the creed. Consider the qualities of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Would you change the wording to reflect your understanding?

The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is immeasurable,
the Son is immeasurable,
the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
The Father is eternal,
the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.

Trinity Sunday

Posted on June 7, 2020June 12, 2020 by lookandhear

On Trinity Sunday it is valuable to ponder the wonder of the Trinity. Christian.Art posted this illumination by Jean Fouquet. It causes me to question who is who. The three figures enthroned are Father, Son and Spirit. But which is which? Clothed in white, are they all the same? Reading art can be a challenge and I hope to investigate this image more. However, as I look at this image, I hear God speak to me. I am caught up with a cloud of witnesses whose focal point in the Triune God. As my eye is drawn into the focal point of Father, Son and Holy Spirit I am fascinated and want to find out more. I am stirred to ask, do I know these divine Persons? Do they all blur into one another in my mind? Remaining in this space, dwell… and allow yourself to be drawn in. Sense being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses praising and honouring Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity in its Glory, Illumination by Jean Fouquet, Illustration in the Hours of Etienne Chevalier, Executed circa 1445, Painting on vellum, © Musée Condé, Chantilly, France

Creative Response?

Who is who?

An instinctive response to this image would be to explore the three figures. Use the base white clothing as a blank canvas. Try printing out the image and adding colour to ponder and express each person of the Trinity. Andri Rublev consciously choose to dress each figure in his 5th Century icon of the Trinity in specific colours. See video below.

Trinity Explored

I explore the Icon of the Trinity by Rublev in this weeks Trinity Sunday reflection. Section starts at 4:15min.