ARTS IN MINISTRY

Creativity is the power of life

I have loved introducing community art projects to children, youth, adults to do together – murals and collages and intricate sculptures.  These ventures – in the planning, creation, and appreciation – have been a metaphor for what a faith community can do together.

Art conveys beauty, meaning, insights, in a way that everyone senses, even if they don’t understand.  The power of art is that it moves us from being passive in the world, to being actors, a part of the creation.  Whether or not we are the musicians, painters, dancers, poets, or potters – we can gain inspiration from those arts.  And we can find the art form that moves us and helps  us see our work as not just mundane, but creative.  Our lives become our work of art, our churches become communities of co-creation.  And each of us becomes an artist empowered to transform the lump of clay into a shape we choose.

The creative process helps our leaders be innovative in their thinking.  And the arts used well in worship, in our appreciation of our buildings and grounds, in our learning and playing can inspire us all to deepen our commitment to the lives we are on this stage to play out.