April Edition of Inklings

This is a special edition of Inklings, spanning spring and summer. Due to my upcoming maternity leave, there will be no July Inklings. The next Inklings will be published in October. Either read this edition online or pick up a hard copy in the Common Grounds Coffee Bar lobby of Living Word Community Church.

To submit your written piece for the October edition, email deAnn by September 22.

enjoy!
grace & peace ~ deAnn

Carol's Spring Images

Sea of Purple

Nice to see such bright colors on this dreary and drab rain-filled Monday...

Sweet Trio

Up Close and Personal!

Thanks Carol for sending us your First Signs of Spring images. Did you all hear? Once we get past this rain today, Tuesday and (maybe) Wednesday - the rest of the week and Easter weekend is to be in the 70's and SUNNY! Yay! Perfect weather for celebrating the glory of the Empty Tomb!

Grace & peace,

deAnn

p.s. - got some early spring pix to share? Email them to me and I'll post them on the Arts Blog.

Jane's Budding Spring Images

Photograph by Jane Leech

Photograph by Jane Leech

Thanks Jane for submitting your image of the newness of spring!

Please send in your images of the first signs of spring around your neighborhood! Email them to deAnn.

grace & peace

deAnn

Arts @ LWCC News Update

Last night was our monthly artists' gathering, the studio. We had some great discussion about what inspires us and how do we know when an art piece is done, actually DONE.

With our special Easter exhibit quickly approaching (April 4-April 25), many brought their piece and shared about it with our group, which was really awesome. This exhibit is shaping up to be very special. I can't wait. If you plan to submit a peice of artwork focusing on "what Easter means to you (the affect of the empty tomb on your spiritual life)," I'll need it by the middle of next week. I'll hang the exhibit the week of March 29th.

A reminder that in April, the studio will not meet in the coffee bar but will meet in the large conference room across the hall from the church kitchen. There is an event happening in the coffee bar that evening and they need the whole space. So, see you in the large conference room next month for the studio - that's April 21 at 7pm.

The May exhibit will focus on the theme of "April showers bring May flowers," so all the art work will feature the blooming side of May, flowers galore. All forms of artwork will be considered: paintings, sculptures, photography, collage, mosaic, etc. So, get busy creating and submit your peice(s) to deAnn by the week of April 19th (or bring it to the studio in April, 4/21). The May exhibit will run from May 2-June 11. Also, if you come up with a snazzy title for the May exhibit, email me and we'll post the titles on this blog - then we'll vote on which one to use. A arts community at work together!

This quote by the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, stirred a lot of conversation last night: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Consider his words, as a creating artist, what does this mean to you? As an observer of other people's artwork, what does it mean to you?

Because I don't want to bore you with too much text in one single post, I'll reserve the remaining thoughts I have about creativity as a spiritual discipline for another day. Stay tuned.

Grace & peace,
deAnn

PhotoChallenge: First Signs of Spring

Today's beautiful weather prompted me to slowly investigate any signs of life on the surface of my garden's soil. To my surprise a few slivers of greenery are poking up through the salty cinder remnents, decaying leaves, and last springs retired mulch. While spending a few moments snapping photos of the first signs of spring, one thing really hit me - the fact that my heart is much like the soil - thawing and somewhat ugly because of the harshness of winter - yet, fertile and ready to spring forth with abundant life. Through this quiet practice, God reminded me that I am alive and He longs to bring new things of beauty to life through me, just like He does every single spring since the beginning of time. I found myself deeply humbled in His presence. It's amazing what we can experience through our creative nature when we are open to His voice.

With all that said, how about a photo challenge? With your camera in hand, head out to your yard and look for first signs of spring. While you do this, consider the ways in which God is sprouting (or longs to sprout) new things of beauty in your life. Send me your photos and I'll post them on this blog.

Grace & peace ~

deAnn

Recap of Thursday's PAGES

I stepped in for deAnn’s role as leader but not in the aspect of pregnancy! It was a pleasant time as we opened with introductions to a new attendee. After a few announcements, we began our time together with a ten minute writing prompt. Three vases of inspirational spring flowers were placed in the middle of the table. One vase held a vibrantly colored bouquet, another held slightly under a dozen dazzling coral Gerber daisies and in contrast, an additional vase held some slightly aged flowers that were still holding their own from a Valentine’s Day arrangement. Some brief comments about where these flowers took everyone’s pen… “lines and simplicity,” “spring is coming," "longing for spring,” and “fading beauty.”

Celesa - I can't thank you enough for leading PAGES for me this month. Heading into my eighth month of pregnancy is taking it's toll, energy-wise, on this 40 year old person! :0)  ~ deAnn

WRITERS/POETS: One last reminder - please submit your pieces for the APRIL edition of Inklings via email by next Monday, 3/22. Because of my pregnancy (I'm due May 13) and the three month materity leave, there will be NO July Inklings. So, get your work to me for the April edition!

Grace & peace ~
deAnn

PAGES on Thursday

This Thursday, March 11, is our montly writer's gathering: PAGES, from 7-8:30 PM in the large conference room of LWCC. Bring your writing notebook, pen, or laptop - and a desire to write!

7:00- 7:30 is connecting as writers through community
7:30-8:30 is a silent time of writing. Nice, huh? If you have a writing project, bring it to work on. Otherwise writing prompts will be available.

See you Thursday!

Grace & peace ~ deAnn

The Door is Open

This Sunday, March 7, kicks off our annual Global Missions Focus here at LWCC. This can only mean that the Gallery @ Common Grounds is filled with colorful art, photos, and artifacts from around the world. All the items are submitted by those in our church family.

Just some of the countries represented in this exhibit, "The Door is Open ~ an invitation to experience God's beautiful world," are:

• Argentina
• Pakistan
• China
• Thailand
• South Africa
• Wales
• France
• Niger
• Burundi
• South Korea

More items will be coming in this week from Israel, Palestine, and Turkey. This exhibit runs through Sunday, March 28. Be sure to pick up the gallery booklet, "The Heart Behind the Art."

Grace & peace ~
deAnn

York Area Arts

Check out the upcoming arts events happening in York, Pa. It's awesome to support the local arts! Go to Cultural Alliance of York County for more information.

Grace & peace ~ deAnn