Make a Joyful Noise!

   Make a Joyful Noise/I Will Not Be Silent

By David Crowder

 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord

All the earth 

The flowers of the field

Are cry'n to be heard

The trees of the forest

Are singing

And all of the mountains

With one voice

Are joining the chorus of this world 

And I will not be silent

I will not be quiet anymore 

Running through the forest

Dive into the lake

Bare feet on beaches white

Standing in the canyon

Painted hills around

The wind against my skin

Every ocean

Every sea

Every river

Every stream

Every mountain

Every tree

Every blade of grass will sing

I have always felt extremely close to God in nature. Be it meandering through a

wooded path or playing chase with the surf, His presence is known to me. I picture

in my mind, all of God’s creation in a sweet chorus of worship, praising their Creator,

continuously. I’m reminded I should do the same. As I move through this life, busy with

“things to do,” I want to slow down, notice how the breeze causes the leaves to

dance and hear their song being lifted up to our God. Like creation, I will not be silent,

I want to be known for making a joyful noise.

 

This beautiful exhibit features the photography of Cass Delp, Celesa Hagan, Chris Perez,

deAnn Roe, Kevin Henderson, and Sean Aulthouse.

 

Sing for joy, you heavens,

for the Lord has done this;

shout aloud, you earth beneath.

Burst into song, you mountains,

you forests and all your trees...

Isaiah 44:23 (NIV)

 

 

Grace & peace,

deAnn Roe

 

creative arts director

LWCC | email | 717 542 9024 x126

 

Restoring Wonder

Portrait, capturing the essence - Ty, deAnn's son 2008

[Below is the Restoring Wonder handout from last week at The Studio]

 

sept 19, 2012

[ Restoring Wonder ]

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.
Albert Einstein

 

Truly, I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.

Jesus

 

Portrait, capturing the essence - Evan, deAnn's son 2008

 

 X  Wonder       X

Verb       1. To think or speculate curiously.

              2. To be filled with admiration, amazement, awe, marvel. 

An attitude of wonder is essential if we are truly to experience the creation and the Creator. — Howard Zehr

 

Imagine what we’d see in this world, in others, in ourselves, in Jesus, if we looked as with new eyes, with childlike curiosity. 

 

X  Mystery       X

 

Noun   1. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown

          2. Any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.

We are called to openness, and sin is the closing off of ourselves from mystery. Closing ourselves to mystery is closing ourselves to God.  — Pat Koehler 

As a culture, we love movies and books that lead us in an experience of a mystery. Music and lyrics are often mysterious leaving us to wonder what the artist is really saying. Visual arts can take us on a mysterious venture as well.   

However, the grandest cause of mystery that we will ever encounter is our glorious God. Everything about Him is mysterious. He’s the Trinity—Triune God—Three-in-One, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Doesn’t that cause you to wonder? Doesn’t that sense of mystery invite you to explore more of Him? It should, He’s marvelous.  

What would it be like to consider approaching our spiritual journey as a passionate curious mystery in which to engage...instead of an obligation or something to check off a daily to-do list?

 

 

 X  Creating Mystery       X

How can we create mystery though the medium of photography? 

 

As photographers, we see things that draw us in, therefore we capture the image to savor and to share. By framing, cropping, editing the images through the eyes of curiosity we can arrive at mystery.  

My favorite tool for creating mystery in photography is a macro lens or close-up kit. Every photographer should have one or the other and use it often.

 

For example,

· Portrait—instead of a full frontal facial shot (that’s a tongue twister!), compose your photos to capture the essence of the person, such as the two examples above of my sons. Use a macro lens or close up kit to take ethereal images of their eyelashes or texture of skin.

· Nature—use a macro lens or close-up kit to take extreme close up images of a leaf, flower, clod of dirt, tree bark.  

I even go so far as cropping my close up images to create even more mystery. 

Creating mystery is easy. Seeing mystery is the challenging part.   

In our daily lives we don’t think much about the mystery of things; a bird in flight, a ship floating, the sound of crickets at dusk, a path leading you, God’s unending, never changing love for you despite your flaws.

To keep both wonder and vision alive, we must learn, once again, to be like children. —Steven J. Meyers

 

 X  Homework       X  

As with any creative endeavor—always ask God to be present with you and that He would make His presence known to you.

Enlist a close friend, spouse, child, grandchild, etc. to help with this exercise. In the knowledge you have of this person, create a series of images that capture the essence of their character, of who they are, what they like. You may choose to use color. But in the process of editing, convert a copy into black and white. Does that change what you are trying to capture?

Print 1-3 of your favorite photos from this series and bring them to The Studio next week, 9/26.

 

Also, I encourage you to pour over your photo library seeking images you have taken that are mysterious in nature or create a sense of wonder. In what ways do these images excite you? How can learning to see everyday things and situations through childlike eyes of curiosity and mystery help you to see your amazing God?

 

Reflection…

As you look over your photos from this homework series, what surprises you? What have you discovered about this person that you didn’t know before? What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you through this exercise?

 

Grace & peace ~

deAnn Roe

Drawing with Light

 

[Below is the "Drawing with Light" handout from The Studio on 9/12]

It’s easy to take light for granted. The sun provides light each day, even on overcast skies. Where there is no light, we flip a switch.

We cannot live without light. It gives life.

Not just physical life,

But spiritual life. 

Where do you see light? 

 

 

X  Draw with Light      X

The word “photograph” is derived from two Greek roots:

photo or light, and graph, to write. To photograph is to write, or draw with light. To photograph is to receive and hold light; a photograph is “frozen light.” Light is the essence of photography. Without light, there is no photography. *

 

Pay attention not so much to your subject, but instead, how it interacts with light.

 

X  Characteristics of Light       X

 

Quantity: this is the level of light—low lighting or bright lighting.

Quality: this is the hardness or softness of light.

Direction: where light is coming from—sidelight, back light, front.

Contrast: this is the difference between light and dark areas.

· Overall Contrast: refers to the extremes of light and dark in the image or scene as a whole.

· Local Contrast: refers to the extremes or transitions in some part of the scene or image.

Color: this is the warmness or coolness to light.

 

Note: Indoor tungsten lighting is “warmer” than daylight. However, sunlight the very beginning or end of the day tends to be warmer. *

 

 

 

X  Exploring Light      X

 

· Where is the light on the object? Where are the shadows?

· What is the source of the light?

· What characteristics does the light have?

· What shapes, forms, movements does the light create or  suggest?

· How does the light affect the movement of your eye?

· What are the emotional effects of these characteristics of  the light?

 

 

X  Truth about Light     X

 

God created light: Genesis 1:3 (NIV) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God is referenced as Light in scripture: 1 John 1:5 (NIV) This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you; God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

 

Jesus proclaims He is the Light of the world: John 8:12 (The Message) Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows Me stumbles around in the darkness. I   provide plenty of light to live in. Also see John 9:5.

 

Scripture is reference as Light: Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Your Word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.

 

We are to be light: Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. 

Eternal Light: Revelation 21:23-24 (NLT) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.

 

 

 

 

X  Homework       X  

As with any creative endeavor—always ask God to be present with you and that He would make His presence known to you. 

In your “everyday” spaces (the office, home, place of work, etc.) take time to notice the affects of light; the sun illuminates a room or how a lamp throws light onto the wall. 

Using your camera, take photos focusing on light and shadow. Shoot in monotone or sepia tone. If your camera doesn’t have those settings, you can change them in a photo editing program or app.  

Explore the images you created. Notice the light. Notice the shadow. Refer to the questions under “Exploring Light.”  

Have fun.  

Print 1-3 of your favorite photos from this series and bring them to The Studio this week, 9/19. 

 

Reflection…

As you look over your photos from this homework series, what surprises you? What have you learned about light and its affects?  In what ways can you parallel your spiritual journey to any of the images you have taken? What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you through this exercise?

 See ya next week!

 

* Adapted from Howard Zehr's fabulous little book, Contemplative Photography. I highly recommend it.