Altarscapes

A traditional Gothic church can be very intimidating and a little cold.  Vast, vaulted ceilings, all that stone, stained glass windows and polished wood everywhere.  Small items on the altar are often lost and the visual needs of church goers is limited. 

 

For a service to promote the upcoming art mission program, Wesley UMC, set up art pieces by local church members and friends.  The altar showed cans of paint with shining colorful cloth pouring "paint" across the wood and onto the floor.  A paint sheet of canvas sat on a tabletop easel amid jars of paint brushes.  The question of the sermon that day was : "What Are You Painting?"

 

The highly visual elements were joined by a communal painting created at its close by members of the congregation attending that day.  Strips of paper with verses and inspiring quotes were glued to the painting to create the rays of the sun. It was set in the Transept Chapel to enhance prayer and meditation for those stopping in that area.

Wesley UMC (OKC) - 2015, Congregational Painting Created 1/18/2015
Transept Chapel

 

"Paint and Pray" Pilot Project Launched

In 2014, Wesley made application for funding from the "New People, New Places" initiative from the Oklahoma Conference.  So enthused by the possibilities their plan to offer a "Paint and Pray" offered, they organized a "pilot project" that began the first of February.  It is totally without funding, and no word of the status of the grant, but that did not stop people at Wesley!  Donations, fund-raising and other helps created the first classes.  Each session has an art lesson on a specific skill: backgrounds, landscapes, trees, light, color blending, etc. The goal is to create a series of smaller works and then later in the ending sessions (late March) produce a final project and show it in a display event at the church.  Each session also has a devotional time with Bible reading, prayer for the needs of people in the group, and introduction to this thing called faith.  The full program is set to launch in June and will be opened to the community and will seek to be an open doorway between those who are not currently in a church, are searching, or have questions.  Using art as the primary means of communications both instructors and students will take a journey of faith exploration  and see how that impacts their art.

Wesley UMC (OKC) - Attendees enjoy a painting lessons from visiting instructor (2015)

Building an Attitude of Gratitude

For the new year, Wesley UMC in Oklahoma City created a "Thank You Jar" for people to write down things they were thankful for: new job, health, being loved, having friends, etc.  Small slips of paper are available, fittingly enough, in a historic small wooden offering plate for people to use. It will remain up through Easter as an intentional effort to turn minds to the spiritual aspects of life. To help people rediscover the power of the attitude in accomplishing things, in being truly happy, and getting along with others. 

Wesley UMC/OKC - Transept Chapel