Unraveled: A worship series for when our plans fall apart

Last spring, we created a customizable worship series called, "Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart" about the ways God meets us in the unraveling of our lives to weave us into something new. We knew at the time that it was important, because sometimes our plans unravel into loose threads, and when that happens, we need to know God is near. We never expected a global pandemic.

Now as our churches, our cities, and our world are grappling with a new reality, the Unraveled series is even more relevant than we could have imagined.

Faces of our Faith Art Mobile—How To Create a Fun & Easy Worship Installation

As many churches all across the map join us in using our Faces of our Faith materials, we wanted to offer a creative way to help you name the faces of our your own faith communities.

As a team, we crafted this simple art installation using found objects in less than two hours, so we think you can create something like it too. Just follow the steps below or adapt them based on your own materials and ideas—the possibilities are endless!

Better When Writing—wholeheARTed guest, Rev. Martha Spong

Our wholeheARTed guest this week lives out a creative calling that roots her in collaboration—with inspiration, words, and people. As the Executive Director of Rev Gal Blog Pals, an online platform connecting women clergy all around the world, Rev. Martha Spong believes in the power of words to create sacred space and common ground. As a pastor to pastors, clergy coach and author, Martha lives into her multi-vocational calling with her creativity by her side.

Turning Thoughts into Things—wholeheARTed guest, Rev. Nicole Farley

Many of us self-proclaimed "artists" and creative types often profess a common creed. EVERYONE'S AN ARTIST, we say—to strangers, to friends, to unknown readers on the internet. Despite the disbelief we're bound to face, we proclaim what we've found to be true: our identity as creators is not determined by WHAT we create, only by the fact that we DO create—being alive is inherently creative.

From Scraps and Scribbles—wholeheARTed guest, Rev. Nadine Ellsworth-Moran

Scraps and scribbles. The corners of receipts and the edges of envelopes. Idle moments in traffic. A stroll down the grocery aisle.

Inspiration has no grand arrival—she shows up in spurts, often beyond the realm of convenience, announcing herself to you. The question is not if inspiration will show up; the question is if you'll be attentive enough to notice and courageous enough to respond.

Lisle Gwynn GarrityJuly 25, 2017creative writing, poetry, faith, wholehearted, inspiration, gospel of thomas, creative worshipComment

Coming Home

We hiked a mountain at 5 am, in cold rain, and nearly froze to death for the sake of the art. The introverted among us needed breaks. The organized among us needed a plan, and the late among us, well, ran late. We worked through meals, neglected sleep and every ounce of self care, due to poor communication. We carried our egos too closely to the surface, grappled with disappointment, failed to see the hurt on one another’s faces, and had to find the strength within us to say,

“Stop, I need to talk.”

Twirling

We sat together at a small urban table by the window, the leaves shuffling down the sidewalk like a fall parade led by the wind. And for two hours my hands stayed clasped around my mug, while Lisle’s hands moving freely through the space—painting pictures in my mind and sketches in her notebook—of this idea she could not name.

We talked about art, about the Spirit, about the church and what She needs. We talked about her training and my lack thereof. We talked about caffeine and seminary courses, and women in ministry. And all along, she was twirling.

Meditations on Trinity

In these ink meditations, artist Hannah Garrity explores the interplay between the three persons of the Trinity. Fluid and free, these abstract dancing figures express movement, intimacy, and connection.

A Trinitarian Call/Response Liturgy

(Feel free to adapt or use this liturgy written by Lisle Gwynn Garrity)

Father, Son, Holy Spirit,

God is both three and One, many in unity.

But how can it be?

UncategorizedLisle Gwynn GarrityMay 19, 2016trinity, art, faith, worship, Reformed Worship, creative worship, Creative Liturgy, liturgyComment