WHAT'S THE BUZZ?
The Church and Art

As Christianity spread across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa after the "conversion" of the Roman Empire, Christian churches reflected earlier temples and other stately buildings in external structure and internal art.  The churches were designed to be interior worship spaces rather than exterior (like many of the ancient temples).  And in that interior space, art began to be seen.  Walls were decorated with frescoes and mosaics, relics of the saints occupied special places, the capitols of many columns depicted Bible stories, and statues began to be brought in.  In the East there were icons and a screen of icons (the iconostasis) behind which was the high altar.  In many churches the inside of the dome was painted or covered in mosaics (with lots of gold).   And by the middle ages there were beautiful stained glass windows devoted to the stories of Jesus, the saints, and the acts of God (like creation).

Because our founding as a nation was after the Protestant Reformation, many of our churches reflect the simplicity which defined the Protestant worship style.  We have wonderful cathedrals - like Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and the National Cathedral in Washington - and we have some churches that are graced with beautiful stained glass - like St. Michael's!  But many of our Episcopal churches reflect a simpler style - especially in the West - like St. George's and St. John's.

The art of the church is a wonderful way of learning our sacred stories - and reminding us of the world around us - created by God, and of which we are stewards.  Our vestments and altar hangings convey the symbols of our faith which causes us to reflect again on many of our most important stories.  Our flags and banners remind us of our past - who we are as a people of faith.  And one of the most important purposes of art is to speak of God without language - so all may understand.
This year has been a remarkable year at St. Michael's and St. John's for ART!

Earlier in the year, we talked at St. John's about building a path outside on the undeveloped land, for stations of the xxx (cross, resurrection, Cosmic Christ, advent, epiphany, and others).  I found a wonderful piece of art (at the time a book cover) and wrote to the author to see if we could use her art.  Nita Ng lives in Malaysia and is a spiritual director - and was coming to California for a conference a month after I contacted her.  She came to visit the churches, and gave us the right to use her art.   So sometime soon, we will be staking out our pathway and putting up signs of the resurrection from her wonderful book.... Picture is attached!

Not long afterwards, I had an unexpected email inquiring as to whether we would be interested in participating in an art exhibit from Sweden, known as "Ikons in Transformation."  After a long series of emails, calls to other Episcopal priests who had hosted the exhibit and some calls with the artist, St. John's and St. Michael's decided to go ahead.  The artist (Ludmilla) and her husband (Jan) came to visit after the installation in Carmel and LOVED our churches.  So when the exhibit begins they will be bringing 139 pieces of art (some as large as 8 feet) to display at St. Michael's and St. John's.  

But although both of these artists are from far away, we have also had wonderful conversations with two local artists - Vickie Conde, whose wonderful dove now graces our new newsletter banner, and Mary Lou Correira, whose beautiful watercolors of Mt. Diablo and our own area here have been on bulletins, retreat programs, and the internet periodically, to remind us of the beauty that surrounds us right here!
We look forward to using some of this wonderful art in different forms - Tshirts (always popular), coffee cups, and pictures on the walls of our churches.  We have been graced with encounters with wonderful artists in the last few years..... and we look forward to being able to use these gifts to foster our understanding of God, to inform our meditation,  and to remind us of the stories that Jesus told.  
         
+Rev. Amanda

Mt. Diablo by Mary Lou Correira

Ikons in Transformation

THIS WEEK

Tuesday
Service and Adult Ed
Where:  St John's
Time:  10:00 AM

Wednesday
Morning Prayer 
Where: St Michael's
Time:  10:00 am in the library
Bible Study 
Where: St George's and St Alban's.  Study of St Barnabas 
Time:  11:30 am 

Thursday
Centerpoint
Where:  St Michael's
6 pm Celtic Prayer
6:30 pm Dinner and Adult Ed
Centering Prayer
Where: St Alban's and St George's 
7 pm  in the Meditation Room (Kitty Hayes)

Sunday
Services
8 am Communion - St John's
9:15 Morning Prayer - St John's 
10:30 am Communion - St Michael's
celebrant:  Rev. Amanda May
9 am St Alban's
11 am St George's
celebrant:  Rev. Jill Honodel

Readings for this week can be found here

Celtic Nights 
Where:  @ St John's
Time:  6 am Evening Prayer
7 pm Dinner and Program
Music provided by  Margaret Davis, Kristof Klover and Deirdre McCarthy
time_for_change.jpg
FOR THE TIMES THEY ARE A  CHANGING '...

Beginning Sunday, August 14th service times at St. John's and St. Michael's will change as follows.  

8 AM - Holy Communion at St. John's (spoken)
8:30-9:15 - Program & Coffee Hour at St. John's
9:15 - Morning Prayer at St. John's (with music)
10:30 - Holy Communion at St. Michael's (with music)
11:30 - Fellowship & Coffee Hour at St. Michael's
6 PM - Evening Prayer at the Chapel at St. Michael's (starting first Sunday of September)

This schedule will be in effect through September!  Click here to read a letter from Rev. Amanda regarding these changes.

RELAY FOR LIFE
Saturday August 13th
Sunday August 14th
Time:  10 am to 10 pm
Location:  Mt Diablo Elementary School
To donate click here

PRAISE IN THE PARK
Saturday, August 13th
Time:  1 pm to 9:30 pm
Location:  Todos Santos Park
Featured Artist:  Mandisa

St Michael's, St John's and St Michael's preschool will have tables at the event.  Stop by and say hello!

For more information click here

EQUIPPING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY
On Saturday August 27, plan to be at St. Stephen's Orinda for training in a full array of stewardship skills for beginners and pros. Davey Gerhard will be teaching an introduction to pledge campaigns, and Caroline McCall will be leading Appreciative Inquiry, a foundational skill for experienced stewards. Other workshops include Eucharistic Ministry and Visiting, Lay Pastoral Care, Stephen Ministry, care for people with dementia and much more. Ed Bacon - a progressive spokesperson on issues of faith and justice for all regardless of race, gender, faith, or sexual orientation, and recently retired rector of All Saints, Pasadena - will deliver the keynote address address on the theme of Common/Wealth. There will also be lunch, worship, and a chance to connect with Episcopalians from neighboring congregations. Save the date, start building your team, and register now.

When: Saturday, August 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WhereSt. Stephen's, 66 St. Stephen's Drive, Orinda
Cost: $25 (general); $10 (members of Contra Costa Deanery congregations), free (St. Stephen's members)


 
OKTOBERFEST
October 1st - St Alban's and St George's
More details to come

INVITE WELCOME CONNECT

Date:  October 29th
Where:  St Alban's and St George's
When:  10 AM to 4 PM

Presented by Mary Parmer, i nviting, welcoming and connecting people who come to our churches are critical and strategic steps for building healthy, vibrant and growing congregations. Mary developed materials, including easy-to-use check lists for each step to provide an objective assessment of a church's current situation. The assessment tools are supported by an extensive list of creative and concrete resources and examples to form an intentional newcomer ministry that results in a systemic and positive change to participating congregations.
 
Church Websites
St. Alban's                
St. George's                            

SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER...

Please send any submissions for the Holy Spirit E-News to   Diane by  Tuesday evening of the week you wish it to appear.