The Maker's Space

  There was a new format this year at Purpose by Design, geared to teenagers to expose them to thinking about the possibilities of their future.  This year, in developing new leaders to pass the torch and bring in a new generation, the retreat format was a one day event at a beautiful local hotel.  The girls were greeted at 8:00 am in the morning and went non-stop until dinner.  They were exposed to entrepreneur presentattions, mentoring, elevator introductions, body language and personal presentation tips. At the end of the day, we took some time to breathe, listen to God and make art. It is always amazing what the girls hear when they slow down, stop talking and start to listen. Our Workshop: You’ve heard a lot of ideas today… What do you want to do with your life…. You’ve met a lot of new people today… Who do you want to be like? Now we are talking about character, not profession or circumstances… but character can help or hinder you from achieving the goals you m...

On the spring equinox, 2025, at the Vail Church in Colorado, we used art as a tool to explore the big question of Identity looking at "Who Am I?" and the book by Klyne Snodgrass, "Who God Says You Are."  In it, Snodgrass explores how boundaries shape our identity

  What a wonderful evening spent in God's presence meditating on pushing back the darkness with God's light inside of us.  The lesson itself can be found below as well as all of the pictures of art.  The medium of charcoal absorbed us completely, to chase away outside distractions and focus on God Himself!

 20 girls from Chicago, Fox Valley Christian Center and Decatur traveled to Tennessee for a weekend retreat of empowerment with the theme "I am you and You are Me." The Maker's Space provided a time of art creation and reflection. See their art!

Our 4th session at Vail Church was on Your Identity in Christ using affirmations from the Bible.  We had done this one with the Junior High Sunday School Class, and this time invited adults, young adults and families.  All were so amazed at how God spoke to them through color and magazines and creativity of slowing down to listen.  The actual lesson can be found below the art so you can try it yourself!

  Vail Church's Junior High Sunday School Class, exploring their identity in Christ, was led in an art worship workshop of affirmations and who we are in Christ.  Collage was the medium where the students practiced their listening skills from God, and were led to concentrate on 1 of the many affirmations of who they are if they have decided to follow Jesus.  Many wrote the affirmation that they chose, and all were a beautiful collage of how they saw their affirmation statement.  All of the students were deeply engaged and would have worked longer if they had more than the 45 minutes allotted to the class.  Below is their raw artwork with some of their affirmations:.... Then, Wendy overlayed the students profiles that they had made during the previous week's class.  Not all of the same students were in attendance both weeks, but she worked with what she had.  The beautiful results are below:

Come carve out some time to write and be inspired! 277 Hawthorn Blvd.  Glen Ellyn, IL Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church  

Breath as Prayer Bead Bookmark and Journal Blank Journal – found some inexpensive at Five Below store $5 for $5, if you want to share. Prayer Bead Supplies to Make at Home: You can use old beads from broken jewelry or rosaries (10 or 12 beads) Purchase a pack of colorful beads from Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby or Michaels. 16” string small enough to string through bead whole. Inexpensive cord can be purchased from Joann’s or Michaels too. Look for discount coupons before buying. There’s always a sale. Cross Charm or favorite charm from broken jewelry or rosary. Tied at end of bookmark to weight it down. Instructions: Cut a piece of cording or string to about 16”. If your journal is long make the cord a little longer. Ties a simple knot at the top of the string. Lace on your 10-12 beads. I used different size beads for my fingers to feel when saying the breath prayers. Tie a simple knot below the last bead that you strung on the cording. Tie a charm on the end of the cord. I used a cross ...

  See the art from this workshop  https://www.themakersspace.us/2023/10/visual-journaling-of-psalms-1-and-2.html Exciting things have been happening with The Maker's Space this January, 2024!  The Vail Church in Avon, Colorado has been wanting to start a creative group for the last few years.  This year, it is happening with 2 sessions scheduled for January, and more TBD.  It just took interested individuals to be willing to lead and open up space to slow down and listen to The Maker using different art forms. 

  Supplies:  Empty plastic ornaments from a craft store, craft paint and or marbling craft plain available from a craft store or any extra you have, newspaper for dripping paint. Welcome to The Maker’s Space!   You have set aside this time to meet with your Maker and do something creative together!   Our God is such a creative God and is so full of joy at the presence of you and your attention and focus on Him.   Come and try to leave your burdens with Him for a while so that you can find rest, peace and hear how much He delights in you. Let’s ponder the awesome mystery of a Love that knew us before we were born and will follow us beyond the grave. We are going to start with a short meditation to help us shift our focus off of ourselves and on to God.   Listen, and then we will do a time of focused breathing to help us get out of our left brain control mode and into a right brain creative mode.   Deep focused breathing slows down a racing heart and hel...