The Maker's Space

In keeping with our theme 'Like a Tree' from Psalm 1, we explored the palm tree.  Our most favorite attribute was that it produces fruit its whole life long!  What an inspiration for us all and an encouragement as we age and go through our lives.  It is never too late, or we never have to feel useless.  There is something that can still be produced in our lives as fruit.  Something to think about! We were led expertly through the background, foreground and tree painting.  Adding hightlights, lowlights, and fruit at the end.  What different, yet wonderful interpretations for all that attended! Paintings are ready to be picked up after being displayed in the gallery!

In March, we were able to visit one of the founders Jana Zajicova and their school "   ZŠ TRNKA Dobříš"  in Dobris, Czech.  Jana has been teaching English and other subjects with her students since they started in first grade and now they are in their fourth and fifth years.  Every year since the new school started, they have been adding another class.  They will be starting to plan for junior high curriculum next summer.  Their English has improved since the last time we read to them two years ago.  As last time, we brought an English children's book from author Nancy Berrios.  Her new book, The Child Artist, was a big hit with the children, as it has interactive pages for the children to draw and color in their dreams and wishes.  The discussion that followed reading the book, and giving the children time to think and color in their imaginations, was lively and all in English.  What a wonderful day to see these children excited about l...

Nine artists from the Glen Ellyn Covenant Church, created visual interpretations of nine hymns to make a self-led prayer walk. See below for details. Sunday Evening  Prayer in Lent Sundays  March 10 – April 7  you are invited to a time of self-guided prayer, reflection and meditation in the sanctuary.  Using hymns and songs of the faith that have been illustrated by our visual artists, you will be given the opportunity to engage your eyes, ears, mind and heart in communication with God. This is how it will work: A booklet containing the song lyrics will be provided for you. A visual rendering of each song will be on the walls in the sanctuary. A ‘QR’ code is available for each song which will allow you to listen from your phone. Take time to meditate on the hymn and pray a response to God.  You do not need to make it through all of the hymns in one session. Below, is a link to the Lenten prayer guide with URL codes and reflections of the hymn For ...

We missed you! Our "like a tree" Psalm 1 series continues as we braved the cold to play with clay.  The technique was easy and fun as we coiled a tree relief of roots, branches, fruit and leaves.  After our coils were finished we "flattened" them with a rolling pin to have everything stick together and then reapplied the details of the curves with different clay tools.  After all of that was finished, we chose different glazes to enhance the whimsy of the tree form we created.  After firing, the unglazed portions will show up as a creamy white. As trees are different, we were all created different and unique.  There is not another person like us nor will there ever be.  We were created on purpose and as our complete selves, purely for God's enjoyment and to bring Him glory.  What a great purpose for life!

January is such a wonderful month to reflect, look forward, clean out, and rearrange your schedule by adding or subtracting things in your life that do or do not bring you life and joy. Scientists in brain science are measuring brain waves during times of boredom.  Did you know that boredom leads to more creativity?  If there is space in your life to not think about immediate tasks at hand, and to rest, it has more of a chance to think creatively. Never before have we been multitasking 24 hours a day.  The phone and constant connectivity does not allow our brains to rest.  We were not wired to be "on" 24 hours a day.  Our brains need down time, not just during sleep.  Our brains need rest during wakefulness to process and think about all of the information that comes before it through our eyes when we continue to connect with our phones. Boredom allows the brain space and rest.  So next time you find yourself stuck in traffic, stuck in line or j...

Our night of slowing down and drawing with pencil happened 12/10. For those that came out of the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, found some peace and quiet slowing down and drawing an olive tree with pencil.  Much can be learned from the steadfast olive tree and the references to it in Scripture. Primarily, the olive tree symbolized faithfulness and steadfastness.  Psalms 52:8 says, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;  I trust in the mercies of God forever and ever." No matter what the conditions:  Hot, dry, cold, wet rocky, or sandy, the evergreen olive tree will live and produce fruit.  It is said that you can never kill an olive tree.  Even when cut down or burned, new shoots will emerge from its roots.  This Scripture passage reminds us that no matter the conditions of life, we should remain steadfast as the olive tree in the presence of God-evergreen {faithful} and bearing fruit. Our theme this year is "like a ...