Peace Day at the Labyrinth

Saint George Episcopal Church 
24219 Witte Road S.E. 
Maple Valley, WA 98038 

Cole and I were once again invited to paint next to the beautiful labyrinth on September 21st for Peace Day. As people come to walk the labyrinth in quiet contemplation or in fellowship with others, we will be there capturing the joy and beauty of the event. All are encouraged to join. We will have hands-on activities for the kids since it was such a hit last time!

Please invite others. Build a community of peace in your own part of the world!

NEW ZEALAND OUR FATHER - PRAYER BOOK - Altered Book

I found a cool board book and covered it in black & white gesso... then thought of what it might be. Over a year ago I started a daily habit of prayer and have since wanted to gather my favorite prayers in a personalized art book. I am working on this project for the month of May. I found this amazing prayer and think it will be the first page text. let me know if you have interesting transfer techniques to get the words into the board book.

A version of The Lord’s Prayer

from The New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,

Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and for ever. Amen.

FROM THE LIBRARY - Illuminating the Word

Illuminating the Word : Making of The Saint John's Bible, by Christopher Calderhead, ©2005

Secret of Kells project continued-As I bounced around the library search engine this book popped up, called by most "the American book of Kells" I was intrigued... This is the backstory on the Saint John's Bible commissioned by Saint John's Monastery in honor the Millennium celebration.

The book of Kells inspired me as a history, but the artwork in the Saint John's bible got me to thinking about how I could illuminate the word in my own life. It is a great and interesting thing undertake illuminating the biblical text by hand in a era of very little being done by hand. A modern day Scriptorium was born and letter artists came together to illuminate.

Why? One of the monks explain "The word becomes sacramental. It is not just a text, it is like the Eucharist: A visual image of the Word." Engaging people especially young people to encounter the scripture in a new way.

I am feeling inspired... off to the studio.

Walking the Labyrinth

This year has been such an amazing year of spiritual growth for me. Do in no small part to my labyrinth devotional. I have been walking a beautiful labyrinth at St. George Episcopal Church in Maple Valley weekly since early spring. It has expanded my creative life and helped me leap my creativity into high gear.

My practice usually includes praying with a question as I start walking toward the center. I feel the Holy Spirit surround me and capture the answer to my question. I love spending time in the center in peace. As I head back out from the center I pray in thanksgiving and for my family and friends.

As it gets cold and wet I find I am trying to fit it in only when it is dry and sunny…. Then I had to walk when it was wet. Yikes – harder to not rush through and get back in the car.

Then I thought of Mary, yep the “on the donkey “Mary, a question came to me what was her path like? I found myself slowing down and pondering her path, I even began to hum Silent Night.

I will bring this walking meditation into all my holiday preparations and celebrations. It is a great pause in the swirl of the holiday season.

The If Project

"What If …. There was something that someone could have said or done to have helped you that may have prevented you from getting where you are now, what would it have been?"

A simple question asked to a group of inmates in a Washington women’s prison. Answered 240 times in essay form at theifproject.com. I heard from the co-founder and a graduate of the program tonight at St. George’s Episcopal Church.

It was an eye-opening experience. Seeing women who look like me, locked away, who have never been asked - how did you get here, what advice to you have for children, what would have made you path different? What if?

As I listened to these fabulous women speak, I thought about my own life, what if my path wasn’t as supported, what if I was not raised in the bedrock of my family, but instead on shakier ground. What if I had not married a kind, gentle and loving man? What if?

I was humbled by their stories and by their essays – what if? Please take time to look at the website www.theifproject.com. I hope to do some volunteer work with them soon.

The thing both Kim & Miss B came back to – was to listen to children, come along side and support them as a caring adult, show love, honest true love.

Painting for Peace

St. George Episcopal Church is hosting an International Day of Peace Paint Out on September 21 from 9-4 pm at our Labyrinth. Come and bring your creative supplies (including works surface & chair), lunch and creative juices. Be inspired by thoughts of peace, labyrinth walkers & our cathedral of trees. We are located at 24219 Witte Rd SE, Maple Valley, directly across from the Lake Wilderness Elementary School.

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for
individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on
a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to
coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.

May Peace Prevail On Earth

www.stgeorgemv.org