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Lenten Journey
   
By Ruth Susen Riley

During the month of March 2003, Christ Church, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, held an invitational exhibit of art for Lent. But the exhibit would be much more than just a display of fine art; a book comprised of visual images from the exhibit along with poetry in observance of the Passion accompanied it.

The Art Committee of Christ Church, comprised of four people at the time, decided to hold a Lenten Invitational Exhibit. Invitations were sent out to artists who had exhibited in the Preston Cutler Gallery at the church previously and/or were church members. They were asked to submit three images for consideration and the committee chose one or two from each artist to be in the exhibit.

The idea was to put together a quality show on the walls of our “gallery” – one of the church’s common meeting/reception rooms – that would also serve as a means for meditation and reflection for parishioners during Lent. Towards that end, the Readers and Writers Guild at Christ Church was invited to respond to the exhibit in writing and poetry. In fact, all parishioners were encouraged to do so.

As the images were compiled
digitally and matched with poems – so that words and images complimented each other – a book emerged. Thanks to the generous offer of a parishioner who works as a freelance publisher to oversee the publishing at cost, we were able to requisition funds from the church to make the book a reality. Professional proofreader and writer, David Cottingham, made sure the book was ready for the press by donating hours of his time and expertise. The end result was Lenten Journey: A Visual and Poetic Observance of the Passion – a 36 page, 8 1/2" x 11" paperback book filled with 29 images and 27 poems reflecting upon Lent. Information on each writer and artist is also included.

Robert Hanlon, creator of the constructed piece, Juniper Cross, tells us that when we “commanded” him to “make something for the exhibit”, it was just the catalyst he needed to turn an interesting old piece of juniper into an elegantly styled crucifix that now adorns the wall of the church over the healing chapel.

We are grateful to the many artists, writers, and other parishioners who gave of themselves and shared their work generously, allowing us to fashion a book that we could all be thankful for and that has served as both a visual and poetic inspiration for the parish and for many people outside the parish.

Thanks be to God!

 

 


Cover image by Steve Hawley
Psalm 16:8 (I have set the Lord always before me)
oil and wax on paper, 10" x 13"

Lenten Journey: A Visual and Poetic Observance of the Passion is available for sale from Christ Church. For information on purchasing a copy, please contact Ruth Susen Riley at ruth@rsrileyfineart.com.

 


Holy Trinity
By Steve Hawley
ink and watercolor on paper
9.5" x 8"

 

     
 

Introduction
Lenten Journey: A Visual and Poetic Observance of the Passion

The rich, ancient, and extraordinary liturgies of Holy Week begin on Palm Sunday with this collect:

Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts whereby you have given us life and immortality.

Joyful contemplation…a strange thought as you peruse the images in this booklet. They are mostly of suffering, forlornness, pain, death. And yet, it is the paradox of Christianity—God was never closer and more active than in the events of Jesus’ passion.

George Rutler writes:

Particularity is the ground of devotion, at least from the Christian point of view, because Christianity is the account of how God became particular. There was a period—one period of thirty-three years, to be precise, and a moment—three hours of a Good Friday, to be quite precise, when God was as specific with us as he ever was.

The mystery of the face of the eternal God, mostly hidden, dwelling in light inaccessible—yes, with hints in creation, glimpses in history, stirrings in the human soul of every one—is now unveiled in space and time in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. His passion reveals God’s passion, a passion of suffering and a passion of desire. For this is love revealed, passionate love, for you and for me. Christian art is sacramental; that is, it seeks to mediate not just images or ideas but grace. As you contemplate these words and pictures, may you receive this amazing grace and have a foretaste of that heavenly joy which Christ’s passion has won for you.

Fr. Jurgen Liias
Rector of Christ Church

 
     
 
   
 
  Excerpts from Lenten Journey: A Visual and Poetic Observance of the Passion:  
   
 
  1 Poem: Juniper Cross
     
by David Cottingham
Image: Juniper Cross
     
by Robert Hanlon
  4 Poem: I Go To Prepare A Place For You
     
by David Cottingham
Image: I Go To Prepare A Place For You
     
by Patty Hanlon
 
             
  2 Poem: Journey
     
by Gwendolyn Carr
Image: Gethsemane
     
by Tanja Butler
  5 Poem: The Gathering
     
by Gwendolyn Carr
Image: This is My Body and Blood
     
by Dolores (Dolly) Erickson Reid
 
             
  3 Poem: This Friday's Tilt of Earth
     
by William Stevenson
Image: Communion Table
     
by Ruth Susen Riley
  6 Poem: Cosmic Crucifix
     
by William Stevenson
Image: Not As I Will
     
by Leigh Morgan
 
   
 
 

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©2005 The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts