ECVA Newsletter

Three Little Words

Brother Francis
By Ruth Burink
Marble

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

        Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind,
        or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles,
        and bring them the joy of your salvation.

(The Prayers of the People - Form IV, BCP, page 389)

One of the aspects of liturgy that I find appealing is the joining together of the people in prayer. These prayers from the Book of Common Prayer give people the chance to join together in voice – as we also join together in song – to give praise to God and bring us closer to Him.

We can also offer personal prayers and there are those who would respond that 'I do not know how to pray'. And it is here that the Book of Common Prayer is our guide. As Father George W. Jones wrote, "Every good prayer is a green light to God's will – a pledge of confidence given to God."

At this time of need by so many following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, our prayers are needed. As Jennifer Phillips has written, “By word and mode of speaking we must seek to lift up those cast down, heal those suffering and broken, cry out for those oppressed and abandoned, comfort those who mourn, and remind ourselves of our created connection to all people and to the natural world.”

ECVA has three new features that offer solace and insight into prayer and healing. As you view and read Illustrating the Hours, Mourning to Morning, and Channel of Peace, please keep in thought and prayer those suffering hardships. Remember those three little words: Lord, "Hear our prayer".

Dan Hardison
Editor, The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts
editor@ecva.org

	Current Exhibition Illustrating the Hours For the new exhibition, Illustrating the Hours, artists explore the Daily Office – prayers offered for Morning, Noonday, Evening, and Compline. Curator Jan Neal explains, "The Daily Office teaches us that every day is a day for common supplication. The need may be revealed more clearly at times of grief, but during all times the need to return time to God is equally great." Here we find works of art representing the Hours and what these appointed times of prayer mean to the artists. Jan Neal has also provided a background into the history of the Daily Office. More . . .


	Visual Essay Mourning to Morning By Dorothy Ralph Gager In Mourning to Morning, sculptor Dorothy Gager created a series of sculptures that represent a personal struggle she endured. "My conclusion is that no matter what the struggle . . . the meaning of the cross of Jesus Christ is unchanged. And the power of the cross, Jesus' sacrifice, and resurrection would be my strength and my joy. And so it has!" More . . .


	Illustrated Word Channel of Peace Written by Cynthia Leidal Illustrated by Kristin Anderson Cynthia Leidal wrote the poem Channel of Peace in remembrance of 9/11, but it is a reflection on heartbreak and suffering with this appeal: To all people, to all nations wake up and see The oneness that we are in Spirit Awaken our desire for unity The words of the poem are aptly represented by the accompanying image, Pectoral Cross with First Covenant, by jeweler Kristin Anderson. More . . .


	From the ECVA Registry: Corpus By Timothy Bergren Colorado Springs, Colorado (basswood (Corpus) and Honduras mahogany (Cross), 2004, 18 foot cross, 9 foot Christ figure)		The Worship Well Church Publishing Incorporated has partnered with ECVA, the Office of Liturgy and Music, and the All Saints Company to provide an online community for conversation, collaboration, education, and the sharing of liturgies, images, music, art, multimedia, scripture tools, and more. The goals for ECVA are to increase visibility of ECVA and ECVA artists through The Worship Well; support increased use of art and image in worship and liturgy; and create support for ECVA artists in the areas of how to use art in church situations and how to ask for remuneration for the use of their art in church situations. www.theworshipwell.org.

	About ECVA
	The mission of The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts (ECVA) is to encourage artists, individuals, congregations, and scholars to engage the visual arts in the spiritual life of the church. ECVA values the significance of visual imagery in spiritual formation and the development of faith, and creates programs to support those who are engaged in using the visual arts in spiritual life. To learn more about ECVA, please visit www.ecva.org.		If you know someone who might enjoy our newsletter, please forward this issue to them so they can learn what is happening at ECVA. To subscribe, visit www.ecva.org/newsletter.htm and enter your email address.