Pectoral Cross with First Covenant
By Kristin Anderson
sterling silver, vitreous enamel, 2001, 5 inches long

Channel of Peace
Prayerfully co-created by Cynthia Leidal
(with tribute to the Holy Spirit)

Surrender to the Sabbath when life has brought you down
Come away to a place to rest from all of the sound

Dwell on the word of God and be still in prayer
Quieting our thoughts yet be present to the Spirit in your care

Relaxing to the flow of this season's rest
Carry all your burdens to the one who knows you best

A transition from brokenness to transformation we all hope for
To bring healing and restoration to the thousands or more

We all suffer from the day that 9-11 represents
The bloodshed, the torment that evil presents

An American symbol, a flag torn and ripped
Is a hint of an image compared to the lives that were stripped

From freedom to fear we question day after day
Will our safety return, we wonder, we pray

A sabbatical we need from the hate that was displayed
How will our children imagine reconciliation from that day?

Do we encourage loving beyond the enemies who hate?
Instill in us the hope, the peace with one another sooner than late

May our minds be refreshed with the Holy Spirit as our guide
To build in us trust and with God, may we abide

Rekindle in us an effort to lead us toward peace
Remember apply mutual edification in our day to day release

A natural way of saying that
every one of us can grow in compassion
and be with one another in grief and confusion

May God's presence be amongst us
as the promise of covenant is made clear
A dove and a rainbow symbols of re-creation close and near

To all people, to all nations wake up and see
The oneness that we are in Spirit
Awaken our desire for unity

Cynthia Leidal lives in Plymouth, Michigan and is an artist and a graduate student at the Institute of Pastoral Ministry in Windsor Ontario. She will be presenting her final project in 2006 with the theme Ministry of Reconciliation with Creative Applications in Pastoral Ministry.

”I enjoy painting in prayer & meditation with life experiences to grow in a creative relationship with God, self and others. Graduate studies in pastoral ministry and certification in both spiritual direction and the Veriditas Labyrinth Project open me to experiences of the healing power of God's love and creativity. As a professional layleader in parish ministry for twenty years, I am grateful to practice integrating the arts within these disciplines.”

Email: sincerelycynthia@usa.net

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kristin Anderson has lived in Apalachicola, Florida, since 1985 where she owns Long Dream Gallery.com. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Art Metal from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and has taught silversmithing in the past. Kristin's jewelry of silver, gold, enamel and stones was included in Heart's Path – Retrospective Exhibition at Studio Jewelers, Ltd., Madison, WI (2004) and Objects of Desire Exhibition, The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL (2004).

"Jewelry has many functions in our lives: adornment, display, reminder, signal. Adorning yourself attracts pleasing attention. Display lets others see your status in society. A reminder keeps you in touch with a friend, concept, or belief. A signal lets others know that you are married, or have a particular religious affiliation. Beautiful jewelry, finely made, connects you to history, the maker, the giver, to ideas and beliefs that you want to have grow in your life. Every piece that I make is an ambassador for my belief in quality of materials, design, and craftsmanship."

Email: info@longdreamgallery.com
Web site: www.longdreamgallery.com