The Love That Holds Us
Learn about the process, background and how this mural developed.
Speech transcript below
Sunday April 2, 2017
2pm-4pm
All People's Church
2600 N. 2nd St Milwaukee, WI 53212
Mural in the sanctuary
 |
| January 13th, about three weeks into painting |
There were many moments and good memories that I'm going to miss while I was here. Before telling you about the mural itself, I want to share some of what I appreciate about the people here. Every day I came, I was greeted warmly and anyone was willing to offer a hand.
On average I came to work on the mural Monday through Thursday, 9am-3pm beginning in December. On a few occasions I stayed late, until 6 or 7, and worked most Fridays in February. Hannah, the Lutheran Volunteer Corp staff helped me put up the scaffold in late October and take it down last month. Her dad does plastering and this came second nature for her. She is pictured near the fountain with her youngest best friend, also pictured in the mural as the Child of Light.
Everywhere I looked when I needed help, help was there. For example, Manning keeps the church looking clean and in good repair. He always assisted whenever I needed a hand, and he happens to be a great cook. He even cooked a lunch of sausage breakfast sandwiches one day for me and a few other staff who were here!
I had the privilege and honor to work just a few feet away from David Nunley's workstation, the Minister of Music, over there next to the piano, where he sat just a couple of feet away from the scaffold. His music often inspired me to paint better and with more meaning. Being musical myself, it was a joy sharing that tight space with such a talented musician. He was happy to give me a few pointers on the piano. I'm going to miss that!
I'm also going to miss all the other staff for so selflessly offering assistance and guidance during my time here. It was like a second home. I truly got to know the inside of All People's Church, the jewel in the rough.
When I came to this project all I knew of the Church was it's work in the community, being known for having a presence under pastor Steve Jerbi during many movements, rallies and protests throughout the city.
So I was a bit overwhelmed as to how to do justice to such a legacy at first. When I engage with a project I engage very deeply. So I came to know a multi-faceted church, rich with what it offers to its own community as well as a broader community. To name a few, KWTS – Kids Working to Succeed. In that program kids get paid to learn about earth stewardship through working in the garden across the street for an entire growing season. Two years ago I worked for 3 weeks with KWTS students on some mural banners for the water totes in the garden across the street. That was my first, brief introduction to All People's Church.
There is a vibrant youth ministry. One day David was preparing a pre-recorded sermon by a high school student given during a youth-led service. I painted and listened while it played, and was in awe by the confidence in her voice and the depth at which she spoke. That kind of talent is growing here, which reflects one of their core values – We Make Disciples. There is a food pantry and meal program, the orchard and garden and many other ministries. If any of what you hear today inspires you to learn more about the Church and become involved, I encourage you to get in touch with staff for more.
I want to take us back to the beginning of the creation of this mural. The creation began in the moments of conversation between myself and a small group of members and friends of the church over three consecutive workshops. I want to take you through the process by sharing some of the questions and answers we worked with during those moments.
For me, listening to their insights were profound, as they were marked by heartfelt listening, deep feeling, and profound symbolism. I don't know that I could have brought such a richness to the mural had it not been for them. So I want to thank everyone that was involved from the beginning – Rhonda Hill, Betty Salahadyn, Julio Guerrero, Sophie Brown, Sandra Christensen, Amber Davis, and Pastor Steve Jerbi.
Let's start off by reciting my favorite inspirational poem, written by Marianne Williamson. We used this poem to open our first workshop.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Mission of All People's: 'Let the glory of the Lord rise among us'.
Everybody has a little light, a little sun, as shown by the candles in the mural. Everybody is special, has a song.
This mural is about making manifest the glory of God through Unity, as much as it is about overcoming personal loss, recognizing each other as family, and the story of the congregation.
When we come together in Unity, we demonstrate the reverence God has for us. We make manifest the glory of God's plan for humanity.
In The Beginning
The first thing I did when I came to this project was consult with Pastor Steve on what the purpose of the mural is. In my eyes, the mural needed to reflect the congregation and be a testimony and a witness to the mission both inside and outside of the sanctuary. I began by asking what were some of the things that were up for the congregation as a whole. The overwhelming majority of people, he said, had experienced loss due to gun violence on many levels. This comes up every Sunday in the form of prayers.
So I decided to use the theme of loss for our first session, and see where that took us. I was open to where that led, and designed each subsequent session to build on the last, leading us through topics of loss, resilience and healing, and ultimately our relationship to community, to the Church and to God. As I walk you through each topic, I will give the questions, and quote the responses that helped shape the story of what you see in this mural. As you listen, see if you can recognize the feelings unfolding before you.
When was time you felt a sense of loss?
During the first session, several reasons for loss came up – gun violence, deportation, illness. This can lead anyone to a downward spiral of grief. Knowing that a blessing is next to every wound, I couldn't address loss without also addressing resilience and healing.
People shared very personal stories, and I'm grateful for their willingness to go there. Their feelings were revelatory, like:
“Realizing that family means not just blood family, but who you keep the closest to you. The blessings are in the relationships we have with the ones we have.”
Loss wasn't only about now, but in the loss of the future, like after struggling with the loss of a loved one for so long from illness. Quote: “Being in my late 50's, I can choose to live on my own terms. I don't care about a lot of the petty stuff anymore.”
I showed this resilience and healing in the form of candles representing the light of the spirit; connection, closeness and lifting up in prayer.
Tell about a time you felt a sense of belonging. What was present that helped you feel that way?
I wanted to touch on what it means to be part of a community, whether in the church or outside. I left it open for members to share where and when their story took place, so locations varied from work, to a bar in Riverwest, to the church itself. I wanted to capture their feelings as a universal theme in the mural that could mean something to any of us right now. Here, paraphrased are some:
Gratitude. “Feeling grateful at work for not being excluded on account of national origin.”
Welcoming. “People saying 'Hi' as a newcomer to the church, after being invited by my landlord. And then feeling like this was gonna be home."
“Connecting with people who do such important work in the community, who may be averse to organized religion, where I get to just be 'Steve'.”
“Lots of laughter...it can hold pain, as well as come out of this church. This church holds it all.”
Throughout these 3 sessions, the mission of All People's Church would fulfill itself time and time again. “Let the Glory of the Lord rise among you”.
Everywhere I looked when I needed help, help was there. For example, Manning keeps the church looking clean and in good repair. He always assisted whenever I needed a hand, and he happens to be a great cook. He even cooked a lunch of sausage breakfast sandwiches one day for me and a few other staff who were here!
I had the privilege and honor to work just a few feet away from David Nunley's workstation, the Minister of Music, over there next to the piano, where he sat just a couple of feet away from the scaffold. His music often inspired me to paint better and with more meaning. Being musical myself, it was a joy sharing that tight space with such a talented musician. He was happy to give me a few pointers on the piano. I'm going to miss that!
I'm also going to miss all the other staff for so selflessly offering assistance and guidance during my time here. It was like a second home. I truly got to know the inside of All People's Church, the jewel in the rough.
When I came to this project all I knew of the Church was it's work in the community, being known for having a presence under pastor Steve Jerbi during many movements, rallies and protests throughout the city.
So I was a bit overwhelmed as to how to do justice to such a legacy at first. When I engage with a project I engage very deeply. So I came to know a multi-faceted church, rich with what it offers to its own community as well as a broader community. To name a few, KWTS – Kids Working to Succeed. In that program kids get paid to learn about earth stewardship through working in the garden across the street for an entire growing season. Two years ago I worked for 3 weeks with KWTS students on some mural banners for the water totes in the garden across the street. That was my first, brief introduction to All People's Church.
There is a vibrant youth ministry. One day David was preparing a pre-recorded sermon by a high school student given during a youth-led service. I painted and listened while it played, and was in awe by the confidence in her voice and the depth at which she spoke. That kind of talent is growing here, which reflects one of their core values – We Make Disciples. There is a food pantry and meal program, the orchard and garden and many other ministries. If any of what you hear today inspires you to learn more about the Church and become involved, I encourage you to get in touch with staff for more.
I want to take us back to the beginning of the creation of this mural. The creation began in the moments of conversation between myself and a small group of members and friends of the church over three consecutive workshops. I want to take you through the process by sharing some of the questions and answers we worked with during those moments.
For me, listening to their insights were profound, as they were marked by heartfelt listening, deep feeling, and profound symbolism. I don't know that I could have brought such a richness to the mural had it not been for them. So I want to thank everyone that was involved from the beginning – Rhonda Hill, Betty Salahadyn, Julio Guerrero, Sophie Brown, Sandra Christensen, Amber Davis, and Pastor Steve Jerbi.
Let's start off by reciting my favorite inspirational poem, written by Marianne Williamson. We used this poem to open our first workshop.
Recite: “Our Deepest Fear”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Mission of All People's: 'Let the glory of the Lord rise among us'.
Everybody has a little light, a little sun, as shown by the candles in the mural. Everybody is special, has a song.
This mural is about making manifest the glory of God through Unity, as much as it is about overcoming personal loss, recognizing each other as family, and the story of the congregation.
When we come together in Unity, we demonstrate the reverence God has for us. We make manifest the glory of God's plan for humanity.
In The Beginning
The first thing I did when I came to this project was consult with Pastor Steve on what the purpose of the mural is. In my eyes, the mural needed to reflect the congregation and be a testimony and a witness to the mission both inside and outside of the sanctuary. I began by asking what were some of the things that were up for the congregation as a whole. The overwhelming majority of people, he said, had experienced loss due to gun violence on many levels. This comes up every Sunday in the form of prayers.
So I decided to use the theme of loss for our first session, and see where that took us. I was open to where that led, and designed each subsequent session to build on the last, leading us through topics of loss, resilience and healing, and ultimately our relationship to community, to the Church and to God. As I walk you through each topic, I will give the questions, and quote the responses that helped shape the story of what you see in this mural. As you listen, see if you can recognize the feelings unfolding before you.
When was time you felt a sense of loss?
During the first session, several reasons for loss came up – gun violence, deportation, illness. This can lead anyone to a downward spiral of grief. Knowing that a blessing is next to every wound, I couldn't address loss without also addressing resilience and healing.
People shared very personal stories, and I'm grateful for their willingness to go there. Their feelings were revelatory, like:
“Realizing that family means not just blood family, but who you keep the closest to you. The blessings are in the relationships we have with the ones we have.”
Loss wasn't only about now, but in the loss of the future, like after struggling with the loss of a loved one for so long from illness. Quote: “Being in my late 50's, I can choose to live on my own terms. I don't care about a lot of the petty stuff anymore.”
I showed this resilience and healing in the form of candles representing the light of the spirit; connection, closeness and lifting up in prayer.
Tell about a time you felt a sense of belonging. What was present that helped you feel that way?
I wanted to touch on what it means to be part of a community, whether in the church or outside. I left it open for members to share where and when their story took place, so locations varied from work, to a bar in Riverwest, to the church itself. I wanted to capture their feelings as a universal theme in the mural that could mean something to any of us right now. Here, paraphrased are some:
Gratitude. “Feeling grateful at work for not being excluded on account of national origin.”
Welcoming. “People saying 'Hi' as a newcomer to the church, after being invited by my landlord. And then feeling like this was gonna be home."
“Connecting with people who do such important work in the community, who may be averse to organized religion, where I get to just be 'Steve'.”
“Lots of laughter...it can hold pain, as well as come out of this church. This church holds it all.”
Throughout these 3 sessions, the mission of All People's Church would fulfill itself time and time again. “Let the Glory of the Lord rise among you”.
Our creative activities.
I like to use activities that call forth personal meaning from people in ways that aren't direct, because sometimes often the stories are more layered and naturally visually rich. The work of sharing stories with each other makes my work less difficult! So I invited each person to choose one thing they shared to paint. Watercolors are something anyone can do no matter the level of skill or prior experience. As you can see, they didn't need to be masterpieces to convey a profound thought.
There is so much dynamic symbolism portrayed in the colors, the brushstrokes, the shapes. We wrote down the key symbols and themes. Here are some from our first session.
A key reflection that was shared here would later come back when we agreed on our title at the third meeting. It is, and I quote: “It's interesting that there is a centeredness in the moving, and the moving is the holding. The Holding is dynamic, when normally we think of it as static.”
We'll come back to explore this a bit more down the road, but immediately everyone started resonated with this idea. I thought it was a great transition from a feelings of loss and resilience to a feeling of being centered in bigger plan. I could start to feel it as a major theme emerging.
After all three workshops we found the following to be the most prevalent core themes: Color, family, light, person, food, Holding, sunset, circles, interconnectivity, intersectionality.
Symbolic Imagery
Another exercise I used to elicit metaphor and meaning was an activity called Symbolic Imagery. I invited people to do this at the 2nd session. Symbols can mean similar or different things depending on who is looking at it and where they are at the time. I wanted a way for people to come up with their own creative symbolism to weave into the mural that comes from deeper place.
So I chose photos of many different kinds of trees. Some tall and narrow, some short with a wide, sturdy trunk. Some winter, some fall. Some were alone, some were entire forests. Some stood against a woodsy background, others a flat prairie. Members were asked to choose one photo from a group of photos, and answer several questions.
See if you can spot these messages anywhere in the mural!
How does your tree represent a feeling of connection?
“Trees are a natural shelter. God made these trees before anything. There is a silent communication, as if to say 'ha ha, I was here first'. They have an intelligence.”
“A feeling of being part of God's family, and plan.”
“Stability. A mother's love. Love looks beyond, even in imperfections it pulls us through”.
“Looking up to God and Heaven. A Reminder that God loves us.”
“The colors remind me of a blanket”.
The mural embodies an intelligence, that we are all part of God's family. I wanted to convey these feelings of being covered, of warmth. A sense of reaching, of looking up. Stability in the form of big sturdy hands.
How does your tree represent how you feel in the moment?
“A sense of the unknown.”
“Holding on to God's promise.”
“God won't destroy the world.”
“Optimistic.”
“God's presence forever.”
“This mural is about God's certainty as much as it is about the uncertainty we hold in our lives.”
The mural holds an air of mystery, but God's promise is the light of the spirit which reveals all. A sense of hope even in troubled times. Remembering that He holds all of it, the uncertainty, and the plan for redemption. We can embrace and enjoy the beauty God has laid before us in His promise not to destroy the world.
It is the light of our spirit in each of us that reveals the path ahead. Optimism says not to fear the uncertainty in our next step, because in the light of spirit we find God's certainty. We come to feel His presence. We wonder how this is possible, with all of the chaos happening right now. What if we were meant to come together the way so many groups are doing right now? Maybe this was the plan all along, for us to unite towards a common goal?
WHAT HOLDS US?
Now we come back to the idea that we can be held in a way that is dynamic as well as static and unmoving. The same can be said for how we hold things. From that moment, I was deeply moved by the assertion of God as moving within us and outside of us as an ever-present, dynamic, moving force. I asked:
How is a loving, Holding presence able to be trusted (reliable) while moving at the same time?
Quote: “What makes God dynamic, not static, is the choice to have the ordinary dwell among us; invoking him makes it extraordinary.” I was moved again by a consensus from everyone that felt they only needed to give God permission to make his presence known.
“His presence is constant, but the ways in which he responds to who we are is changing, as we are ever changing.”
Adapting without faltering. Isn't that unconditional love?
We seemed to have a real energy in the room around this topic. God's dynamic presence in our lives brought a feeling of anchored-ness, and levity (lifting) at the same time. This was great in terms of thinking about the story of the mural, about imagery and composition. I pressed further; could anyone give a concrete example for when they felt this presence?
Quote: “When I sing, and people can feel it through me.”
"TRUST. He uses someone else to express his love. "
Quote: “When I invite myself to be fully present. Allow myself to be aware.”
Quote: “Letting him know to bring his light, that he can come in. Desiring the Lord's company makes it a relationship”.
The theme of a relationship was prevalent; that it is in the invocation of God where He becomes moving and not static. That means we have a choice, a liberty to know that presence or not. This inspired me the most, and set the tone to imbue everything in the mural with a sense of presence.
We Provide Sacred Space
This presence reveals itself in the form of light emanating from the church at night. David Nunley, Minister of Music here at All People's, extends a light in the doorway towards a newcomer. There is a sense of the sacred in every season – winter, fall, summer, spring. Even in darkness there is light when we invoke it.
How do you feel Held by All People's Church?
This mural celebrates how people feel about being a part of such a dynamic church. When I came to work on the mural I felt welcomed by all the staff and members who came in and out. Sometimes I worked late while youth programs were running and was impressed to learn that besides tutoring, they offer Tae-Kwon-Do and African Drumming.
Quote: “You don't know who you have until you embrace who you have.”
“Very welcome, very open even though I've been in and out for over 12 years.”
“People showing love and support.”
“Endearing. Nonjudgemental.”
“No false pretenses. Genuine. Likes the dress-down, jeans. There's Beauty and character here.”
Speaking of dress-down, that red sweatshirt Xavier is pictured in is the same one he himself has said he wears all the time to church, and I've witnessed it!
“As a young person, feeling supported in my voice mattering even though sometimes it may feel like it doesn't.”
Pastor Steve expressed having himself, his wife and kids cared for when he was laid up with a broken foot for months. Meals were constant and the church took care of his basic needs.
Quote: “God has no hands and feet but ours. We grow in grace like a trees growth; flowers and all.”
We Partner For Justice
God has no hands and feet but ours. We Partner for Justice shows up in the Church's legacy of social justice and in it's many partnerships in the community and region. Here in the mural it's represented by the people holding signs with scripture on them. Micah 6:8 says: “Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.”
Luke 4:18 says: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Justice shows up on several levels for All People's Church; by ministering in the community on the part of volunteers who dedicate their time to individuals and families in times of distress. And, by having a presence among the many movements for equity, accountability and liberation in our city and beyond. The people pictured are members today, and stand as symbols for the generations and the movements yet to come. A Child of the Light leads them all – Kids Come First.
The Story Comes Together
By our third session I began to feel it was all coming together. There were overlapping and prevalent themes. What story do we want this mural to tell? Consensus was to start from seeds, show a struggle, and then growth or overcoming that struggle. Let the people demonstrate the 7 core values as they walk, and let all of them be led by a child. Let the scene reflect God coming to us, being present, and the following keywords from our shared stories: Belonging, movement, connection, color, life, light, family, reconciliation.
Starting from left, a newcomer emerges from the darkness, represented by Xavier Thomas, youth director for All People's. God's hand is holding seeds, the way we begin life. The trees are in Winter. Coming out of the darkness can mean overcoming a struggle; the candle of our soul is unlit. Then we start to see the growth of all kinds of people of different ethnicities, abilities and ages passing through the four seasons. We Grow Disciples. This growth is also represented in increasingly green and lush plants. The fruit trees symbolize abundance.
Members extend their lights towards the newcomer, and also food in the form of a bread basket, representing the Church's food pantry and spiritual nourishment– We Serve Soul Food. The newcomer represents spiritual growth by coming to the fountain for baptism and in turn, using his light to light others candles. We can find ourselves in the position of the newcomer at any time of a new phase in life, such as joining a new workplace, church home or moving to a new community. The spirit of welcoming, of extending our light to someone is one way God can use our hands and feet to express Unity.
Members support each other on their path; like life, it can sometimes be a labyrinth to reach our goal. A child of light leads the people marching for justice and praying– Kids Come First, We preach the Bible and Prayer, We Partner for Justice. Together, and only together, can we get where we want to be. Unity is the key that unlocks our destiny - a destiny God promises to fulfill.
This is the 'Love That Holds Us All'.
I like to use activities that call forth personal meaning from people in ways that aren't direct, because sometimes often the stories are more layered and naturally visually rich. The work of sharing stories with each other makes my work less difficult! So I invited each person to choose one thing they shared to paint. Watercolors are something anyone can do no matter the level of skill or prior experience. As you can see, they didn't need to be masterpieces to convey a profound thought.
There is so much dynamic symbolism portrayed in the colors, the brushstrokes, the shapes. We wrote down the key symbols and themes. Here are some from our first session.
A key reflection that was shared here would later come back when we agreed on our title at the third meeting. It is, and I quote: “It's interesting that there is a centeredness in the moving, and the moving is the holding. The Holding is dynamic, when normally we think of it as static.”
We'll come back to explore this a bit more down the road, but immediately everyone started resonated with this idea. I thought it was a great transition from a feelings of loss and resilience to a feeling of being centered in bigger plan. I could start to feel it as a major theme emerging.
After all three workshops we found the following to be the most prevalent core themes: Color, family, light, person, food, Holding, sunset, circles, interconnectivity, intersectionality.
Symbolic Imagery
Another exercise I used to elicit metaphor and meaning was an activity called Symbolic Imagery. I invited people to do this at the 2nd session. Symbols can mean similar or different things depending on who is looking at it and where they are at the time. I wanted a way for people to come up with their own creative symbolism to weave into the mural that comes from deeper place.
So I chose photos of many different kinds of trees. Some tall and narrow, some short with a wide, sturdy trunk. Some winter, some fall. Some were alone, some were entire forests. Some stood against a woodsy background, others a flat prairie. Members were asked to choose one photo from a group of photos, and answer several questions.
See if you can spot these messages anywhere in the mural!
How does your tree represent a feeling of connection?
“Trees are a natural shelter. God made these trees before anything. There is a silent communication, as if to say 'ha ha, I was here first'. They have an intelligence.”
“A feeling of being part of God's family, and plan.”
“Stability. A mother's love. Love looks beyond, even in imperfections it pulls us through”.
“Looking up to God and Heaven. A Reminder that God loves us.”
“The colors remind me of a blanket”.
The mural embodies an intelligence, that we are all part of God's family. I wanted to convey these feelings of being covered, of warmth. A sense of reaching, of looking up. Stability in the form of big sturdy hands.
How does your tree represent how you feel in the moment?
“A sense of the unknown.”
“Holding on to God's promise.”
“God won't destroy the world.”
“Optimistic.”
“God's presence forever.”
“This mural is about God's certainty as much as it is about the uncertainty we hold in our lives.”
The mural holds an air of mystery, but God's promise is the light of the spirit which reveals all. A sense of hope even in troubled times. Remembering that He holds all of it, the uncertainty, and the plan for redemption. We can embrace and enjoy the beauty God has laid before us in His promise not to destroy the world.
It is the light of our spirit in each of us that reveals the path ahead. Optimism says not to fear the uncertainty in our next step, because in the light of spirit we find God's certainty. We come to feel His presence. We wonder how this is possible, with all of the chaos happening right now. What if we were meant to come together the way so many groups are doing right now? Maybe this was the plan all along, for us to unite towards a common goal?
WHAT HOLDS US?
Now we come back to the idea that we can be held in a way that is dynamic as well as static and unmoving. The same can be said for how we hold things. From that moment, I was deeply moved by the assertion of God as moving within us and outside of us as an ever-present, dynamic, moving force. I asked:
How is a loving, Holding presence able to be trusted (reliable) while moving at the same time?
Quote: “What makes God dynamic, not static, is the choice to have the ordinary dwell among us; invoking him makes it extraordinary.” I was moved again by a consensus from everyone that felt they only needed to give God permission to make his presence known.
“His presence is constant, but the ways in which he responds to who we are is changing, as we are ever changing.”
Adapting without faltering. Isn't that unconditional love?
We seemed to have a real energy in the room around this topic. God's dynamic presence in our lives brought a feeling of anchored-ness, and levity (lifting) at the same time. This was great in terms of thinking about the story of the mural, about imagery and composition. I pressed further; could anyone give a concrete example for when they felt this presence?
Quote: “When I sing, and people can feel it through me.”
"TRUST. He uses someone else to express his love. "
Quote: “When I invite myself to be fully present. Allow myself to be aware.”
Quote: “Letting him know to bring his light, that he can come in. Desiring the Lord's company makes it a relationship”.
The theme of a relationship was prevalent; that it is in the invocation of God where He becomes moving and not static. That means we have a choice, a liberty to know that presence or not. This inspired me the most, and set the tone to imbue everything in the mural with a sense of presence.
We Provide Sacred Space
This presence reveals itself in the form of light emanating from the church at night. David Nunley, Minister of Music here at All People's, extends a light in the doorway towards a newcomer. There is a sense of the sacred in every season – winter, fall, summer, spring. Even in darkness there is light when we invoke it.
How do you feel Held by All People's Church?
This mural celebrates how people feel about being a part of such a dynamic church. When I came to work on the mural I felt welcomed by all the staff and members who came in and out. Sometimes I worked late while youth programs were running and was impressed to learn that besides tutoring, they offer Tae-Kwon-Do and African Drumming.
Quote: “You don't know who you have until you embrace who you have.”
“Very welcome, very open even though I've been in and out for over 12 years.”
“People showing love and support.”
“Endearing. Nonjudgemental.”
“No false pretenses. Genuine. Likes the dress-down, jeans. There's Beauty and character here.”
Speaking of dress-down, that red sweatshirt Xavier is pictured in is the same one he himself has said he wears all the time to church, and I've witnessed it!
“As a young person, feeling supported in my voice mattering even though sometimes it may feel like it doesn't.”
Pastor Steve expressed having himself, his wife and kids cared for when he was laid up with a broken foot for months. Meals were constant and the church took care of his basic needs.
Quote: “God has no hands and feet but ours. We grow in grace like a trees growth; flowers and all.”
We Partner For Justice
God has no hands and feet but ours. We Partner for Justice shows up in the Church's legacy of social justice and in it's many partnerships in the community and region. Here in the mural it's represented by the people holding signs with scripture on them. Micah 6:8 says: “Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.”
Luke 4:18 says: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Justice shows up on several levels for All People's Church; by ministering in the community on the part of volunteers who dedicate their time to individuals and families in times of distress. And, by having a presence among the many movements for equity, accountability and liberation in our city and beyond. The people pictured are members today, and stand as symbols for the generations and the movements yet to come. A Child of the Light leads them all – Kids Come First.
The Story Comes Together
By our third session I began to feel it was all coming together. There were overlapping and prevalent themes. What story do we want this mural to tell? Consensus was to start from seeds, show a struggle, and then growth or overcoming that struggle. Let the people demonstrate the 7 core values as they walk, and let all of them be led by a child. Let the scene reflect God coming to us, being present, and the following keywords from our shared stories: Belonging, movement, connection, color, life, light, family, reconciliation.
Starting from left, a newcomer emerges from the darkness, represented by Xavier Thomas, youth director for All People's. God's hand is holding seeds, the way we begin life. The trees are in Winter. Coming out of the darkness can mean overcoming a struggle; the candle of our soul is unlit. Then we start to see the growth of all kinds of people of different ethnicities, abilities and ages passing through the four seasons. We Grow Disciples. This growth is also represented in increasingly green and lush plants. The fruit trees symbolize abundance.
Members extend their lights towards the newcomer, and also food in the form of a bread basket, representing the Church's food pantry and spiritual nourishment– We Serve Soul Food. The newcomer represents spiritual growth by coming to the fountain for baptism and in turn, using his light to light others candles. We can find ourselves in the position of the newcomer at any time of a new phase in life, such as joining a new workplace, church home or moving to a new community. The spirit of welcoming, of extending our light to someone is one way God can use our hands and feet to express Unity.
Members support each other on their path; like life, it can sometimes be a labyrinth to reach our goal. A child of light leads the people marching for justice and praying– Kids Come First, We preach the Bible and Prayer, We Partner for Justice. Together, and only together, can we get where we want to be. Unity is the key that unlocks our destiny - a destiny God promises to fulfill.
This is the 'Love That Holds Us All'.