By Christmas, 15 pieces provided by those in the congregation had been added to the sanctuary, accompanying the sermon series “Birth Pains,” says Mike Muscarella, the music and arts pastor. A photograph of a young man gazing into light filtered through a wooded area (top photo) was submitted by high school student Jenny Hillenbrand to accompany the first sermon, “A Distant Longing.” The sermon captured the idea of a distant longing – the ache of the Hebrew people for the coming Messiah. The lower photo is of artwork by Emily Congor, a college student studying art at Roberts Wesleyan College, used to illustrate the sermon “This Little Light of Mine” on December 11. Her work leaves the viewer to make the connections, to feel through the piece, and to decide for themselves how the work relates to their experience of Advent. To view additional photos, please see Photos.
Anyone could contribute and the biblical texts and sermon topics were given in advance so artists could plan their work. The result was a combination of word and picture that the pastor says has inspired the congregation.
“We’ve had a lot of people feel very moved by the experience in the sanctuary,” says Muscarella. “It evokes feeling more than it’s a wonderful piece of art. The entire ambience of the room felt more like sanctuary.”
The church celebrates the Lord’s Supper each week and art pieces gradually were added to the table throughout Advent and Christmas Day. Contributions averaged nine by 12 inches in size.
A Nativity was positioned beneath a blue canopy filled with lights to represent the heavenly canopy. Children also participated, using building blocks to construct stepping stones across a make-believe riverbed that led to the scene. The path was lit with Christmas lights.
The congregation, which averages 75 in attendance, meets Sunday evenings in the Trinity Covenant Church building. The sanctuary pieces were taken down before Trinity’s service and replaced afterward, says Muscarella, adding that as a church without a building, the congregation is used to moving in and out.
Other churches could easily incorporate the art commissioning idea, says Muscarella. “This is so easy – not the art – but being able to do it,” he explains.
Initially the artwork came in much more slowly than anticipated, says Muscarella, explaining that he and others on the Advent Arts Commission had not considered that college and high school students would have finals and other projects to wrap up. As Advent progressed, so did the number of pieces, which actually worked well, he says.
Muscarella says he hopes the church will tap into the guild to do another Commissioning for Lent and Easter. The guilds are open to anyone.
In addition to the guild for visuals artists, the church also has separate guilds for musicians, writers and children’s ministers. The use of “guild” develops on the church’s name and commitment to using the arts as an integral part of its overall ministry.
“What it does is evoke an image,” says Muscarella. “It presents a structure of master and apprentice craftsmen. It allows for the professional artist and the finger painter to hang out in the same room and learn from each other.”
Several church attendees are art teachers and art students who are able to offer further guidance to those without as much experience. At the same time, the “master craftsmen” say they also have learned from comments and pieces from the students.
“People have really been latching onto the guilds,” says Muscarella. “We were created by a creator in his image,” says Muscarella. “Our creativity by its nature is very holy. What we do with it can be touch and go, but we’re going to welcome our people to be creative, however they can be creative.”
To learn more about this unique approach to worship ministry, contact Muscarella by calling the church office at 585-339-8590 or by email at info@artisanchurch.com. Information also is available by visiting the church website at Artisan.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
