God Bless the Whole World -- in Art;
West Parish Church in Andover Uses Art to Promote Religious Values
 “Calling all persons of vision and imagination. If you want to be part of the spark that grows the vision for West Parish in the next year, if you believe that faith can have a variety of expressions, or even if you are just curious, come and listen to the beginnings of a proposal for an intergenerational, collaborative, fun-filled, artistic event to take place in the Spring of 2006 -- an event that interprets our core values and confirms that ‘God Blesses the Whole World -- No Exceptions.’” Ruby Easton, member of the West Parish Church in Andover sparked the beginning of an inspirational event with this notice to fellow members.
This year West Parish Church in Andover celebrated a “Faith and the Arts Family Festival,” a free event offered to the community. The weekend of family art programs was designed to express values central to the expression of faith in many religions and to the Core Values of West Parish: spiritual growth, community, mission, acceptance, compassion, stewardship, joy, and ministry to children and youth. Included in the festival was a unique art show created by both adults and children showcasing various media -- from oils to Legos -- to illustrate these personal values.
The event was filled with a spectrum of artistic performances, including a trio of storytellers, concerts for preschoolers, teens, and adults, a maypole, a drumming event, intergenerational dance experiences, a walk through the town’s historic Garden Cemetery followed by a chamber music quintet performing in the Garden Chapel, arts and crafts projects, lectures, and a worship service. Lunch and beverages were sold outside, where the area was dubbed ‘Café on the Green.’ The theme of the event was “God Bless the Whole World -- No Exceptions.”
Adults and youth of West Parish had been creating artistic interpretations of values central to many religions -- projects started two years before that were boosted during a core value process led by Associate Conference Minister Rev. Paul Nickerson. During this process, members were asked to quietly reflect on certain Core Value quotes and then bring the quotes to life in artistic expressions for a show. Participants were then advised to remember that the show was going to be about heart more than art.
“It is about seeing how a young person ‘sees’ compassion, community or joy, or how an adult ‘paints’ spiritual growth, acceptance, or stewardship,” said senior pastor Rev. Mr. Thomas McMillan. “One of the highlights of the festival was the ‘Spirit Village’ conceived by member John Pearson,” he said.
“As people entered the cemetery gates, they saw a circle of eight colorful tents surrounding stone benches. This sacred space was set apart as a spot for meditation and reflection. Each of the eight tents honored a different aspect of faith: to remember the innocence and energy of childhood, to celebrate the beauty of God’s creation, to contemplate the joy of love for one another, to honor the everyday saints, to encourage us to continue in the struggle for justice and peace, to draw us closer to God, and to remind us of the importance of community,” Pearson explained.
After reflection, one was encouraged to write a prayer or thought in a notebook or on a colorful strip of cloth left at the site. The strip could then be attached to a string tied between the tents in an effort to offer the prayer in the spirit of hope and thankfulness. Participants were also encouraged to take away a smooth stone as a remembrance of peace felt at the site.
The event was a success. Some members of the church and community attended all of the festivities, while others selected to participate in just a few of the events. According to Easton, the group ebbed and flowed throughout the weekend.
“We did not intend for this to be a money maker,” she said. “We were fortunate to have a grant to cover expenses, so there were no admission fees at any event and the food was offered almost at cost.”
“Talent came to us from our church family and beyond, and brought us music, stories, history and new understandings,” said Easton. “In the same way that we wove together threads of music, art, dance, storytelling, contemplation, and knowledge, we also wove together the talents and gifts of all ages and stages of life in joyful and reflective ways. But none of this could have come to pass without the efforts of all those who chose to believe we could create something special together.”
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