The Arts, Theology and Spirituality in Ministry Bangor Theological Seminary

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Arts, Theology and Spirituality in Ministry Bangor Theological Seminary"

Frederick Small
6 years ago
Views:

1 The Arts, Theology and Spirituality in Ministry Bangor Theological Seminary July 9, 11,13; 16, 18, 20, :00 am 3:00pm 1. General Information Course Number: Course Title: The Arts. Theology and Spirituality in Ministry Location: First Congregational Church, 7 Eustis Parkway, Waterville ME phone: Instructor Information Instructor: Alice Anderman Phone: Cell: Home: revdralice@gmail.com Office Hours: Before or after class 3. Course Information Course Description: This course about arts, theology and spirituality in ministry will show you how the arts can be used to express and explore faith and spirituality, connect with God, and do theology. You will learn how to integrate arts in worship,

2 preaching, faith formation, retreats and other aspects of ministry through: 1. Study of artists who are theologians and theologians who are artists. 2. Doing visual exegesis and becoming visually conscious. 3. Learning how art can engage and inform your theology and spirituality. 4. Practice application in worship, pastoral care, retreats, Bible Study, Christian Education, church history. Additional Information: The course will help you connect with your creativity and discover the artist in you. You will learn to look at artwork and the world through the eyes of an artist. You will explore how to integrate theology, spirituality and art in your ministry and in your life as a person of faith. You will discover some of the following: How to be a visual theologian - how arts can broaden your theological thinking about God, church, and world and how arts can help you connect with each other, God and the community. How arts can deepen your spiritual life through doing meditations using clay, stained glass windows, paintings and other art forms. How to incorporate arts in liturgies: become more visual in the pulpit and in study of scripture through learning to look and find scriptural themes in visual arts. Discover and create sacred and holy spaces. Study Christian history through the study of the face of Jesus in artwork. Use of arts in pastoral care, education, evangelism, and justice advocacy-ministry to the homeless, hospice arts and spirituality historically and now. Reflect on your spiritual journey with artistic and creative touch points. July 9 Morning: Why arts in ministry? How can they be used to connect with each other, God, and community? 1.Your art history during class each of us will create a

3 time line showing our development in the use of arts. [Using a piece of ribbon create a time line show your development in using arts from early childhood to present. Note significant events along the way, including crystallizing and paralyzing experiences, people who helped you or sought to suppress your use of arts, school and church influences, what happened with the arts when you became an adult and so forth. Leave space on the time line to include information about future development. ] 2. Your church s art history [Memories of arts in the church-share in small groups] 3. Church s art history [Jensen EarlyArt History] Clay meditation Afternoon: Arts and Theology : Make a cross reflect on your theology Spirituality of Art Artist as a Theologian: Art of Parables by Charlie McCullough Assignments: 1. Read Substance of Things Seen, chapter 1; Arts, Theology and the Church, chapter 1 and chpt 2. Reflection #1 reflect on your reading with words or images by answering the question, how important are the arts theologically? Include insights from your art history and

4 church s art history with reflections from your reading. 2. Read Substance of Things Seen, chapter 2; Arts, Theology and the Church, chapter 2, plus handouts, The Artist as a Theologian and Touching Hand to Clay, the Transformation of a Preacher Reflection #2: Choose one reading Dialogue visually, verbally or both with writer and/or artist July 11 Morning: How to look at artwork Share reflection # 1 and #2. Paying Attention How to look at artwork Afternoon: Reflection on Art in Church on LaFarge window at First Congregational Church South Parish Church in Augusta: on Tiffany Windows Assignments: Read chapter 3 in Jensen to prepare for visual exegesis. Choose painting and prepare visual exegesis for tomorrow. Be ready to share your ideas for your final project. July 13: Visual Metaphors and Exegesis

5 Morning: Visual Exegesis and Arts in Sermons and Liturgies Exegesis of Rembrandt s Self Portrait as Paul Share your visual exegesis Afternoon: Visual Metaphors in Photography-David Anderman Assignment: Take photos and bring them to next class. Reflection #3: Share theological and spiritual themes and how you may look differently at the subjects of your photography. Bring something to class that could transform ordinary space to sacred space. July 16 Morning: 1. Share your photography and your reflections. 2. Sacred and Holy Spaces What makes a worship space sacred and holy? How can the arts transform space? Afternoon: Face of Jesus in Art (History of Church and Christian Art) 1. Part 1- Face of Jesus 2. Share 1 paragraph synopsis of project

6 Assignment: Work on Final Project July 18 Morning 1. Face of Jesus part 2 2. Arts in Pastoral Care Hospice Afternoon 1. Praying in Color 2. Final Projects July 20 Morning and Afternoon: Final Projects 4. Curriculum guidelines Required Textbooks 1. The Substance of Things Seen by Robin Jensen 2. The Art of Parables Charlie McCullough Other References 1. Understanding Early Christian Art by Robin Jensen 2. The Spirituality of Art by Lois Huey-Heck and Jim Kalnin 3. The Art of The Saint John s Bible by Susan Sink 3. Learning to Look, A Handbook for the Visual Artist by Joshua Taylor 5. Course Requirements 1. Attend all classes 3. Do one-page reflection papers and meditations 2. Do all reading and other homework assignments and participate in class discussion

7 3. Final Project: Choose one of the following 1.Write a sermon using visual metaphors and exegesis. Include information about your chosen artwork, why you chose the art work (how you connect with that art work and artist) 2. Create your own artwork and reflect how your theology and spirituality is expressed in artwork 3. Create a series of meditations using your artwork or another artist s work 4. Describe how you would use art in pastoral care session 5. Arts in another ministry area stewardship, education, (Bible Study), evangelism 6. Share you own ideas check with me first.. 6. Evaluation Information The final grade in the course will be determined on the basis of your overall performance. 20% Class participation 30% s and reflection papers 50% Final Project Note: This is a tentative schedule. It can be revised if changes are deemed necessary.

A Study in Scripture and Art: An Introduction to Advent The View From the Mountain

Introduction A Study in Scripture and Art: An Introduction to Advent The View From the Mountain The four weeks of Advent prepare us for the birth of Christ. The season prompts us to reflect on the history,