Present Tense: Advent in Word and Image
10am-12:30, Thursdays, December 6, 13, 20
@ The Nest space @ First Churches, 11 Center Street, Northampton, MA

 We are all watching, waiting, waiting, waiting to see what will happen, are we not?...

In the Christian faith tradition, the contemplative--and provocative--season of "watchful waiting" or Advent is soon upon us. In the Jewish tradition candles are being lit in hopeful expectation. You need not be Christian or religious in any way to appreciate the invitation Advent offers:  Just what is emerging from this darkness?

Part Lectio Divina ("holy listening"), part Midrash (exploring the in-between stories of a scripture text), these three sessions invite you to enter deeply into the vivid, urgent and forceful imagery of texts from both Hebrew and Christian storytellers. These texts are no gentle stories of sweet-smelling babies and the soft touch of angel wings, but are insistent calls to pay attention and stay awake to what is happening in and around us. 

We'll explore the texts as spiritual practice, letting them move, inspire, disturb us through creative response, including word and image collage, painting, writing, assemblage, drawing, however you are so moved to inhabit them. You need not be "arty" in any way.

December 6:  Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
December 13:  The Graces: Friendship and Silence
December 20:   Emergence

Please Pre-Register by emailing artandsoul.wm@gmail.com or calling/texting 413-348-2385.  We hope you are able to attend all 3 sessions, but come for the ones you can.

Suggested sliding scale fee:  $15 - 40 but pay what you comfortably can.

The Nest @ First Churches is located at 11 Center Street, Northampton, MA, on the second floor. Regretfully, at this time, this space is not easily accessible for those with mobility issues.  However, if this series is something you are definitely interested in and you do have mobility challenges, please do let me know, and I can potentially make arrangements for another space.
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