‘Supper at Emmaus 2’ by James He Qi.
The New York Times recently featured James He Qi and several other world artists in ‘Searching for a Jesus Who Looks More Like Me.’
Next week (October 15), He Qi will deliver the Vancouver School of Theology’s annual Somerville Lecture.
Eric Copage’s article began with these words:
Close your eyes and imagine that Jesus is in front of you.
Is the man kneeling in prayer in the Garden at Gethsemane Chinese? Is the man sitting at the table of the Last Supper Navajo? Is the man dragging his cross toward Golgotha Nigerian? Or is the crucified figure a woman?
Likely as not, the image that presents itself to most Americans is of a lithe, bearded man with shoulder-length, chestnut-colored hair.
And whether he is a dashboard Jesus or the nearly 100-foot tall Cristo Redentor, arms outstretched atop a mountain rising over Rio de Janeiro, he is likely to be male – and white.
And said this about He Qi’s ‘Peace, Be Still’:
The Chinese painter James He Qi (pronounced “huh chi”) depicts the gospel story of Jesus and his disciples suddenly caught in a storm.
As the waves rise, the disciples turn fearfully to Jesus. With outstretched arms, he stills the winds and the water. As in Mark 4:39, “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, Be still.”
“He Qi is influenced by the simple and beautiful artwork of the people in rural China,” said Mr. [Thomas] Hastings, quoting from the website of the Overseas Ministries Study Center [of which he is executive director].
“With bold colors, embellished shapes and thick brush strokes, he blends Chinese folk art and the iconography of the Western Middle Ages and Modern Art.”
Go here for the full article.
He Qi said this about his upcoming talk, ‘A Brief History of Chinese Christian Art and My Journey of Christian Art Creation’:
Christian art has been developed in China since 1,400 years ago, it’s mixed the western style with Chinese localization. It’s divided into four periods: Nestorian (Tang & Yuan Dynasty); Society of Jesus (Late Ming to Middle Qing Dynasty); Semi-Colonization (After Opium War to 1949); Contemporary (After Cultural Revolution).
As for my personal experience to be involved the Fourth movement, I’d like to share my witness, my suffering and my hopes.
Dr. James He Qi is an artist-in-residence and visiting scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary, former professor at Nanjing Theological Seminary (1983 – 2005) and visiting professor of Nanjing University and Nanjing Art Institute (1998 – 2002).
The Overseas Ministries Study Centre (OMSC) has featured at least a dozen artists, mainly from Asia, in its Artists in Residence Program, and has published several books on their work. Their 2006 book on He Qi is sold out, but he produced one himself in 2013.
Daniel Whitehead will speak during the Church Mental Health Summit October 10.
October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries is fully involved. Leslie Robertson, communications manager for the ministry, describes what they will be doing:
This month at Sanctuary, we’re doing something new. We’re going to spend the next few weeks promoting mental health awareness in easily-accessible and shareable ways, through our social media channels, collaborations with our ambassadors and friends, blog posts, and more.
We’ll be specifically focusing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, as outlined in a UK study by the New Economics Foundation.
Why October?
Every year in the first week of October, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health leads a national public education campaign on Mental Illness Awareness. Additionally, World Federation for Mental Health instituted World Mental Health Day on October 10 in order to increase mental health awareness and education, as well as advocate against social stigma.
The goals of these two major campaigns go hand-in-hand with our month-long campaign, which is designed to provide practical, engaging, social media-sized pieces that raise awareness, encourage self-care practices and provide helpful additional resources.
Go here for the full article.
Sanctuary CEO Daniel Whitehead will take part in what looks like a major gathering this Saturday (October 10), the Church Mental Health Summit, “a one-day virtual event equipping the church to support mental health in their communities.” His topic will be ‘Six Steps towards Faith and Mental Health Integration.’
Project Oikos
Holy Cross Church in Crescent Beach. From Ed Hird’s blog.
Members of an Anglican Church are feeling called to buy an old Catholic church in Crescent Beach.
Admitting that the undertaking is particularly challenging during a pandemic, Rev. Ed Hird makes the case for the Project Oikos in the current (online) edition of The Light magazine:
The community of All Saints Church believe God is calling them to make the Holy Cross Church in Crescent Beach their home.
In order to do that, they need to raise $3 million: just over $2 million to buy the building and parking lot and just under $1 million to refurbish the inside of the building and parking lot.
The first priority is to maintain a sacred space. The historic tradition of Holy Cross Church is that people have prayed in that church since 1946.
Keeping a sacred space will honour the historical integrity of the congregations who have gone before. It also means that the wider community will have access to the sanctuary during the day for prayer, reflection and rest.
The second imperative for purchasing this church is to ensure that a ministry centre will complement the sacred space. A ministry centre will provide the Church community a place to serve the wider community.
Should you be interested in supporting this vision, saving an historic church, and investing in the Kingdom of God, please contact The Right Reverend Peter Klenner, pastor at All Saints Community Church (604-209-5570).
Go here for the full story, and here for more information and a video about the project.
Bible Gateway
April Yamasaki
After 25 years in pastoral ministry, April Yamasaki is “embracing the writing life in all its delight and challenge.” She offers “some of my writing on Scripture, prayer, books I’m reading and other acts of faith in everyday life” on her personal site and on When You Work for the Church.
She just posted a helpful review of the new Bible Gateway, which begins with this:
When I read Scripture, I much prefer reading off the printed page from a Bible that I can hold in my hands, feel the weight, finger the pages, and take my time. But when I’m online and want to quote Scripture in a blog article, or need to double check a reference for a sermon, I often turn to BibleGateway.com as a free and easy-to-use source for online Bible translations.
I’ve already reviewed Bible Gateway’s free Bible audio app, and today I’m happy to review the newly designed Bible Gateway website.
Both of April’s sites are worth checking out, not least because she has enough insight to include articles such as No More Resources Please.
Next Bishop elected
Bishop-elect John Stevens.
Last week I wrote about the upcoming election of the next bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. Here is the beginning of the denomination’s release, following the election:
On Saturday, October 3, the Voting Members (Synod) of the 141 year old Anglican Diocese of New Westminster representing the 66 parishes and 3 additional worshipping communities of the Diocese elected as the Bishop-elect (Coadjutor) the Reverend John Stephens, 54, currently Rector (priest-in-charge) of St. John’s, Shaughnessy located at 1490 Nanton Avenue at Granville in Vancouver.
Stephens will assume the role of Diocesan Bishop when Archbishop Melissa Skelton, currently Bishop of the Diocese, retires February 28, 2021. . . .
Go here for a full account.
Oct 2020
Christian Schools Canada Virtual Conference 2020 – October 8, 2020 at 8:00 am - 2:30 pmWebinar: An Update on Euthanasia Legislation in Canada – October 8, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Church Mental Health Summit – October 10, 2020 at All Day
Thanksgiving Drive-Through Food Drive – October 10, 2020 at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Freedom Forum Panel: The Grimkés Speak Out on Faith, Race, and Civil Rights – October 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Alpha Webinar: Ministry, Mission and the Future Church – October 13, 2020 at 10:00 am - 10:45 am
FaithTech Vancouver Fall Kick-off: Bridging the Gap Between Faith & Technology – October 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Faster, Higher, More Moral? Human Enhancement and Christianity – October 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
The Global Leadership Summit – October 15, 2020 - October 16, 2020 at 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Church, the State & the Pandemic – October 15, 2020 at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Somerville Lecture: Artist James He Qi – October 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Canadian Foodgrains Bank Virtual Concert: Quonset Brothers | Kristel Peters & Korey Peters | Steve Bell – October 16, 2020 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Change Conference 2020: Free Online Canadian Youth Conference – October 16, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The Unchained Gospel Heart for Asia Youth Celebration – October 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Unchained Gospel: Heart for Asia Conference – October 17, 2020 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Chew on This! e-rally – October 17, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Progressive Book Launch – Aaron White: Recovering – October 17, 2020 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dr. Christopher Wright: The Great Story and the Great Commission – October 19, 2020 - October 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Salvation Army Webinar: Join the Conversation – October 20, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Together at Midday: Toni Kim – October 21, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Chaplains Connect – October 21, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Book Launch with Dr. Matthew J. Thomas – October 22, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Dialogue on Aging: The Fountain of Health – Practical Tools for Positive Mental Health – October 22, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Suitcase Stories – October 22, 2020 - October 25, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Operation World Online Family Conference 2020 – October 23, 2020 - October 25, 2020 at All Day
TWU Spartans Sports Leadership Superconference – October 23, 2020 at 8:45 am - 4:00 pm
ARPA Canada Fall Tour 2020: Defending Our Christian Legacy of Liberty – October 23, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
National Walk and Talk to End Social Isolation – October 24, 2020 at All Day
ARPA Canada Fall Tour 2020: Defending Our Christian Legacy of Liberty – October 24, 2020 at 9:30 am - 11:00 am
M2/W2 Association: Portraits of Change Online Fundraiser – October 24, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Violence in the Bible: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew Lynch – October 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Mao vs. God: State Control of Churches in China under Xi – October 26, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
InterSession 2020: Finding the Future of Church Planting in Canada – October 27, 2020 - October 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Icons: Praying with Our Eyes – October 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Community Cafe: How to Have Good Conversations in Community – October 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Explore Alpha, with Jason Ballard – October 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Earthkeepers: Prayer Night for Bold Climate Action – October 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
musica intima: the spirit's dwelling – October 30, 2020 at All Day
Nov 2020
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – November 1, 2020 at All DayTogether at Midday: Matthew Lynch – November 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Boundaries at the Table: A Discussion on Food Programs, COVID and Boundaries – November 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Boundaries at the Table: A Discussion on Food Programs, COVID and Boundaries – November 4, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Virtual Book Launch: 'Sarah's Laughter: Doubt, Tears & Christian Hope – November 5, 2020 at 7:00 am - 8:00 am
REVEAL webinars – November 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Stories from Our Living Rooms: New Hope Fundraising Night – November 5, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
A Taste of Dignity: JustWork’s 14th Annual Fundraiser – November 5, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jordan Klassen: Tell Me What to Do – November 5, 2020 - November 7, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A Seat at the Table: An Event for Men & Women – November 6, 2020 at 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Community Immersive Leadership Training (3 weeks, Tuesday & Friday evenings) – November 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Journey Discipleship Course (Tuesday evenings) – November 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Fertility and Faith: A Conversation with Philip Jenkins – November 12, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Being Missional in a Pandemic – November 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
A Rocha Talks: Earthkeeping in the City – From backyard composting to electric vehicles – November 12, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Josh Darsault, "The Medium and Message of the Bible" – November 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday Night Reads: Falling: A Wake by Gary Kirkham – November 13, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Faith and Freedom in China – November 14, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
ELO Forum Online – November 16, 2020 at 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Discernment in Hard Times (Tuesday mornings) – November 17, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Remembering Dr. J.I. Packer – November 18, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Dialogue on Aging: Sleep Health for a COVID-19 World – November 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Remembering Dr. J.I. Packer – in Conversation – November 18, 2020 at 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
John Owen: Protecting Democracy from the Outside – November 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Global Apologetics Conference – November 19, 2020 - November 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Arresting the Darkness: A Himalayan Life Virtual Gala – November 19, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Clarke Scheibe, “The Birds and the Bees, Take 2, Part 2: Biblical Worldview” – November 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday Night Reads: The Blood Knot by Athol Fugard – November 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
MCC@100: Centennial Celebration – November 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Night with the Persecuted Church – November 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
EFC Webinar: Understanding the Proposed Conversion Therapy Ban – November 24, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Alpha Webinar: Opportunities for Invitation This Christmas – November 25, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Ideas that Matter: Malcolm Guite – Poetry Pushes Back: The Practical Power of Poetry to Rebalance Our Lives – November 25, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
TWU Live – November 25, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
SENT Conference 2020 (Wednesday evenings) – November 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Broken Signposts: A Conversation with N.T. Wright – November 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Peoples of African Descent & Canadian Churches: A Cross-Canada Conversation – November 26, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Prayer Night for Bold Climate Action: November edition – November 26, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Darrell Johnson: Discipleship and Ministry in this Temporary New Normal – November 27, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Donna Hornibrook, former head coach of field hockey at Cornell, “Sports and Faith” – November 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
St. Hildegard's Sanctuary Annual ILLUMINATE Gala – November 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday Night Reads: The Mountaintop by Katon Hall – November 27, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Church and Affordable Housing, by CityGate Leadership Forum – November 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 12:45 pm
P2C's Global Missions Night – November 29, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Fall Online Forum: For the Love of Creation – November 30, 2020 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm