Timessa Lynn Leonard helped spread the good news contained in WeMakeStuff 02. Photo by Steffen Janzen.
WeMakeStuff 02 is a visual delight. Like the first volume, which came out a couple of years ago, this book features 100 artists, musicians, photographers – all kinds of creative types – mainly from Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, but some from the rest of the province as well.
A party at Five Stones Church in New Westminster November 22, along with two book release events at House of James in Abbotsford and the Watershed Café in Langley shortly afterwards, allowed the featured artists and friends to celebrate the release and enjoy the book together.
Publisher David Vandas has said many times that the WeMakeStuff projects are meant to encourage local artists in the faith community to get to know each other – but also to encourage the church as a whole to learn to value and accept their artistic members.
I highly recommend taking a look at the brief video they have put together, which simply riffles through the pages of the book. Every layout is creative, colourful, beautiful, and readily available for inspection.
So, here’s your chance. Encourage the young – some not so young – artists in the book. And consider encouraging an artistic young – or not so young – person in your church with a creative Christmas present.
You can order the book here.
Reading Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins
This is very short notice, but if you have time this afternoon (December 4), run over to Regent College at 4:30 pm for a unique experience: World as Word: The Incarnational Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Richard Austin, a British actor who has spent much of his life studying and performing the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, will be presenting Hopkins’s work in a free public reading in the Regent Chapel.
For a taste of what you’ll see, check out this video: http://vimeo.com/112515089
Kaitlin Williams’ Offstage Play
Kaitlin Williams has started a new blog about how creative actors are, even when they are offstage.
While I was on the WeMakeStuff Facebook page, I noticed that local actor Kaitlin Williams has started a new Offstage Play blog about “Vancouver theatre artists and their other creative talents that have nothing to do with theatre. So actors who also paint, SMs who are amazing cooks, playwrights who are also photographers etc. . .” Here’s what she says about the new blog:
I am a Vancouver based actor and I’ve noticed something . . .
My friends in the theatre community are a world-class bunch – this city is gifted with incredible actors, playwrights, designers, stage managers and directors. They are first-rate artists and their talent is phenomenal. The thing I’ve noticed though, is that their creativity and talent doesn’t end when they walk off stage.
I know countless theatre artists who dabble in other creative passions that match their stage talents. I know actors who paint, bake and sew incredible creations. I know many theatre artists who support their careers with photography, videography and design work. I know a stage manager who is almost as renowned for her cupcakes as she is for her immaculate SM kit.
How do they find the time? How do these other creative pursuits influence their work in theatre? Which of their creative loves came first?
This blog will set out to answer these questions and more while celebrating these Vancouver artists and their offstage projects. Whether it is a hobby, a hidden talent or a business that supplements their theatre income, this blog will be a place to inspire and support creativity in all its forms.
Kaitlin has acted in well over 50 productions (with Pacific Theatre and many other companies), ranging from musicals to improv comedy, to one woman shows. She was featured in the first volume of WeMakeStuff.
Songs of justice and praise
Tim Dickau has urged his fellow Baptists to find worship songs that reflect themes of justice.
The Justice and Mercy Network of the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada (CBWC) has asked their worship leaders for their suggestions “for hymns and songs that include themes relating to the whole shalom of God so that we can sing about justice, mercy, compassion and healing in our broken world during our worship services.”
An article in the CBWC’s most recent Making Connections newsletter included this portion, highlighting the role of Vancouver pastor Tim Dickau:
He has shown thee,
O man,
What is good and what the Lord requires of thee,
But to do justly a
And to love mercy
And to walk humbly with Thy God.
The poetry of Micah 6:8 has been set to music by many composers and is often sung in CBWC churches. It is just one of almost 30 songs the CBWC has gathered together as a resource for churches wanting to include themes of God’s justice and shalom in their worship services. With this resource, churches will be better able to sing about God’s justice, mercy, compassion and healing in our broken world during worship services.
Back in May, Tim Dickau, senior pastor of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver and chair of the CBWC’s Justice and Mercy Network, issued a challenge to CBWC church members to “write new songs and recover those classic songs that express God’s vision and work among the concrete realities of our world. We need songs that lament the broken realities of our world – not only our relationships or individual lives, but our broken economies, social arrangements and political systems. We need songs that celebrate Jesus’ holistic kingdom vision of restored justice, shalom and reconciliation that he inaugurated among us. We need songs naming the systemic powers that plague our world and ruin creation, while at the same time celebrating Christ’s victory over these powers.”
Go here for the full ‘Songs of justice and praise’ article, and for the 30-song resource, go here.
Dec 2014
Jingle in the City – December 4, 2014 - December 7, 2014 at All DayChristmas Artisan Fair – December 4, 2014 at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
World as Word: The Incarnational Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins – December 4, 2014 at 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Doug Cariou Book Launch – December 4, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Craft Market – December 5, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Vision Sharing: The Revolving Door of Prison - Addiction and Doing Time – December 5, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The Firs Noel: Dinner with Greg Overholt – December 5, 2014 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel North Shore – December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Doug Towle and his band De La Terra – December 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Gloria Dei Chorale: Handel's Messiah – December 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Singing Christmas Tree – December 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Singing Christmas Tree – December 6, 2014 at All Day
Kairos Fair Trade Fair – December 6, 2014 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas Craft Market – December 6, 2014 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
MCC Centre Grand Opening – December 6, 2014 at 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
A Musical Concert: One Voice . . . One Heart . . . One Spirit – December 6, 2014 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The Firs Noel: Dinner with Greg Overholt – December 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
A Musical Concert: One Voice . . . One Heart . . . One Spirit – December 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Creo Christmas – December 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
A Little Big Band Christmas – December 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Gloria Dei: Handel's Messiah – December 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Presence – December 7, 2014 at All Day
Singing Christmas Tree – December 7, 2014 at All Day
A Little Big Band Christmas – December 7, 2014 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Christmas with the Bach Choir – December 7, 2014 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Kairos Advent Sunday of Peace – December 7, 2014 at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Winter Harp & Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir – December 7, 2014 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Ecumenical Advent Carol Service – December 7, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Ecumenical Advent Concert – December 7, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Ingrid Mapson – December 7, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Songs of Praise Christmas Sing Along Concert – December 7, 2014 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Carolyn Arends: Christmas - The Story of Stories – December 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Tales – December 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mike Mason: Book Signing - Twenty-one Candles: Stories for Christmas – December 9, 2014 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Advent Talks: Who is My Neighbour?: Debra Sparrow – December 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: We Three Queens - Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Karin Plato & Jennifer Scott – December 10, 2014 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A Christmas to Remember – December 11, 2014 - December 15, 2014 at All Day
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 11, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Talks with Tom: Are Those Under 35 Generous? – December 12, 2014 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
The Gallery Singers: Ceremony of Carols – December 12, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Vision Sharing: Unlocking the Prison Gates - returning to community – December 12, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 12, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Christian Singles Christmas Banquet: The Suspenders – December 12, 2014 at 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Making Spirits Bright: A Good Noise Gospel Christmas, featuring Daniel Lapp – December 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Singing Christmas Tree – December 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: Handel's Messiah - The Christmas Masterpiece – December 12, 2014 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Vivaldi Chamber Choir: Joyful Light - Morten Lauridsen 'Lux Aeterna' – December 12, 2014 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Singing Christmas Tree – December 13, 2014 at All Day
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 13, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Winterlight – December 13, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Roy Durman: World Outreach - Christmas Smorgasbord Banquet – December 13, 2014 at 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
North Shore Community Christmas Dinner – December 13, 2014 at 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Carolyn Arends: Christmas - The Story of Stories – December 13, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gloria Dei Chorale: Christmas Lessons and Carols – December 13, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Suspenders: Merry Christmas – December 13, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Making Spirits Bright: A Good Noise Gospel Christmas, featuring Daniel Lapp – December 13, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 13, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir – December 13, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Singing Christmas Tree – December 14, 2014 at All Day
Kairos Advent Sunday of Peace – December 14, 2014 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Making Spirits Bright: A Good Noise Gospel Christmas, featuring Daniel Lapp – December 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Orpheus Choir: Joy to the World – December 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy – December 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Winterlight – December 14, 2014 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Gloria Dei Chorale: Christmas Lessons and Carols – December 14, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Concert: Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir & the Royal Westminster Regimental Band – December 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: A Traditional Christmas – December 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm