Puppets, prophecies, promises kept in Saint Barnabas Anglican Church festival

Saint Barnabas Anglican Church in Picayune, Mississippi presented its second annual production of the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with puppets on Saturday, December 12 to a packed house. Every pew was filled with viewers of all ages as The Very Reverend Father Jonathan J. Filkins welcomed visitors and began the narration of the Christmas story.

Directed by the multitalented Laura Anne Ewald, the program ties together Old Testament prophecies with the fulfillment of those prophecies in the New Testament. Each scripture reading leads to a related song, some by soloists or groups, others by congregational singing. As the various puppets portrayed the parts of the familiar Nativity story, the songs spoke their feelings and described their situations.

This year’s presentation included a number of volunteers from the Pearl River County Christian Home Educators Association as puppeteers and technical support. Guest vocalists joining Ewald and her mother Sharon included Shay LeBlanc, Jamie McDonald and Skip Rigney. The addition of a male voice allowed Ewald to add an additional character, Simeon, and the "Song of Simeon" to the program. Rebecca Jarrell handled the keyboard, allowing Sharon Ewald to perform percussion for the songs. Laura Anne Ewald played guitar and a drum in addition to singing.

Two factors contribute to the approachable nature of the free program. First, the puppets offer an enchanting diversion to children during what otherwise might be an overwhelmingly formal program. Second, the hospitality of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church welcomes everyone of any denomination to share in the fellowship of this Christmas celebration and members of many other congregations were present.

A door collection accepted donations of food and money to benefit the Christian Care Ministries of the church.

Historic Saint Barnabas Anglican Church is located at 201 Norwood Street in Picayune.

Originally appeared 12/14/2015 at http://www.examiner.com/article/puppets-prophecies-promises-kept-saint-barnabas-anglican-church-festival

Stitched together in faith: RLM Swedish Weavers share fellowship and skill

Following the Biblical tradition of sewing and weaving, the RLM Swedish Weavers of Picayune, Miss. form a life group within Resurrection Life Worship Center that reaches across church affiliations and skill levels. Under the current leadership of Edie Flores, the group is in its tenth year of creativity and service.

Swedish weaving creates patterns on even weave fabric by the way colorful yarn or thread is exposed or hidden by the fabric threads. Fabrics include huck cloth, monks cloth and aida fabric, among others. The group's members work on individual projects and share ideas as they create beautiful handcrafted products.

The experienced help the newcomers, as they work from the basis of Exodus 35:35.

The RLM Swedish Weavers meet in the Holy Java Cafe area of Resurrection Life Worship Center in Picayune, MS. Their weekly gathering begins and ends with prayer. Throughout the session, members share their skills and worship together with needle and thread.

During a recent Picayune Street Festival, RLM Swedish Weavers filled a booth with their wares both to entice visitors to look and to spread the word of their ministry and upcoming convention. Leader Edie Flores demonstrated the process of Swedish weaving on a blanket-sized throw. 

Holly leaves and berries adorn a green plaid pattern worked into this cheery project. Patterns form based on whether the colored yarn runs above or below the threads of the base fabric. 

 

Traditional Swedish weaving

Diamond patterns form a traditional motif in Swedish weaving. The variety of sizes and colors on this sample show how vibrant the finished product can be. Weavers use an even weave fabric such as monks cloth as the basis for their projects.

Autumn themes grace project

The rich earth tones of autumn suit this pumpkin design. Patterns can be adapted to longer or shorter projects once the weaver masters the layout of the basic pattern. A different selection of colors creates a different feeling to the finished project. Swedish weavers can digress from the original color scheme to individualize the work.

Projects vary from decorative items like this table runner for the weaver's household to ministry gifts, such as lap robes for residents of a VA facility or baby blankets for women experiencing crisis pregnancies. The members express the joy of donating their work as a great part of the attraction of the craft.

A variety of projects show craft's versatility

Swedish weavers produce items as tiny as Christmas ornaments and baby bibs to those as large as bedspreads. In between, there are burp cloths, dish towels, table scarves, lap throws and anything else the weaver can envision. By changing the number of pattern repetitions, the basic pattern can be adjusted up or down to suit the weaver's needs.

 

Originally appeared on 04/29/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/list/stitched-together-faith-rlm-swedish-weavers-share-fellowship-and-skill

Faces of Faith: The art of sculptor Ben Watts

Columbia, Miss. sculptor Ben Watts counts several faith-influenced statues within his body of work. With images such as William Carey accepting the calling to foreign missions and a battle-weary angel catching a moment of rest, Watts brings physical presence to the spiritual. His gift for depicting faces filled with emotion finds special impact in these inspirational pieces.

Watts shows the cobbler’s bench that Carey left behind when he prepared for his mission to India. The apron is leaving his hand as Carey Turns to the World, one foot raised in movement toward his callings. The tools rest in a box beneath the bench and an unfinished project sits on the bench.

Carey’s face is turned toward India as he acknowledges his destination, Bible in hand. The bronze statue stands on the campus of William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss., in front of the Sarah Ellen Gillespie Museum of Art.

Angel’s Song, an 18” high sculpture in water-based clay, offers the serenity of maternal embrace. Is the song by an angel or for an angel? Watts captures the peacefulness of a child held safe in loving arms in this elegant sculpture that could depict the Nativity.

In the eternal battle between good and evil, even warrior angels need a moment’s rest. In Peace on Earth, an angel pauses and experiences peace, if only for that moment. The 16” bronze shows the angel in full battle gear, ready to take up the fight again when summoned.  

Watts sculpted Thanksgiving during a Thanksgiving service. The source of gratitude stands, arms outstretched, in what Watts says could depict the crucifixion or the resurrection. The figure yields all, holding nothing back at this moment.

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, stands on the campus of Watts’ alma mater, Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. Funded by alumni donations from the classes of 1964, 1965 and 1966 along with other Millsaps family, the statue stands just north of the library, overlooking the open area known as Millsaps Bowl. Wesley stands, book in hand, bags at his feet, as though giving a sermon or sharing a text.  

Originally appeared on 09/16/2013 at http://www.examiner.com/list/faces-of-faith-the-art-of-sculptor-ben-watts