Welcome to Our Season of Faith September 15-October 13 A FAMILY ACTIVITY
During Our Season of Faith this year, for four weeks from Sunday, September 15, to Sunday, October 13, we’re going to color. And imagine. Everybody. Adults and kids. Real Crayola crayons and a special coloring book. To get started, read the excerpt above from Harry Chapin’s Flowers Are Red.
Finished? Great! Now you’ll understand our theme, IMAGINE, a little better. While we’re coloring, we’ll roam around our spiritual gardens, searching for flowers that we’ve always seen in red and green. And wonder why. And then imagine them in different colors. Maybe when we put our Crayolas aside later, we’ll have awakened to new flowers of many colors … awakened to how much of the little boy is in each of us and how much of the teacher.
Why coloring? First, it’s a favorite childhood pleasure that doesn’t require any expertise. Second, coloring is a relaxing exercise that can center the mind, body and spirit in a place of peace far from stress and anxiety – a place where healthy imagining happens. And third, every member of the congregation can give it a try – an ageless, perfect common ground.
The IMAGINE coloring book is organized around three weekly Imaginings – three things to wonder about while you’re coloring. All you need to do is find a quiet, comfortable place where you can work peacefully with no distractions. And then just start. The two drawings to color each week should provide ample quality time to wander about in your garden of thoughts and beliefs. Coloring books and crayons will be distributed at worship on Kickoff Sunday, September 15, and will be available at worship and in the church office throughout OSOF.
To experience all the colors of the rainbow – and all your imagination might offer – don’t come with a plan. When coloring, try not to think about your choice of colors. Free your spirit to guide your choices. Take your mind off automatic pilot, and let one color decide the next. Allow your imagination to go here and there as you explore the Imaginings. As your colorful meditations evolve, reflections about the Imaginings will come to mind. Either when they appear or later when your coloring has concluded, note those thoughts on the blank page provided. Record them in single words, phrases or sentences. Or draw an image or a symbol as a reminder.
Each Sunday, clip your two completed drawings from the coloring book and bring them to the Our Season of Faith Gallery of Art in the Fellowship Hall. A curator will gather them for display. And bring your notes each Sunday to the special guided meditative summaries, called IMAGINE Sundays, following worship.
Four IMAGINE Wednesdays dot the OSOF schedule this year for the first time – mid-week activities to fuel the imagination for the entire family. Paint in watercolor and work in clay with expert guides. Supplies and meal provided. Adults and kids imagine side by side. Paintings and pottery will be displayed in the Our Season of Faith Gallery of Art.
Use the form at the end to register your interest and drop it in the offering plate or bring/send it to the church office no later than Monday, September 16. Or make your reservations by phone.