13 January 2012

By Joyce Henry | ResonateNews.com arts writer

GARDEN VALLEY, Texas — Charlotte Krusi says "worship art" is a refreshing way to seek the presence of God. She and a group of artists — both adults and children — will be using their paint brushes to “respond to God” during the upcoming Church United in Prayer on Saturday.

The free event features a coalition of area churches and ministries meeting at 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Christian Fellowship Church, 15704 Texas Highway in Garden Valley. About 700 to 1,000 people are expected to attend, event organizers estimated.

Krusi says the artwork of children in worship is extremely deep even in its simplicity.

“We all need a childlike faith and their freedom brings healing to the cluttered and wounded adult soul. In this era of overstimulation — both audio and visual — simple artwork can underline what the Holy Spirit is trying to bring to our hearts.”

God's heart can be represented in pictures, she said.

“Pictures speak a thousand words. I love a good teaching and many times find that during the teaching pictures come to mind. Some are personal and some are worth sharing. I try to paint what is on God’s heart,” Krusi said.

The recent trend of “worship art” (art created during a church service) in some churches gives Kruzi and artists similar to her the opportunity to visually capture the essence of the spoken message.

Rebecca Friedlander of Longview, Texas, one of the artists who will be painting on Saturday, points out that each person receives love differently and that in the church we need to be quick to offer opportunity to hear God’s word in all types of “love languages.” This out-of-the-box idea allows everyone to creatively communicate with God at their own level of intimacy, she said. The next generation is visual and responds to images and color. For them worship art is a way to connect and be relevant.

Many Scriptures can be cited to illustrate the use of art in the worship service. God filled Bezalel with “all wisdom and skill” and filled him with God’s spirit when preparing the Hebrew tabernacle. The prophets of the Old Testament almost all saw dramatic vision pictures of heaven and earth. Even the parables of Jesus himself could be said to demonstrate God’s endorsement of creative story-telling and drama. There can be no doubt, Krusi and Friedlander said, that God intended people to follow in his footsteps and be creative in their own ways with whatever gifts he has given them.

This is something new to many Christians, they admit. Both Krusi and Friedlander urge believers to be receptive — even to try their hand at “inspired doodling” when praying. Saturday at Church United in Prayer will be an opportunity to experience first-hand the richness of adding visual art to worship music and prayer. The public is welcome to join the coalition of churches and ministries “uniting in prayer.” The event is free and no offerings will be taken.

Visit the Web at www.churchunitedinprayer.com for a complete list of churches, artists and clergy involved in the Church United in Prayer.

PHOTO BY: Joyce Henry
Artist Charlotte Krusi prepares a canvas called "Jacob's Ladder" to be completed at the Church United in Prayer on Saturday during worship.

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