First Sunday in Lent

You can't tell from this photo, but self-control is now in 2 pieces.  Yes, broken.
And not between self & control (that would have been ok, at least).
No, it split between self-co // ntrol



 We are using our beautiful glass mosaic signs created by artist friends Margaret Almon & Wayne Stratz during the six Sundays in Lent.  The 1st Sunday being - self-control - which is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  It did not escape me, the irony that of all the 9 fruits - peace, joy, love, patients, kindness, goodness, gentleness and faithfulness - it would be self-control that breaks!  Now "self-co" is separated from "ntrol"...  I'm sure, if I pondered on this long enough, I would come up with some pithy saying or deep insight into what that might mean.  Alas, not as of yet.

However, what I do wish to reflect upon is how come 'self-control' is a fruit of the Spirit in the first place? Control of self is often dismissed as 'too hard' or 'not much fun' and only for those who are naturally disciplined like Olympic athletes or world class musicians.  Perhaps its really more about interpersonal & intrapersonal freedom through self-control. How we think and then act as if we "loved our neighbor as our self."  Would self-control come more naturally, if we did love God with all our heart, mind, soul & strength?  Would then this evasive (at time troublesome) Fruit be born in us through the Spirit?  It is often said one reaches self-control through gratitude....what do you think?

A new year begins...

"Grace" A silkscreen print by Suzanne Halstead and mosaic frame by Margaret Almon

We are indeed drawing nearer to 2013, only a few days hence... 

This past year has been full of joys and sorrows and many changes too -  in location, jobs, leaving friends and making new ones.  Most recently adding a rescue cat into our lives while mourning the tragic loss of life in CT & NY and frankly, around the globe.
Grace, God's Grace is needed now more then ever as we wrestle the realities of climate change, gun control and health care - to mention a few...
Grace is a tough word to comprehend.  We say, "grace" at meals, we sing, "...God shed his grace on thee..." We wonder at how grace happens through communion, through prayer and even with the phrase, "grace under firer..." We notice when someone is being graceful, or may intone the words, "Hail Mary, full of grace."  How do we become grace-full and grace-filled in a world that seems "out of control" right now?  So much pain, so much sadness, so much need! The cries come in the mail box, on Facebook, or from concerned friends each day - worthy causes, organizations and institutions each trying in their own way to stem the tide of suffering for men, women, children, animals and the earth itself.  Its overwhelming.  It can lead to depression or anger, despondency or ambivalence.
"Where is God in all this?" - we may ask.  Emmanuel!  God is with us.  Gracing us always with the passion and compassion that moves us to be aware, to care and then to share. Grace is love in action.
If we allow God to fill us up with Grace, then to be grace-filled is to overflow with the action of loving others as ourselves.  I pray that this new year each of us will be filled to overflowing with the individual passion of our hearts and that compassion will live out in this world to bring the hope, peace, joy and love that is so needed now and always.  So be it!  Welcome Yule!

New Adventures in Art & Prayer

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Greetings from Ohio! (more on that shortly)

Wanda and I have been a bit remiss in contributing to our Drawing Nearer blog lately – lately as in almost a year!  So I thought, since much has changed in my life, that I would take a stab at catching the blog up to the present (at least from my perspective).

OK – here goes.  First and foremost, I must say a heartfelt “Thank you” to all my dear friends and family who have seen me through this transition of leaving my beloved labyrinth and home in Pottstown, PA for new adventures in Berea, OH.  Husband Gary received a call from a wonderful church there and we felt the Spirit confirming that, “Yes” we did need to move AGAIN and be in ministry on the west side of Cleveland.

What happened to the 9 Fruit of Spirit stain glass mosaics? 

"Fruits of the Spirit" next to labyrinth

They came with us of course!  But first we had a spirit-filled dedication for these beautifully crafted word-art pieces as we walked the labyrinth with two-dozen artists and friends on October 1, 2011.  Artists Margaret Almon, mosaics and Wayne Stratz, stain glass are know together as Nutmeg Designs and collaborated to create the 9 “Fruits” with myself as mosaic border maker, grouter and sealer of each piece.  Joy, Love, Peace, Patients, Kindness, Self-Control, Goodness, Gentleness, & Faithfulness graced our Yarnall Road home & studio till January 2012 when we packed them up and moved to our new Elmwood Drive home & studio.

What about the ministry of Drawing Nearer?

Wanda Schwandt and I continue to maintain our website and to offer our printed resources, retreats and workshops using our Drawing Nearer process of prayer experiences blended with creative activities.  Of course it is more difficult to do our jointly led workshops & retreats since we are now 7 hours apart! However this also gives us the opportunity to reach out to communities both in southeast PA and northeast OH.  We are delighted that more and more folks are using our resources to delve deeper into their personal spiritual journey and also with groups large & small.  

 If you would like to learn more about our process, please visit our website www.drawingnearer.com or email us at drawingnearercc@gmail.com.   One or the other of us will respond as soon as we are able.

What’s new in the way of creative expression and artworks?

During the process of working together on the “Fruits” project, Margaret Almon and I came up with the idea of creating new collaborative artworks using my expressive oil pastels and her mosaic design expertise.  This turned into a series of truly unique artworks we call our Marzanne Collection(Margaret + Suzanne). To see more of these inspirational works like "Orange Nautilus" (on the banner), visit Margaret's Etsy Shop where they can be seen and purchased: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nutmegdesigns

"Worship" by Suzanne Halstead

The artwork used in our book, Drawing Nearer: Devotional Workbook of Creative Prayer continues to be available on our website.  Some of the original oil pastels are already sold, however you may still purchase a quality giclee print of any of the 48 images.  If you are interested in these pieces or the artwork in our Advent Angels booklet, please contact Suzanne directly: shalstead@wowway.com to purchase the artwork or for any other information about the artwork.

To learn more about how my passion of art making came to be and also the story of how it came to be used in the Drawing Nearer book, you may be interested in reading this 2-part interview:

http://margaretalmon.com/interview-with-suzanne-halstead-part-1-seining-the-soul-to-bring-vision-into-being/

http://margaretalmon.com/interview-with-suzanne-halstead-part-2-release-from-realism/

Well, I think that’s it for now, 

Blessings, Suzanne

The Labyrinth & The Wall

Last year the Labyrinth was built!

This year the Wall will be adorned!

It is a joy to work with two dear friends on this massive project -

Mosaic artist Margaret Almon and

Stain-glass artist Wayne Stratz

Together they are known as Nutmeg Designs and are collaborating on 9 signs using the "fruit of the spirit" from Galatians 5:22&23.

The refereed to Wall is cinder block, 4 feet high x 22 feet long. The nine Fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Wayne will be designing the letters and cutting them out of stain-glass, each word a different color. Margaret will then mosaic in and around each word with contrasting colors. Then I will be expanding the mosaic with shells, stones and tiles to fill out the 1 foot by 4 foot substrate on which the words are adhered.

I am so excited as Wayne has already started on the longest word in orange - faithfulness!

Stay tuned as this project progresses!

Passion Week

Passion Week
In a Word - Love
The Word
The Logos
The Christ
Love
There is no other greater...
Love
Then to lay down one's life...
Love
Palms, Trial, Cross, Tomb,
Sorrow, Emptiness
EMPTY
Death Defeated
Alleluia
Amen!
So Be It
LOVE

Earth & Spirit Art Show

Earth & Spirit

March 18 - April 24

Special Openings & Meet the Artists on Fridays March 18 & April 1, 5-9 pm

~~refreshments, live music, book signing~~

Water Gallery is in the Dresher Arcade #5

319 Main Street Lansdale, PA 19446

Pastels by Suzanne Halstead

www.drawingnearer.com

Jewelry by Bette Conway

www.betteconway.com

Art Show & Book Signing April 1st (no fooling!)

Greetings from Drawing Nearer!

We are excited to announce that our newly self-published book

Drawing Nearer: Devotional Workbook of Creative Prayer will be available for sale at the Water Gallery in Lansdale during the exhibition Earth & Spirit March 18 - April 24, 2011. Come visit us on Lansdales's First Friday night April 1st between 5 - 9 pm when we will both be present and signing our books. We would love to see you then!

Also that evening will be refreshments and live music by singer/songwriter Joel Halstead with guest jazz singer Emilia Halstead. In addition there will be live Traditional Irish and Folk Music being played by Bette Conway and other guest musicians throughout the evening. The opening evening of Earth & Spirit is Friday March 18, 5-9 pm when a full evening of Irish and folk music will be performed. Come celebrate with us either or BOTH nights.

The Water Gallery is located in the Dresher Arcade #5, 319 Main Street Lansdale, PA

wwww.watergallerylansdale.com - 215.393.7180

Happy New Year from Drawing Nearer!

Wanda & I are excited about all the new energy and upcoming adventures on the 2011 horizon.

This original oil pastel, titled Offering of Color, along with 17 others were selected to be showcased at the new Water Gallery in Lansdale, PA March 18 through April 24.

This was the first in a series of 52 oil pastels I did as part of my early morning devotional time while I was up at Mensch Mill Camp & Retreat Center from 2002--2005.

Each of these oil pastels are unique unto themselves and yet themes would appear in the images and the groups of such themes are used in Wanda's and my book, Drawing Nearer: Devotional Workbook of Creative Prayer, where many of these artworks are displayed.

For more information about the oil pastels, Water Gallery and the book please visit our website www.drawingnearer.com

We wish you all the joy and adventure this new year will bring to each of you!

Blessings, Suzanne & Wanda

Book available in Print!

Wanda & I are pleased to announce that our book is now available in print!

Drawing Nearer: Devotional Workbook of Creative Prayer

You can order it through our website: www.DrawingNearer.com

You can also sign up for our e-newsletter, retreats, workshops and visit the new Drawing Nearer Studio in Pottstown, PA

We wish you all a Happy Advent Season full of prayerful and creative anticipation to the wonders of the Light & Love of Christmas! Blessings, Suzanne & Wanda

More Pendle Hill

A Healing Retreat

Suzanne and I attended the Creative Spirit retreat at Pendle Hill lead by Melanie Weidner. It was fantastic!!! If you are in the area and she is speaking, don't hesitate - just go. You will be blessed.

At this retreat, we prayed and created and prayed while creating. "Juicy" poetry stimulated our spirits to dig deep and express ourselves with paint, collage, boxes, altered books.... Oh what bliss!!!!

There were 16 of us. We began as strangers and ended with a hug-fest, with promises to see each other next year. When I got home, there was already an email thread connecting us and a round robin project developing between us.

As I write this, a week has past and I am still spiritually high and blissful. The peace that comes after turning monster fears into angel blessings on paper and in the heart is true healing.

On a side note but not connected to our retreat, I came upon an article on how art can aid healing from trauma and the resultant PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It is from a trusted source and you may be interested in seeing it: http://www.ptsdspirituality.com/2010/08/22/ptsd-spirituality-art-and-craft-can-heal-ptsd-soul-wounds/

It's amazing what God can do with paper, brushes, scraps, and a willing heart.
Blessings on your journey, W

Drawing Nearer this weekend

Ok - this is going to be chatty - no deep thoughts or inspiring words or even profound imagery. Just me and my thoughts and maybe you reading them. So hear goes.

Ever see on your calendar a few days in a row that are ::gasp:: empty. I mean - nothing written on them - really. Not a single 'have to' or 'should' (well - there are always shoulds). No appointments, no deadlines - just little empty white squares with nothin' in 'um.

For me - this is dangerous. Especially when I see them a month or so in advance. I take a moment to think hard on this amazing reality - really Suzanne? Really blank? If the internal answer, based on external circumstances, comes back "yes" well - that's when my normally controlled and under-active creative energies go - "Oh Yea, Let's Party!"

And that is just what has happened this Memorial Day weekend - yes weekend. All day Friday, Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. Four - count them 4 whole days to....to...?

First thoughts were, "Great, I'll go away, go on an adventure - camping, canoeing, or do the City - art museums, see a show, or go visit friends and family, etc..." After checking in with the loving spouse my initial "go & do" bubble burst - I may have 4 blank days - in a row - but he does not. "Rats" as the beloved Peanuts character, Charlie Brown, used to say.

Besides, God had other plans for these open spaces - in fact, it was the vision that I had (really Divinely inspired) when we first moved into our house 5 years ago. You see the previous owners had a vision of their own that was only partially realized - a large above ground aluminum framed swimming pool with attached deck. We know this because they left behind a flat area dug out of an all slopping yard and a 4' x 21' cider block wall (to hold the hillside back) and all the pieces and parts of this pool meant to be assembled.

Since our children were up and out in their mid-tewnties and we had just finished taking care of an in-ground pool we had at our last house, we weren't to eager to go that route again. Besides, the many pieces and parts came without instructions so it all became scrape metal for income towards the next project - make that projects!

Fast forward to this weekend. We are, God bless my husband, filling this wonderful open days with a vision FULL of outdoor projects: The flat area was calling to be become a labyrinth - a walking pathway in a scared circle for meditation, contemplation, centering prayer and time with the Holy in a lovely tree surrounded, bird song setting. The wall was calling to become a beautiful mural - a place for visual inspiration and creative expression, a focal point to enhance the walker experience. The space begs for a waterfall - soothing sounds that surround you, light sparkling on the water both providing a sense of peace.

As these projects are in the making not only by me but also with the loving assistance of dear friends and family members, a deep longing id fulfilled, awesome creative energies are explored, a sense of accomplishment is felt and a vision is realized. Most importantly, the results of these four days will provide a place for people to come and participate in a drawing nearer experience with God.

So God, please bless all our hands and this place as we offer it back to you. Call all souls who you know need a place of rest and inspiration to come. So be it.

Yahoo!! Suzanne

Wonder -ring

I'm wonder-ring this morning...

For me, that's letting my wonder ring - as in ringing true. It's like opening a big space inside myself and letting the sound of me ring around. The more I am open to wonder ring the more the internal sounds echo, linger, create harmonies.

I wonder if God wondered - you know wondered us and all of creation into being. In the beginning was the Word - the sound - we are spoken - rung into existence. Vibrations of sound waves creating patterns, colors - even light itself. And it was good - yes very good!

Try it - try wonder-ring. Create an open space inside yourself where sound - the Word - can reverberate beautiful harmonies within you. Then -- watch light sparkling on water, listen to the wind in the trees, soak in the colors of a flower, touch the softness of the skin of someone you love, taste your favorite fruit and let your self - wonder.

Enjoy this day,

Suzanne

On a Hill Far Away

Daylesford Abbey, PA

Transformations

From

death to life

From

sleep to awake

From

chrysalis to butterfly

From

seed to flower

From

winter to spring

From

sorrow to joy

From

cross to resurrection

From

darkness to light

From

old to new

From

frozen to flowing

From

never to always

From

somber to song

From

closed to open

From

________ to _________

Welcome Spring!

Happy Spring to one and all!

I am enjoying the beautiful warm sunny weather these past few day. Daffodils are blooming and the smell of spring is everywhere. It does refresh my spirit. Wanda and I have been busy doing Drawing Nearer workshops and presentations in our area. Please check out our website for a listing of the workshops and retreat options we offer. And our book is available for personal download through PayPal. www.drawingnearer.com

We wish you the joys of this holy Easter season. May your hearts be filled with a renewed spirit of creativity~!

Suzanne

Winter - Still

Yes, it's still winter. The snow fell and the wind blew. The shovel scraped along the l-o-n-g driveway once more. A thousand piece puzzle was assembled. Emails were written. And then - what - what to do -now?

Be still - its still winter.
Be still - hold still, breathe, rest.
Be still - know that I am and that You are.
Be still - know that I AM God.
Be still - pray, breathe, rest - its OK - really.
Be still - just be, become, come and be still.
Be still - its still winter.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

PAYING BILLS AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

I hate paying bills! There is never enough cash to clean the slate every month. I keep thinking there has to be a better way to do this, to not feel so frustrated and anxious every two weeks. So, I wondered, is there a way to turn bill paying into a spiritual practice that would contribute toward shaping me in a contemplative way?

Jesus taught that we should not be anxious as to what we will eat, what we will wear, or where we will lay our heads, because our loving God is aware that we need all these things and has provided us with abundant resources. I do have all those things and so much, much more. As I look around my place I see the vestiges of the materialistic society I have bought into. Maybe there are things here I do not need that drain my resources in maintaining them.

Also, the priniciples of simplicity and generosity come into play. We are not to squander our resources to the point that we can not share our abundance with others who are in need, who have less than we do. I believe God gives some people an abundance of resources in order to cultivate compassion in them to share with those who have much less. There are materials in my craft room which I could make into gifts, an extra table and gently used clothes I could donate to a charity resale shop.

Then there is gratitude. My grandmother always told me to count my blessings. In fact she loved to play a hymn about it on her organ. She survived the Great Depression and the World Wars by relying on and thanking God for everything she did have – which wasn’t much.The disciple of gratitude keeps our minds on the blessings that we do have instead of moaning over the things we do not have. This will clue me in to the abundance provided to me by a generous God, much of which I don’t stop to notice.

So, back to the bills. I think if I look at each bill and contemplate how that service or item benefited me (or those I blessed with gifts purchased), then gratitude would swell instead of anxiety. Thanks, God, for providing enough for that dental bill, and for guiding me to a gentle, compassion and skillful dentist. Thank you for the roof over my head and for a place where my family feels safe and cared for. Thank you for the abundance of food available to me every day.

And while I’m at it, I could write a check to my church or favorite charity who uses the resources to help others who need the basic elements of life which I take for granted.

Maybe if I consider these principles while paying my bills, it won’t be such an onerous chore!

Wanda