St Andrews Day
Category: Arts
An opportunity to take time out in the run up to Christmas 2024. You are invited to help by volunteering, or simply drop in. As mentioned in a previous post, Wordsmith Crafts has a space in the Loreburn centre in Dumfries every Saturday from St. Andrews day to the weekend of the 21st/22nd Quartz volunteers, […]
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John Bell in conversation
Do you remember when John Bell came to talk with us at St Johns? We had to change venue to down the street so that there would be enough seats for everyone to fit in. Follow the link to watch him chatting with Ricky Ross about a wide range of topics which affect the whole […]
As Christmas approaches the light will be switched on in Dumfries. Shops are already gearing up with their advertising, and your diary is probably filling up. Perhaps you feel under pressure, or those around you do. The relationship of the Church to Christmas is complicated. It is tempting to think that this was simpler in […]
Every October some artists take on the challenge of inking. This post highlights contributions made by artists involved in Quartz There are rules but they are more like guidelines. There are daily prompts throughout October, or due to the success of the original idea you can participate throught the whole year. There are no prizes, […]
The most common comments I receive about creative worship fall into two categories. “How can I be more creative?” and “That must take a long time to do”. I think both observations are true, so here are some thoughts from a lifetime based on reflecting about them. From the beginning God is described as creator. […]
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Architect
A spirituality of making The scars on the Ruthwell cross are witness to the troubled relationship Christians have with art. We are physical beings who need a world of sensations, we are also spiritual beings who can sense a realm that is more than simply physical. The Bible is filled with references to God crafting, […]
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Messy/Muddy Church
Creative Church Building Here are some thoughts reflecting on the experience of running messy and muddy church activities in a seaside Scottish town. Our speaker couldn’t make it on the day, but she sent her thoughts for people to read. You can download some sample running orders for the sessions here: What are your aims? […]
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Building Church Creativity
Sharing experiences of God in creation and creating A way to encourage creativity in people is to create an environment where it is normal to express yourself creatively. This might seem like a simple statement, but how many people stop making art after bad experiences in childhood, or as adults don’t feel that their creativity […]
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Lent and Easter Cross
Andy Brooke Stained Glass Art Two stained glass crosses are currently hanging in St Johns Church building. They represent the journey towards Easter and the meeting of heaven and earth through an empty tomb. We encourage you to read the artists own words though! – on his blog. And the Lent cross which we posted […]