Painting as Prayer

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY WITH WORD AND PAINT? by Chuck Hoffman

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, USA. Prayer brings us into conversation with our creator. Whether we express prayers with word or color it brings us into relationship. A relationship that God desires. The prayers that reside in our hearts and minds may seek hope for peace, healing or a sense of care and connection with one another and loved by the body of Christ. The prayers on the World Canvas Project are collectively lifted up in our hearts and on the canvas. Together we create something beautiful with color, shape and form that is at the same time both individual and communal creativity working together. All have an equal voice in raising up prayers to our creator. Creativity is a gift from God and creating gifts back to God. Wherever prayer is lifted up–so are we as well.

O Lord our God,
In the quiet
contemplation of our hearts
through pencil, brush and color,
you accept equally the prayers of
our sisters and brothers
in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

We are all one in prayer.
So may we, as one,
rightly carry out our commission
to witness and to love
in our community
and throughout the world.
Accept our prayers and art
graciously, as an act of love for you.
+ Amen

Prayers to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, USA. Luther Seminary hosted the state wide assembly for Minnesota Without Poverty. The World Canvas Project was part of the event and was offered for the collective prayers of those who gathered to end poverty in Minnesota by the year 2020. A Minnesota Without Poverty has a vision where all Minnesotans thrive. – A Minnesota Without Poverty

Images © Genesis+Art Studio

Lifting of prayers for creation

THE WORLD CANVAS PROJECT BEGINS AT LUTHER SEMINARY.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, USA. The World Canvas Project is a prayer canvas where prayers are first penciled onto the canvas then painted into the canvas. With its beginning at Luther Seminary, the canvas has been part of community at the Minnesota Without Poverty gathering, Global Missions Institute, United Theological Seminary and the Summer Institute in Spirituality & Art. A second canvas is currently in Iraq. – Luther Seminary

Images © Holm Photo