Chalice Lighting

“A piece of art is never a finished work. It answers a question which has been asked, and asks a new question.” -Robert Engman

Check In

Share briefly what’s been on your mind lately or your highs and lows since we last met.

Thoughts for Contemplation

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” -Vincent Van Gogh

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.” -Steve Jobs

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.” -Steven Pressfield

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” -Pablo Picasso

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” -Scott Adams

“Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go – purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything… whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” -Tina Turner

“The highest prize we can receive for creative work is the joy of being creative. Creative effort spent for any other reason than the joy of being in that light filled space, love, god, whatever we want to call it, is lacking in integrity. . .”  -Marianne Williamson

Spiritual Exercise

1)      “If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing – it doesn’t matter.” (Brené Brown) When you are creating something in your daily life this month, make it without judgment. Let yourself be creatively free and to understand something you might do every day in a new way.

2)      Pay close attention to new ideas as they pop up. Whether from your morning shower, nighttime dreams, during exercise, in the car, or in nature, keep an idea notebook and jot them down. (projecthappiness.com) Give yourself space to let your mind wander to new ideas and see if they lead you somewhere you might not expect.

3)      Try something outside of your creative comfort zone. Take an art class, ask a friend to teach you to knit, seek out a theater or dance performance that you wouldn’t usually attend and see how it feels to stretch yourself creatively.

Questions for Contemplation

1)      How do you define creativity? How are you creative with your life? How do you make time in your life for your creative endeavors? How can you celebrate and further cultivate the creativity you are already engaged in?

2)      What inspires creativity? How do you cultivate it for yourself and for others?

3)      What creative aspirations do you have? How can you pursue these? What may be standing in your way? How would it feel to embark on a new creative endeavor?

4)      Do you see ways spirituality and human creativity are connected, and how are they related for you? What are the benefits of creativity for ourselves, our communities, and society?

Sitting in Silence

Take a few moments to sit quietly and reflect upon creativity.

Sharing/Deep Listening

Respond with your thoughts/experiences with the topic.

Reflection

This is a time to supportively respond to something another person said or to relate additional thoughts that may have occurred as others shared.

Song

#1024 When the Spirit Says Do

You got to do [sing, dance, laugh, etc] when the spirit says do

You got to do when the spirit says do

When the spirit says do, you go to do, oh Lord!

You got to do when the spirit says do

Spirit says do, spirit says do…

Closing Words

“Because creation is always an act of faith, and faith is a spiritual issue, so is creativity. As we strive for our highest selves, our spiritual selves, we cannot help but be more aware, more proactive, and more creative.” -Julia Cameron

Printable Order of Service