My Prayer

The last entry in the must-read new book by David Taylor, For the Beauty of the Church, is a prayer for pastors, artists and the "grand others" who desire to see the rightful place of the arts in worship.  It so expresses my heart that I'm going share a condensed version with you.  Please join me and others in praying this on a regular basis. (Thank-you, David, for your pastor/artist/prophet's heart.)

*I pray that you, pastors, and artists, will be far-seeing, courageous shepherds of the church. May God help you discern how to preserve the good of the old and to welcome the good of the new.  

*I pray that you will help your people resist the dizzying rush of multimedia for its own sake.  I pray that you will help them embrace instead a gospel that is artistically full but not manic. May you help your people live well, not simply add more experiences to already busy lives  

*I pray that you will know how to marshal the patrons in your church to invest in artworks that will nourish the world.

*I pray that you will help your community move beyond feeble cultural imitations to aesthetically rich works of art.  I pray that you will embrace the slow, patient work that this will require.

*Pastors, may you freely release your artists into the manifold callings upon their lives, wherever these callings may land them.  May you equip your artists to enter the larger society to become the incarnational presence of Christ--a presence quietly hidden or boldly prophetic.

*Artists, may you gladly cooperate with the work your pastors are doing to help you find a spiritual home.  May your constant desire be to reflect the life of Jesus, holy and whole, humble and content, courageous and fruitful. May you lavish your neighbors with the glory of our Trinitarian God.

*May the Spirit guide us--pastors and artists and all who have been summoned to lead and to participate in this mission.  May each of us remain faithful to the calling God has placed upon our life and upon the life of our church. And may it give us great joy.

Amen. 

(Painting is Beauty from Ashes, by Tina Steele Penn)