World Canvas Project: August 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

One prayer among many

ONE PRAYER AMONG MANY

Reflection by Marissa Danney

Chaplain, Ghost Ranch

ABIQUIU, NEW MEXICO, USA. A prayer canvas was begun by youth at the Ghost Ranch Conference Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

The youth participating in Youth Programming at Ghost Ranch began a prayer canvas as they dedicated an evening to prayer and creativity.

Ranging from age 5 to 19, the youth crouched on the floor, writing and painting. Most seemed to appreciate the privacy that painting over their prayer offered, while also joining their prayer among the many other prayers already represented.

Though this prayer canvas will not travel away from Ghost Ranch, it will be added to by the many youth who travel to Ghost Ranch each week and each year.

Prayer Canvas

The World Canvas Project began its journey when I was the Artist In Residence at Luther Seminary. The prayers on the World Canvas Project are collectively woven together in color and word. Threads of individual petitions give rise to personal and communal creativity, hope and reconciliation. The finished canvases will either return to Luther Seminary or in the communities where new canvases have begun. Along with many congregations and communities, the World Canvas Project has been part of the East Belfast Mission and the Skainos Project in East Belfast, Northern Ireland; Holden Village, Ghost Ranch, Presbyterian Church of Ireland, The Minnesota Without Poverty, Luther Seminary, Global Missions, United Theological Seminary and the Summer Institute in Spirituality & Art. A second, third and fourth canvas has traveled to Mosul, Iraq; Andhra Pradesh, India; Palestine and Israel; Guatemala.