Steve Kremer, St. Joan's musician played background music for the evening, including the first song, ”GOD" (God to enfold me, God to surround me).  He also sang a solo, "Teach Your Children Well." Mary Eve bared the artist in her soul by displaying a lovely painting of her favorite subject, "TREES".  Both artists shared part of their soul and their creativity with us.

We gave thanks in a Litany of Thanksgiving  for artists and the artist within ourselves:

      

For painters who bring color into our lives they create...       

For singers and musicians who enliven our senses and touch our souls by their  melodies...        

For sculptors who remind us of the beauty and power of embodiment...       

For teachers and preachers whose words enlighten our lives and challenge us to  stretch our concepts and ideas...       

For  the unique contribution that each of us makes at home, at work and in this  community...       

For the ways in which artists mirror for us a God who is inherently creative and  reminds us of the call to be creative...

Peter Eichten, speaker for the evening, brought us into further focus of Holy Creativity through  interpretations of the Bible.  He emphasized why the paradigms of the past fit with the people's history.  For example, in 400AD, there was much poverty and class distinction, and for many years nothing changed scripturally or in Biblical interpretation.  Canon Law, infallibility of the Pope, and the creed presented to the Christians for most was static. Obey the laws of the church and you would be awarded with an afterlife in heaven; disobeying meant punishment in hell. By the Middle Ages some clergy and Christians began a paradigm the questioned the laws of the church, scriptures and the Bible.  Many left the church.  By this time, the Bible had many translations in many languages, which contributed  to more confusion.

Peter twice  read a story from Mark's gospel, giving us the opportunity to interpret it thoughtfully.

Jarius, a rich man sought Jesus because his 12 year old daughter was dying.  He went on his knees to beg  for help.  Jesus responded and began to go on the way to the house of Jarius when the crowd closed in on Him . A poor untouchable woman, who had hemorrhaged for 12 years, moved close to him, believing if she just touched his garment, she would be  cured.  As she did so, He looked back at her.  She fell on her knees in sorrow for bothering Him.  But, He stopped to heal the woman. Then friends of Jarius approached Jesus and said that his daughter had died.  Jesus said, "No, she is just sleeping."  Some laughed at Him, but he went to the house and told the girl to rise.  She got up, and the relatives rejoiced.  Here was Jesus, a poor man, breaking precedent with the times. Not only the poor having faith in him, but the rich also.  He was a benefactor for all people  A Paradigm indeed.

M. Pat Johnson is a 35 year member of St. Joan of Arc. She teaches English to immigrant women and works with Global Volunteers.

By the 20th century much turmoil led up to Vatican II.  At this time Pope John, the 23rd, presented a new paradigm with visions of hope and change for the church in the modern world   The world bishops applauded his insight, but the Cardinals ranted against it. Many conservative Catholics didn't want change, so though there were some changes, much was not fulfilled.  The paradigm of the past hangs on in fragments,  but the hope is churches like St. Joan's looking forward and continuing to bring new life into the church of today.