Brie's first Arts Council meeting as Arts Pastor

All gathered joyfully and with thanksgiving and prayer! (Wendy was not present, alas.)

In old news, the Arts Council decided last fall to change their name to the HopeArts Pastoral Team, or HAPT, to better reflect their purpose. Let's just call them the Happy Team, shall we?

Brie has decided to meet with each member of the HAPT individually to see what they think they've been doing, what they want to keep doing or stop doing or start doing, and how long they think they want to do it. She wants the team to work on a calendar of events for the next 9-12 months. She also wants to survey the congregation and artists for perspectives on the future of HopeArts.

We discussed the format and date for Brie's commissioning before the congregation as Arts Pastor. Each member will plan their contribution to the ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 28.

The next point for discussion was to invite Ruth Calisch to join HAPT. She'll get a trial period to feel out whether it is really for her. The hope is that she will fill the gap of advocate for communication -- she will take minutes and work on ways to improve HAPT communications with Hope artists and the larger congregation.

The next Artists' Gathering will take place on Feb. 14 from 6:30-9:00 in the Family Room. Jane will invite the writers to come early, at 5:30, and Brie will secure a room for them. Rick, Jane and Brie will bring drinks and salads, and Wendy will order pizza. Guests will be invited to bring desserts. The agenda is this:
• Kelly will give a "state of the union" talk and introduce Brie. A sign-up sheet will be available for volunteering and email.
• Wendy will introduce the Lent exhibit and get people started making marks on the blank canvases.
• Rick and Kelly will lead an origami project for the Easter/Pentecost exhibit as well as ask for ideas for the continuing Lent/Easter/Pentecost exhibit.
• The evening will end with prayer.
Brie will invite Geno and PJ to come as well. Jane relayed a message from elder Mike Brimberry that the canvases be monitored regularly for inappropriate content.

Discussion went on about future artists' gatherings and meetings. Jane would like to keep having hands-on activities to encourage creativity and partnerships. Rick would like to see cross-discipline collaborations to develop and execute exhibit ideas. We want to nurture artists who have new ideas and help them connect to the larger HopeArts community before launching new programs. We would like to plan a retreat for HAPT to hear each others' stories and gain insight to work together.

Brie will talk to Geno about the possibility of Hope sending Steve and Mariam to the Laity Lodge retreat for pastors to artists that will take place Mar. 4-7.

Finally, we discussed the Ash Wednesday service. Ann Cogdell is representing Hope to Christ Church for coordinating the service, which Geno will be leading. We must communicate with Geno about the Lent canvases before then, and mention the exhibit in the Ash Wednesday program, which Kelly is designing.

We danced out of the room with prayer.