Well we finally came through our first Art in Worship service with the gracious pastor and congregation at Glencoe  First United  Methodist Church; I have since been able to calm down. I was SO nervous I even panicked for a few minutes, and in doing so forgot what I had planned to do, how to start with first things first. I even had to talk myself through several moments of near hysteria. These people are good and supportive in every way and yet I was shaking in my clothes, sweating like I was the one doing the preaching, and even wondering why I had gotten myself into that situation. Things just didn’t seem to be working the way they worked out in my mind, I used the wrong color for this and the wrong application for that, and I was a nervous wreck. By then fifteen minutes had past and I was totally done for! Thank goodness it was Communion Sunday, boy did I need that grace and mercy imparted into the remainder of my morning. But I learned quite a bit from that experience and I want to do it again. This time I’ll use the right brushes and plan out the use of my paint palette way beforehand, and have a written order of steps of procedure for myself (just in case!). After all the panicking was over and the final benediction dismissed us, it was humbling and a relief to have several people come forward and offer their comments. James Kuhn, William & Elisabeth Rathbun, the Ken Brake family, Revs Ron & Marilyn Weathers plus Marilyn’s sister Pauline gave some encouraging words, I was too embarrassed to shake people’s hands as they exited the sanctuary, so I stayed up front until it was announced that the Fellowship Dinner was ready. More gracious people awaited us in the Fellowship Hall, and afterward there was opportunity to share some other work from our portfolio of Native American art. The ride home revealed how physically drained and emotionally spent I was, Stefani took over the drive back to the city, and I fell asleep. It was such a blessing to see so many friends: Jim & Joyce, Charles & Margie, the Dickens family, Charlene Lowery, Mary Sawyer, Betty & Opal, Kay & Leslie, the Larimore’s, Dale & Carol, John Kuhn, Valeria, Harold & Joyce, Glenn & Elsie, Ann Dee, Garret, Joseph, Alicia, Kelsey, Macy, and you know what, there was a host of people I didn’t know. There was an announcement that a young couple was expecting their first baby(s) in May, they are expecting twins!

The next Art in Worship will take place in OKC at Mayfair Heights First United Methodist Church on November 23 for Christ the King Sunday at 11 am. I’m hopeful that my daughter Sara will be assisting in that particular service. See then or see you sooner.