Gospel & Arts Perspective
All of creation reveals God’s love for humanity and beauty. He is the source of all that is good, beautiful and true. His Spirit and purpose permeate creation, which flows out of God’s perfect community, and continues to redeem our broken world, making all things one and new. Made in the image of God, all human beings possess the ability to create and /or experience art, although our fallen nature allows us to do so imperfectly. At the core, we're all connected through the same basic desires, needs, and hopes. Through creativity, we search to find meaning, constantly wrestling with dualities (earthly passions and heavenly longings), seeking fulfillment and purpose. In the gospel, God initiates and we respond to His goodness and beauty with new eyes; finding true identity and peace in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Gospel & Arts Practice
A continual dependence on the Gospel of Jesus is central for all creativity; with a growing understanding of His love and mercy becoming the impetus for all artistic expressions. Throughout the creative process, His Spirit calls us to work in collaboration and community; following His example within the Trinity. As His grace is continually revealed, we respond with acts of beauty, truth and goodness; extending love as we’ve been loved. In corporate worship, art is regularly offered as teaching illustrations in response to the Central Text; showcasing His redeeming love while exploring the wonder and beauty of Christ. In addition, attributes of His beauty are shared through artistic outreach with the surrounding community and beyond.
- Because He permeates all of life, we seek to offer creative windows that point to His all-encompassing presence and goodness.
- Because He is creative by nature and we are created in His image, art connects with the very essence of our being and will be incorporated into all we do.
- Because He is the Creator and we His (fallen but in renewal) creation, our creativity will always be less than His and always in response (to His Word, Spirit, and/or Creation.
- Because all humans are connected through the same core longings and desires, there is no such thing as Christian or secular art. It is simply art created by humans wrestling with concepts of beauty, truth and goodness; ultimately found in the person and work of Christ.
- Because we're earthly creatures longing for the divine, our creativity is most complete when it seeks to express ongoing tension and dualities (ie. hope & pain, light & darkness, word & image, faith & works, earthly & divine passions, etc…) yet strives to offer third-way possibilities found in the Gospel.
- Because we are called “to be in the world but not of it,” we seek to be fully engaged with culture while finding rest and hope in the beauty and truths of the Gospel.
- Because an understanding of the Gospel is foundational in all our creativity, we strive to encourage all artists towards some type of ongoing community & discipleship.
- Because our identity is in Christ, we seek to throw off fear or self-glory and instead create in collaboration and community in shared service with others.
- Because we are called to a life of faith led by the Spirit, we strive for an organic process in creativity; forming ideas and plans yet holding loosely when necessary and always listening.
- Because we desire to remain connected to cultural themes and wrestlings, we strive to offer artistic expressions in worship that are corporate and accessible to all walks of life; while illustrating the relevancy of the Gospel.
- Because worship services are corporate (younger & elder brothers) we strive to prayerfully consider all artistic risks and the negative impacts that may result.
- Because we strive to follow the Regulative principle in worship: All forms in a service are prayerfully designed to flow from God’s commanded elements (preaching, praise, prayer, sacraments) and thematically serve the central text of the day. Vertical (to God) and horizontal (as one Body) participation always considered, and any art offered as illustrative, supportive and simply one piece of the whole; with the person and work of Christ central throughout.
- Because we believe true revelation is given through the Spirit, we strive to offer excellence with creativity but trust the Spirit to give new eyes rather than artistic manipulation or excessive production.
- Because we desire to lead the congregation and surrounding culture to Gospel practices and missional living, we strive to offer communications that engage through beauty, story, and the larger compelling meta-narrative of the Gospel.
- Because we believe the people are the church (and not the building), we call our facility Grace Centre and use it for church activities as well as community art events (art exhibits, plays, concerts, etc...) seeking to remove man made walls while prayerfully considering the use and impact of all art forms offered.
- Because we desire to reach the community and beyond, outreach events are designed to tear down walls and build bridges, connecting people from all walks of life, while offering windows of beauty and truth found in the Gospel.
- Because we trust the Spirit to draw and reveal, we strive to not offer overtly evangelistic methods (such as tracks, altar calls, excessive manipulation) with any artistic events or community gatherings.
- Because we believe the Gospel is central, the success of this ministry will not be measured by creativity alone but rather our an understanding of His love and finished work and the impetus to extend this good news with others through acts of beauty, truth, and goodness.
Artists Support
Artists gather together in regular rotation to explore the gospel through creativity and service in the weekly worship services; as well as certain publications to the web, and distribution through social media and Grace website. Working several weeks out, artists seek to creatively engage: word & image, heart & mind, individual & collective, ancient & modern, believers & unbelievers.
Artistic support includes music specials, drama, video, stage design, tech, communications, mixed media, testimonies, films, exhibits, etc.
Artists Growth
Artists are encouraged to continually explore and grow deeper in the gospel through community, discipleship, and care. Involvement includes:
- Art teams
- Discussion groups
- Book studies
- Leadership courses
- Workshops
Artists Reach
Artists are encouraged to reach out and connect with the local community through artistic bridges; containing aspects of the gospel (such as beauty, truth, goodness, etc...)
Involvement includes:
- Community Arts (local bands, theatre, film, exhibits etc...)
- Events (plays, concerts, film nights)
- Worship & Holiday Services
Ways to Connect
- Observe or join an arts team.
- Join a discussion group or book study
- Attend a class or workshop.
- Help with an event.
- To learn more: