The Arts
&
Social Justice / Social Issues
RACISM & RECONCILIATION
Artists Against Racism
EthniClay
Plasticene Art - Persecuted Believer Praying for Their Persecutors
Modelling
Clay Figurines and Blank Note Cards re Racial Reconciliation
Persecuted
Believers - Lots of Resources!
EFC Response re
Persecuted Believers
"Mended Feathers" - painting
'Stop
the Hate' Note Cards
Song
Lyrics - "FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL"
The Spiritual & Culutral
Arts Connection - The Spiritual & Cultural Arts Connection is a non-profit
501c3 arts organization located in Rock Island, Illinois. This organization
was founded upon Christian principles by and for artists. Our purposes are
to promote the arts, race relations and Biblical principles through the sponsorship
of artists and speakers in a variety of events. Our volunteer Board of Directors
is made up of a variety of people who have a deep interest in the artistic
work of the organization and have various kinds of expertise and connections
WORSHIP LEADER'S MUSICAL HELPS SOOTHE HURT OF HOLOCAUST SUFFERING
The
Covenant and Dance of Nations
Do you want to inspire your church or organization
through an musical presentation that stirs people's hearts toward reconciliation
and cooperation?
HEAL offers churches and organizations in the Northern Virginia area the opportunity to stage productions of The Covenant and Dance of Nations, a musical journey of discovery through American history and the worshipful celebration of racial reconciliation.
The Covenant and Dance of Nations has been performed at churches and the Prince William National Day of Prayer celebration at Hylton Chapel.
The Covenant and The Dance of Nations
The Musical Presentation
The Covenant and The Dance of Nations is performed by Mark Weaver, with an optional ensemble of musicians as available from the worship team or talented individuals in the churches who participate.
The Historical Context
From the dawn of our nation's Christian beginnings to the unfolding of the
Founding Fathers' vision in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,
our desire to be One Nation Under God has been opposed by a deep rooted and
tragic self-interest.
God's Word and the liberating truth that "all men
are created equal" competed with a vision of Manifest Destiny for a place
in our nation's heart. The hunger for land and gold would eventually win out,
sweeping westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
For those parents and students who want to use this material for in-depth
study of the history, reconciliation, and the Bible, check out our
History & the Healing of the Nations - critical thinking study materials.
The 200 year-old subjection of peoples of color grew into sectional and political divisions that violently separated North and South. As the nation divided, so did denominations and churches.
Jesus said that a house divided cannot stand. Within the four years known as the Civil War, over 600,000 men died and hundreds of thousands more were crippled and scarred for life. And despite the final laying down of arms in 1865, American hearts were still not healed of the self-interest that continued dividing us.
One hundred more years would pass, but conflicts over freedom, race and prejudice remained divisive and unresolved. The turbulence of the 1960s reminded us that many still yearned to experience the truth that all men were created equal.
Now, thirty years later, our generation is experiencing fresh and healing winds of racial reconciliation. The Church is finally awakening to her role as reconciler.
The Covenant: Dance of Nations is a musical journey that encourages Christians to reexamine their past, humble their hearts and answer God's call for reconciliation.
The Song List
Reexamining Our Past - 7 Songs
We need the Holy Spirit to aid us in reexamining the history
of our nation and the Church. When we look back in the light of truth, we
discover that there are no convenient villians--or heros. Those who shaped
the history of our nation were a two-fold cord of good and evil.
Dance of Nations, 1606. European, African and Native American cultures are
about to collide as the seeds of a new nation are planted.
The Dawn, 1620-70. A husband and wife crossing the Atlantic share their dreams
and concerns about their future and the future of the new world.
The Dream, 1781. While the former colonists rejoiced in their newly won freedom
and nation, African slaves remain in chains.
The Breach, 1820-58. The enslavement of Africans and the taking of land from
native American Indians opened a door for the devil.
The Divide, 1859. As the nation stands at the brink of war, the Church divides,
failing in her role as the nation's spiritual guide.
The Ruin, 1861-65. Armies of blue and gray assemble and turn their plowshares
into swords.
The Hope, 1863-89. A husband and wife reflect upon the war, the words of Lincoln
and his untimely death, and question what the sacrifice of so many lives really
accomplished.
Reconciling Our Hearts - 3 Songs
God does not want any relationship to remain broken. Whether
child to parent, husband to wife, friend to friend, denomination to denomination,
culture to culture, or nation to nation--God desires reconciled relationships.
The Call. God is looking for men and women to be modern day Isaiahs who will
call our nation into account with God's truth.
The Way. Ours is the generation of the Church that needs to stand in unity
and pull down the strongholds of darkness over our land.
Holy God. In our Holy God there is no two-fold cord of good and evil, no division.
His holiness burns away human imperfection. His glory humbles pride and his
love casts out fear.
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WORSHIP LEADER'S MUSICAL HELPS SOOTHE HURT
OF HOLOCAUST SUFFERING
www.charismanow.com
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(This story from the current (Dec2004?) Charisma magazine, is about a good friend of mine, Ruth Fazal. Ruth is also going to be touring this musical in Israel in early May of 2005. Check out www.ruthfazal.com for all the details and info on her newly released album. ><>RLong)
Charisma:
"A Christian woman's oratorio about thousands of Jewish children and
cultural elites who died in a Nazi-run ghetto is striking a chord in Jewish
communities wherever it plays.
Oratorio Terezin is a 100-minute musical score arranged to Old Testament prophetic Scriptures and the poetry of the children who perished in the Terezin ghetto north of Prague during World War II.
It was composed by violinist and worship leader Ruth Fazal, who employed a 60-voice children's choir, 60 professional adult singers and three internationally acclaimed soloists to accompany the 80-member orchestra.
Terezin, originally known as Theresienstadt, is an 18th century fort built by Czechoslovakian ruler Joseph II to protect nearby Prague from invasion. During World War II, the Nazis filled the fortress with 140,000 distinguished Jewish artists, musicians, writers, children and the elderly, creating a false cultural Mecca to fool the world and the media.
Behind the scenes, though, conditions were horrific; the occupants either died of malnutrition, disease and exposure or were shipped off to concentration camps. Only 10 percent of the 15,000 children who lived there survived the war. Their poetry and artwork was found years later hidden in stone crevices.
"The Lord showed me He wanted me to write this after a friend gave me 'I Never Saw Another Butterfly,' a compilation of the poetry and artwork of the children," Fazal, who travels internationally as a worship leader, told "Charisma" magazine in the December issue, out now. The full article on Oratorio Terezin can be found in the magazine.
"I felt the Lord was saying, 'Ruth, I want you to take the poems and weave them together with Scriptures into an oratorio,'" she added. "It's essentially about Israel, the bride, being called and wooed to Christ, the bridegroom. It's also a vehicle to impart God's heart for Israel to the church."
Oratorio Terezin made its world premiere in Toronto in November 2003. Then in March, Fazal took the oratorio on a four-city tour of Europe, where the musical was voted the best cultural event in Slovakia. The oratorio will make its U.S. debut in November 2005."
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MENDED
FEATHERS - painting
This painting is a prayer and declaration of healing for the First Nations
peoples of Canada. Using traditional First Nations colours. The 2 feathers
are eagle feathers. The red on the right side of the feather spine symbolizes
healing that can only come through the blood of Jesus. The sun is symbolic
for the verse from Micah "Son of righteousness will arise with healing
in His wings." The Holy Spirit is rising from behind the feathers to
illustrate the truth that as the First Nations are healed by the power of
God they will come forth with power in the Holy Spirit