Advent

The Arts Collective invites you to join in celebrating the Advent season through photography! Advent means “anticipation” or “expecting” – Traditionally the Advent season is organized to heighten the anticipation both of Christ’s human birth as well as his coming again to renew all things. Every Sunday leading up to Christmas celebrates one theme of the coming of the Messiah: Love, Hope, Peace & Joy.

Using these 4 themes as inspiration about a dozen people in our community submitted photographs that inspired the worship of God and heightened the anticipation the coming of the Messiah. Some interpreted the themes literally, others more artistically... here are a few of our photographs:

LOVE:

Logan Pearce

"Love on a Charleston Beach"

"I love the beach.  I find the ocean exciting, and also peaceful.  I am so and cherish him more.  Being confronted with the ocean makes me consider God, and his love in his creation, and how he made beautiful things, just for us to experience and appreciate. This heart was scratched into the sand in Charleston, South Carolina in 2009."

Jessica Souza

"Mexico"

The one with the rainbow is from Mexico in 2006. The orphanage I used to visit (and was supposed to live on in 08, but couldn't b/c of the drug wars that were just beginning back then) had these steps w/a painted rainbow on them. The boy in blue was a "brand new orphan" who had just been dropped off and abandoned right before our church group arrived. He was extremely sad and quiet and never said a word to anyone. This other little boy, also an orphan there,went over to him to comfort him as he was sitting there alone at the end of that rainbow. I wanted to capture and remember that moment...I absolutely love this photo. 

HOPE:

Matt Brinkley

"Soil"

And out of the soil others will spring - Job 8:19

Andrew Prewitt

"Hope"

JOY:

Kendi Sparks

"Floating Smiles"

This photo, taken in the southern part of Bogota, Colombia, is in the middle of a community that lives a very simple lifestyle. Their homes, made of crude brick and stucco, seemingly crawl over the steep mountainous landscape. Most of them attend the local school at the foot of the mountain and make the 15 minute hike back up the steep incline daily while their parents are still working. We took the opportunity to have some activites to interact with the children following their school day. As you can see, the bubbles were a  hit. The true joy though was being able to be apart of that smile and watch the kids interact as a community when often times it is too dangerous for them to be out alone.

Robie Dodson

"Nuggets & Chocolate Milk"

PEACE:

Jonathan Dodson

"peace"

Miranda Dodson

"small town texas layered in dirty windshield"

"When I stop to see the beauty in the details of life... that is often when life makes the most sense"

Luke Dodson

‘rest in peace’

On a stretch of 183 just south of Zypher, TX rests three rusted out American icons from the 1950’s. Although I was probably trespassing there was a peaceful-ness as I climbed through the barbed wire fence and listened to the wind gently breezing through the broken windows and around rusted springs. Why did some one keep them? Did these cars once bring them great joy? Do they hope to get them running again? Or was it for love?