I’m planning retreat exploring art and faith on May 11-13. This is the first in a series of retreats exploring the relationship between art and faith. This particular retreat explores on art and music that focuses on people at the margins of society. We’ll talk about ways of considering art; we’ll spend time individually meditating on specific songs, paintings or other works; and we’ll also discuss these works in relation to our faith and ask questions about a “spirituality of the arts.”

David Clifton, the worship leader at Apostles Anglican church, will be joining us for the weekend. For over 30 years, David has been working in multiple art forms including music (writing, producing, guitarist) as well as pottery, ceramics, paintings and most recently iconography.

Some of the artists we’ll be exploring:
Georges Rouault, Vincent Van Gogh, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan as well as the work of other artists who turned the spotlight on people who live at the edge. If you have some work that you would be willing to share with the group, we’d love for you to bring your own at as well.

Details:
Jesus on the Margins Retreat
Date: May 11-13
Cost: Suggested $100 per person (everyone is welcome, so pay what you can)
Location: Buffalo Mountain Camp and Retreat Center
241 Methodist Camp Road
Jonesborough, TN  37659

The Gospels reveal a picture of Jesus always moving toward the people on the outside. In fact, Jesus becomes the outsider to all of humanity.

Marginal Man

Watching and waiting for his coming.
Finally, He shows up
at the wrong time,
in the wrong place
and in less than respectable circumstances.
The King of the Jews is disappointing and a little embarrassing.

Heaven’s arrow crashes into stony hearts,
The Word made flesh says,
“You must eat my flesh and drink my blood,”
Polite society quietly slips away.
After all, this King of the Jews might damage our reputation.

The High and Holy God
dwells in unspeakable glory,
but he also makes home with the unspeakable ones
and parties with the indecent.
The King of the Jews has a penchant for embracing the
unsavory, unrespectable, and unclean
people we skirt to the edges of our world.

After revealing his glory to Peter, James and John,
the King of the Jews falls from the holy mountain
through the valley of disfiguration
and onto a cross.

He is the suffering servant,
the fool of God.
In his final hours, this marginal man
stands at the edge of all that is holy and true
no angels comfort him,
no friends or family share his pain,
even his Father turns away in disgust.
The King of the Jews bears his crown alone.

doug floyd, April 19, 2003