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In this column you will find the most recent posts unless you have selected a specific poem, meditation or collection/index in which case that single item will appear here.

Monday 17 April 2023

Faith, Beauty & Science Art Display, Horningsea, near Cambridge, UK

 

Science in The Sanctuary.


Faith, Beauty & Science at

St Peter’s Church, Horningsea, near Cambridge, UK

22nd/ 23rd April, 11 am to 4pm, Saturday.

11.30 - 4pm Sunday. 

 

If you live close to Cambridge, please read the opening 3 paragraphs. If you do not live in the vicinity of Cambridge, please start reading at Paragraph 4

 

This coming Saturday and Sunday, some of the Faith, Beauty & Science material on this site will go on display in St Peter’s Horningsea just outside Cambridge. It is one entry in an Exhibition mounted by Studio CB25 who have generously allowed Pam and me to make a guest contribution to their exhibition.

 

The aim of the display is the same as the aim of this website: 

To glorify God and his Son, Jesus Christ within a framework of the glorious discoveries of recent years about the Universe in which we live. 

 The Incumbent and Churchwardens have agreed that the display can be mounted in the Sanctuary area, hence the heading to this post.

 

A pdf poster for the display can be found by clicking HERE and if there is somewhere you could display it in the Cambridge vicinity for just the next few days, that would be much appreciated.

 



If you do not live in the vicinity I will post more details of the display after the exhibition, to encourage those of you who might want to introduce themes of faith and science in your home churches, but don’t quite know where to start to think through the following possibility. 

 

1, First, think about the way you might make any aspect of a scientific discipline with which you are familiar, accessible to the lay people within your church. (A telescope in the sanctuary, looking at the roof of the church and with large posters from Hubble/ James Webb Telescopes/ NASA and ESA adorning the altar area is just one possible idea)

 

2. Ask your incumbent and churchwardens if you/ they are prepared to invite a local art club/ society to mount an exhibition in your church. Make it clear to the society, they must exhibit without disturbing the fabric of the church. Even with this limitation, many art societies will be pleased to be able to display their skills to the local community.

 

3. Make it clear to the Society that the sanctuary area is reserved for your faith and science display.

 

4 Consider whether your display can be enhanced by any of the material on this blog, material from the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion - resources for churches, or material from God and the Big Bang project or from Messy Church does Science. Most of these resources can be viewed on the websites of these organisations

 

After the exhibition I will list the various elements of our display here on this blog which may help to crystallise your ideas/ aspirations.

 



On a less demanding note, might you be able to pass on our promotional poster? - simply to show what might be possible in terms of promoting the message that faith and science can together make us and our fellow members in Christ more aware of actions of God in the sheer wonder of the universe.

 

Trevor Thorn.


The Display Poster



An A4 pdf to print from can be found by clicking HERE

Do please make yourself known to us and tell us how you heard of the display: that would be great. And if you can’t be with us in Horningsea, here is a description of the display

A GUIDE TO THIS DISPLAY

 

In this collection of poems, songs, hymns, embroideries, watercolours, acrylics and computer generated images (CGI), there are a number of concepts which have emerged within the key theme of Faith, Beauty and Science. Those displayed here fall within these groups:

 

Creation - Ex Nihilo, which means ‘Out of Nothing’ and the Reimagining of the Creation Passage in the Book of Job, Chapter 38

 

Icons as demonstrations of the way in which the magnificence of some of the elements forged in creation have been, and are used to express the holiness of God’s angels and saints. Gold, as the most valuable element is prominent in most of these devotional aids. Icons, with their key role in the Eastern Orthodox faith, also represent a significant part of the amazing global reach of Christianity.

 

Place. There are undoubtedly some locations which are often described as ‘thin places’ where many people (not only Christians) sense an ambience of the spiritual. These are often places of pilgrimage. These places can also give rise to meditation and creativity. Special for us have been the island of Iona and Bradwell-on-sea in Essex (Othona, after the Roman fort which provided the stone for the chapel built by St Cedd in the sixth century). They are both represented here.

 

Our relationship with our technology again is presently utterly reliant on some of the rare elements forged in creation.

 

Inspired more by the beauty of family love and care is the Wedding song which was written for the wedding of Helen and Jonathan, and embroidered by Pam in celebration of that key event in our daughter’s / step-daughter’s life.

 

The themes of Creation also feature strongly in a set of songs for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. They are written to help children to understand that faith and science are not enemies, but friends in showing how wonderful the Universe is, and how amazing life is, despite human failings. The wonderful workings of the human brain have achieved so many marvels of today. This 40 song collection is represented here by Fossils are Fantastic, I’m Making Friends with Science and The Bible Starts with Awesome Tale.

 

In building these collections, which draw on many scientific disciplines, it has become increasingly evident that many, many sciences point to the clear evidence ofCLIMATE CHAOS. For this reason, and the fact that people of faith are guided by their scriptures to being guardians and stewards of our precious planet, there are 3 fold leaflets on display to be taken away which incorporate poems of human-induced climate change and species loss.






Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos

Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos
Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos

Cascade of Stars and Gas (Imagined image: CGI)

Cascade of Stars and Gas (Imagined image: CGI)
Cascade of Stars and Gases. This image will take you to the meditation 'Deep Silence'

Butterfly Nebula (CGI)

Butterfly Nebula (CGI)
The Imaginary Butterfly Nebula . Anything like this would be a real Curiosity! The image will link you to the reflection titled 'Curiosity' which is actually a celebration of the achievement of landing the Mars Rover of that name

Ten thousand billion suns - A scintilla of God’s Universe

Ten thousand billion suns - A scintilla of God’s Universe
It is currently thought that the Universe has at least 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! Hence the use of the word ‘scintilla’ for a mere ten thousand billion.

Cross and Particle Accelerator (CGI)

Cross and Particle Accelerator (CGI)
Cross and Particle Accelerator. The words of 'A Prayer for Understanding' can be viewed by clicking on this image

Nebula (Embroidery)

Nebula (Embroidery)
Nebula (Embroidery) to accompany the poem 'Invitation' which can be found by clicking on the image.

Nativity Star (CGI)

Nativity Star (CGI)
Nativity Star: This image will link you to the collection of new Carols on this site. Also, the image can easily be copied onto an overhead acetate and used as a window decoration. Easy for children to achieve. Note the cross at the centre of the star.

Orange Galaxy

Orange Galaxy
'Orange Galaxy' posted to accompany 'Bounded and Boundless'. Go to the poem by clicking on the image.

Cosmic Ikon 8 Moth

Cosmic Ikon 8 Moth
Cosmic Ikon 8: Moth Nebula(imagined-acrylic) The Gold field of deep space is intended to convey the Lordship of Christ over the whole of the Cosmos

Surprise garden rose (Photo)

Surprise garden rose (Photo)
This beautiful head of roses in our garden, which are giving off a delightful perfume in the morning sun, seems a fitting picture to link to the sonnet 'Evolution and Beauty'. Let the picture take you there. It is a surprise because it is growing high on a bush of otherwise pure yellow roses: amazing!

Cross and Vortex

Cross and Vortex
'Cross and Vortex' to accompany 'Stars and Planets Sing Your Glory'. Click on the image to go to the poem/hymn.

Gaseous Cosmic Threads (Mixed media)

Gaseous Cosmic Threads (Mixed media)
Gaseous Cosmic Threads: Mixed media - acrylics and painted threads

St Francis’ Sky (Photo)

St Francis’ Sky (Photo)
Warm Umbrian Hills: Click image to take you to the poem St Francis' Sky

Cosmic Icon 7 Summerflower

Cosmic Icon 7 Summerflower
Cosmic Icon 7 - Summerflower Nebula (Acrylic)

Cosmic Labyrinth (CGI)

Cosmic Labyrinth (CGI)
'Cosmic Labyrinth' - This icon is a symbol of the path through the near reaches of the Cosmos with its 'Havens' where current advances in science (2012/13) are celebrated. By clicking on the picture you will be taken to the latest version of the poem of the same name.

Cross of Autumn Leaves (cropped Photo)

Cross of Autumn Leaves (cropped Photo)
Time, perhaps to consider a restorative break before the approach of Advent/ Christmas. Let this image take you to 'On Drawing Apart'.

IONA: The Marble Quarry (Photo)

IONA: The Marble Quarry (Photo)
On the South shore of Iona is a bay which shows the industrial scarring of a beautiful place. Read of it by clicking on the picture

Celtic cross candle (Photo)

Celtic cross candle (Photo)
Celtic Cross and candle' linked to the poem 'Awesome, Wonderful Creator'. Go to the poem by clicking on the image.

Light of the World amidst stars (CGI)

Light of the World amidst stars (CGI)
'Light of the world' posted to accompany 'To Light'. Find the poem by clicking on the image.

Iona from Fionnphort (Watercolour)

Iona from Fionnphort (Watercolour)
Iona from Fionnphort. At this point of the Isle of Mull, the end of a pilgrimage or trip to Iona is in sight. Click on this picture to take you to the poem 'IONA - The Pilgrim Way'

My Mesh Mask for Radiotherapy

My Mesh Mask for Radiotherapy
This is the mask which was moulded to my face to ensure the radiotherapy I had in April 2017 was precisely targeted. You can read more by clicking on the image

Double Celebration

Double Celebration
Pam, who has been magnificent in caring for me since my Cancer diagnosis in October and I celebrate the end of Radiotherapy and our 36th Wedding Anniversary (Note the return of some hair!). Click on the image to read about the treatment - and waiting.

St Neots Sunset (Photo)

St Neots Sunset (Photo)
Surrounded by beauty: Whie 'Evolution and Beauty' became one of the most viewed poems on this blog, Pam, my wife took this gorgeous picture of a sunset over the flatlands of Cambridgeshire UK. Click on it to go to the poem

Gabriel - written/painted by Pam, my wife in 2015

Gabriel - written/painted by Pam, my wife in 2015
Gabriel began the Christmas story with his visit to Mary. The story is told in our Christmas collection in the Carol, Go to Nazareth My Great Messenger. Click on this image to take you there.

Maple Leaf Nebula (CGI)

Maple Leaf Nebula (CGI)
IMAGINARY IMAGE TO CELEBRATE CANADA DAY: Click on this his imaginary 'Maple Leaf Nebula' to take you to a poem entitled 'Nebula' (image not to be confused with NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula which is also known as the Maple Leaf)

Beauty in the Garden - June 2016

Beauty in the Garden - June 2016
Beauty in the Garden - June 2016

Aurora Imagined over Iona (Watercolour & pastel)

Aurora Imagined over Iona (Watercolour & pastel)
First posted here on Adomnan’s day (23rd September) 2015. An imagined natural phenomenom that could be seen to resonate mystically with the idea of Iona being a ‘thin place’ where heaven brushes earth.

Assisi Sunset

Assisi Sunset
Assisi Sunset

Thinking about the Brain

Thinking about the Brain
This image is formed from a small section of neural pathways posted by the Koch Institute, clipped, part inverted and stitched together. It is intended to impart a sense of our extensive, but still partial understanding of what goes on in that awesome part of our bodies, our brains. By clicking on the image, you will be taken to a celebratory poem/song ‘For Amazement by Beauty’ about all of our senses.

Source (CGI by Trevor Thorn)

Source (CGI by Trevor Thorn)
Source: Expand the image to reveal its heart

Rainbow spiral (CGI)

Rainbow spiral (CGI)
'Rainbow Spiral' to accompany 'Darkness,Illuminator' . Find the poem by clicking on the iImagined mage

Cross and simple Prayer rope (Photo)

Cross and simple Prayer rope (Photo)
Cross and simple prayer rope: make one like this to use as an aid to using ‘The Jesus Prayer'