Artists, activists, and Armsby Abbey-ists.

WORCESTER, MA DOES ITS OWN THING

"Worcester is like James Dean – it doesn't care what anyone else thinks. It just does its own thing.”

If you live in Worcester and love our city, this quote by Kaz Gamble, co-founder of AA Films, most likely resonates with you and makes you smile. Or smirk, if you're really from Worcester. 

The 10 Coolest People in Worcester 2013

 

GoLocalWorcester.com recently ran a story titled, "The 10 Coolest People in Worcester 2013." Not that any of you are wondering, but no, I did not in fact make the list. Sigh. In any case, a lot of cool people in Worcester did. Here's the rundown (in no particular order):

Niki Luparelli – Singer + Comedian
Joseph Corazzini – Community Activist
Victoria Mariano – Owner, Spiritual Haze (Clark University Graduate)
Andrea Ajemian + Kaz Gamble – Co-Founders, AA Films
Trina Vargas - Singer
Andrew Varuzzo + Daina Harvey – Researchers (College of the Holy Cross Student and Professor, Respectively)
Alec Lopez + Sherri Sadowski – Owners, Armsby Abbey
Helen Sheldon Beaumont – Artist
Dale LePage – Singer
Matthias Waschek – Director, Worcester Art Museum

Notice a trend? Our coolest people are into art, performance, activism – social and environmental, education, and locally grown and organic food. Oh, and beer. Can't forget the beer.

Now, admittedly the article pretty much covered this from the beginning when it said: "What do you do in a place full of artists, singers, restaurateurs, colleges, educators and community activitists?"

Connecting art to the Artist

 

But for those of us in Worcester who follow Jesus, are we listening? If this is what the next generation of our city values, how are we meeting them on their turf and revealing to them how so many of these creative and artistic endeavors are intrinsic to who we are as created beings who image a great Creator? Mike Cosper, pastor of worship and arts at Sojourn Community Church, wrote an article titled "Creativity is Rooted in Creation" that begins to burrow into the heart of this matter for faithful Christians who need to consider how to engage creativity and art with those who do the same. Cosper says, 

"Christians need to remember that creativity is simply a fact, and all churches embrace creativity in one form or another. Likewise, all churches are embracing some value related to beauty, creativity and aesthetics. What has often been said of theology is true of creativity too: It’s not a question of whether a Christian or a church will have creativity; it’s what kind of creativity they’ll have."

 
But first, are we even engaging? If not, let's pray about this. Gamble also said, “Cool is owning your originality and not following trends, but creating them.” How can we be original in following the Original, the Alpha and Omega, so that we are involved with those who Worcester follow? I don't think we need to add any dressing to Jesus. He blazes His own trail with or without us. But are we walking with Him where He is among the "cool" in Worcester? If not, we need to consider a change in our trajectory. And the first step to learn how is to be present, observe, listen, and see where the good news that Jesus is Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King connects with the hopes and desires of our "artists, singers, restaurateurs, colleges, educators and community activitists."

"See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs..." – Exodus 31:2-4a 

– Sully

As always, if your curiosity is piqued, or something inside you is being stirred, feel free to connect.