Hope Chapel in Austin, TX is looking to hire an Arts Pastor

I have to say that this looks pretty cool. Too bad it's part-time and in Austin, TX. Maybe you or someone you know would be interested.

Job Description and Tasks:
The Arts Pastor will develop the arts ministry of Hope Chapel by facilitating the work of the volunteer leaders of the HopeArts Pastoral Team. The Arts Pastor will be focused on arts ministry and not other ministry needs within Hope Chapel.

The Arts Pastor is a member of Hope Chapel’s regular staff serving as liaison between the Hope Arts Pastoral Team and the Senior Pastor. The Arts Pastor reports to the Senior Pastor and is subject to the same management rules and guidelines as other staff.

Because Hope Chapel and HopeArts are in a time of transition, we feel that the Arts Pastor should be formally evaluated at the end of 3 months and 6 months to determine how well the Arts Pastor is working to further the mission of HopeArts.

The Arts Pastor is expected to spend a minimum of 8 hours per week in the position.
Hope Chapel is currently offering a stipend of $600 per month for this task. Our hope is to eventually grow this into a full-time position.

This role includes the following tasks:
• Shepherding
• Know and pray for the artists and the HopeArts Pastoral Team
• Encourage artists at all levels in their work and faith
• Shepherd the Arts Team
• Encourage and develop artist groups
• Participate in community gatherings
• Work to connect artists to the life of the Hope congregation, and vice versa
• Administration
• Attend staff meetings periodically
• Manage the arts budget, in consensus with the Arts Team
• Coordinate and support the work of the Arts Team
• Oversee the work of arts interns
• Function as the contact person and face of the ministry to new artists and people outside of Hope Chapel
• Connect the arts ministry to the work of the church staff

Qualifications/Experience:
We are open to hiring someone whose desire is to become a full-time Arts Pastor, but that is not a prerequisite for the job at this time. We do expect candidates who, if they do not already have all the skills below, can grow into them.

Qualifications desired:
• A sense of calling by God into this ministry at this time, both by the candidate and by the leaders of HopeArts and Hope Chapel
• A recognized servant’s heart and dedication to this ministry through a history of service with artists, preferably in a Christian setting.
• Cultural and artistic literacy and a personal understanding of the challenges of making art
• An undergraduate degree, preferably in the arts
• Some college-level work in theology and/or biblical studies or equivalent
• Strong communication skills (reading, writing, public speaking)
• Skills appropriate to the shepherding and administrative tasks above
• Emotionally healthy, well-integrated into family and/or community
• Competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

contact Geno Hildebrandt at genohild@gmail.com
http://www.hope.org/
http://www.hopearts.org/

Active Prayer Day: An Advent Retreat

Sat Dec 5th
8:30a-3:30p
St. George's Episcopal Church
2425 S. Germantown Road

Featuring:
Roy DeLeon - Author of Praying with the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life
Sybil MacBeth - Author of Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God and
Praying in Color: Kid's Edition
Ellen Morris Prewitt - author of Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God


The retreat will be a day of prayer using the whole body: drawing—praying in color, creating Advent crosses, and doing simple movement to the Psalms using a Yoga mat. Participants, please:

• Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes.
• Bring two sticks and one object of importance to offer to your Advent cross, such as broken jewelry, baby mementos, personal treasures, found objects, etc.
• Bring a "prayer shawl" (any shawl, scarf, or piece of fabric that helps turn on the prayerfulness switch)

$25 Check made out to Calvary Episcopal Church and mailed by November 30.

Send to:
Active Prayer Day
Calvary Episcopal Church
102 N. Second Street
Memphis, TN 38103

The retreat will be $30 if you pay on December 5th.

To officially register for this event, click on this URL:
http://www.calvarymemphis.org/education/active_prayer.htm

Susan E. Isaacs likes my art. :)

So last evening, I attended Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs book tour stop at Hope church here in Memphis. amillionmiles.com It was a great evening. Susan Isaacs is the author of Angry Conversations with God. She's sorta like a cross between Anne Lamott and Amy Sedaris, another author and a comedienne that I really like. So please take that as a compliment, Susan.

Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir by Susan E. Isaacs (Author)

So after her performance that is based on her book, there was an intermission and she was signing books in the lobby. I waited in line and got my copy signed. I was too embarrassed to really introduce myself. Sure we had exchanged like 2 emails, but who's going to remember that. "Hey Susan, Do you remember me. I'm Richard Fudge." Yeah, right. She's a nationally published author on a 65 city book tour.

A little while later, I work up the nerve to tell her that we have an art gallery here at Hope and that there are a couple of pieces that I did that were directly inspired by her book. I'm thinking she's busy, will think its sweet, but won't really care. But no, she got all excited. She asked me for my name again and I said Richard Fudge. Then Susan said, "Oh Richard FUDGE! Oh why didn't you say so the first time. I'd love to see your paintings and can I get a picture of you in front of it."

I was floored. Susan Isaacs literally just squealed my name. I mean come on! I'm just an average artist. I've been in few galleries. I'm not a big deal. So she was all excited and ready to go see the paintings, but Donald Miller was about to begin his talk. So we planned to meet afterward to visit the gallery.

After Donald Miller spoke, I went out to find Susan. She had already visited the gallery (how she found it I dont know). She was all excited about the work and was just full of encouragement and support. As we walked to the gallery, I explained the where the inspiration had come from etc.

We got to the gallery and took turns taking photos in front of my paintings. She asked if it was okay to post on her twitter and facebook accounts. Heck, yeah. I also showed her one other painting of mine a small piece titled "WHY!?". It was also inspired by her book. She loved it and offered to buy it.



Later that evening, Susan send me this email:

Hi Richard

I was so glad to see you tonight. It was a real privilege to see your work, and I’m honored that the book inspired you. I’m so thrilled to get your painting, too! I let my husband know to look for it in the near future. I posted your pics on my facebook, and tweeted about it.

One woman really liked the “Hey God!” painting, and I let her know it was for sale.

Anyway, I really enjoyed meeting you. And I really do hope you submit to International Arts Movement. I know a few people there. Well besides Mako .. Christy Tennant and Mark Meehan. They’re great. You need to get your work out there.

Thanks again, tonight was a terrific evening.

Susan

----

How stinking cool is that! I'll be smiling for days because we met.