Blog / Highland Highlights

5/3/2020

Gallery of Expressions

God has blessed each person differently. Some of us can sing, some can draw, some can run, some can organize, some can make people feel welcome, some can write, some can teach, some can manage finances, some can bake,... The list goes on and on and on and each one is valuable and important.

Expressions Sunday is a way for us to share with one another some of the ways that God has blessed us with creativity. The gallery below is filled with examples of the diversity of God's gifts within Highland.

Comments are open for you to share reactions and encouragements with one another.

The Expressions are divided into six categories. Take a look at each one, there are amazing and diverse submissions. Many of the submissions include multiple images for you to scroll through.

Ceramics
Drawings, Paintings & Photographs
Fibre Arts
Plants & Foods
Wood & Metal Working
Words

Ceramics

Mugs & Plates

Black and white has been my theme this season, except for special orders. Simplifying the process has given my brain to explore designs without having to also think about glaze combos. Clay has been such a forgiving and challenging medium to discover the very piece that I vowed did not exist in me. I'm simply grateful for this chapter.

-- Naomi Unrau

Serving Bowls

The first two photos are of two black and white serving bowls before they are fired.

Unfortunately, the first bowl broke before it got fired so I have only a picture of it. There will never be another one exactly like it. Maybe a " cousin"... someday when things are different than now.

The next photos are of bowls once they are out of the kiln. These are family size serving bowls just to get an idea of the size.

-- Naomi Unrau

Plates

I made a set of six plates in black and white that all have a message during our current covid situation. They all have a notch on the back to be hung on the wall if desired.

There are captions describing each plate and their message.

Naomi Unrau

Drawings, Paintings, & Photographs

Portrait

My second year in art class we had to draw a family member or a loved one. So I chose my nephew Thatcher. The creases in his shirt looked hard to draw so I gave up and got creative and blended his arms in.

-- Myah Seller

Expressions Sunday Artwork

Each of my paintings are created using a process of acrylic paint, and photo-based screen-printing.   In the most general of terms, the images I use are metaphorical, speaking to the human experience.   If you would like to see more of my work, please follow me on Instagram.

1. “Bright Lights of the Dance Floor”
     24” x 20”
     Acrylic and Screen-Printing on Wood Panel

2. “A Better Place to Play”
     24” x 20”
     Acrylic and Screen-Printing on Wood Panel

3. “Look Up to the Skies and See”
     24” x 20”
     Acrylic and Screen-Printing on Wood Panel

-- Trevor Wight

This is Flynn

So, I had a whole other thing planned for this Sunday, but it just wasn't coming together, and then riding started up again on Friday for the first time since all this nonsense started. The result of which was me taking a fall from the saddle at a canter as a result of my own exuberance just as we were wrapping up an otherwise excellent lesson.
The fall I'd taken back in the autumn nearly cost me two broken fingers, and needless to say, I was dreading the next time I hit the dirt. So much so it was interfering with lessons at times.
Yesterday, however, I simply got up after what felt like an appropriate amount of time, dusted down, got back on, and he and I flogged it around the arena one last go.
I'm gonna chalk that one up in the W column.

I could've posted a glamour shot, but you can find a million fancy horse pictures on the interwebs. I figure you ought to see the horse as I know him best.

-- Stephen Ofstein

Vietnam

Here are a few photos from the beautiful people of Vietnam. The Lord's blessing rain on them all.

-- Jozina Chinnery

Watercolours

Expressions Sunday is a way to show how God’s love is your life and in others.

The two watercolour paintings were developed from our travelling to other countries. The Mandarin Duck was seen in a park near where Frank and I were teaching in LCC university in Lithuania for the summer. The colours captured my attention and I knew I had to paint it one day.

The second painting was from a railway museum in Northern England which showed how important the railway has been in the history of the United Kingdom. On that trip we did a house exchange and lived in a renovated bank/ house in a small village. We were able to meet some of the town’s people and enjoy some of the local events.

-- Wendy McFarland

Baby Yoda

Pencil crayon sketch. Disneyland illustrators directed drawing.

-- Thomas Wight

Life is Better Connected
&
Part of a Bigger Picture

These two pieces were collaborative art projects that our Highland Youth undertook this past fall which emphasize the value of community. Many hands were involved in the creation of them, as nails were hammered, string was wrapped, and popsicle sticks were painted. Hopefully as they hang on the walls of the youth room, they remind our students, of the community they belong to and the value they add to it.

-- Highland Youth, Fall 2019

Minnie Mouse

Pencil crayon sketch. Disneyland illustrators directed drawing.

-- Leah Wight

Self Portrait

In my grade 10 art class my teacher wanted the class to draw self portraits of ourselves, so I decided to draw a picture of me in Portugal behind a beautiful cliff. But I never finished the cliff so I just added some mountains trees and a sunset so I could hand it in on time. It ended up being displayed at my schools art show.”

-- Myah Seller

Landscape

As one interested in landscape photography, it's one thing to be rushing about trying to get the technically perfect image, but it's quite another thing to "see" the intimate elements that may be hiding in plain sight. I am learning to wander a bit slower and thereby see more than meets the normal eye because it's often in the unexpected that the full beauty of God's creation is on display. I have hundreds of images from Sasquach Creek, but this one represents a gift that one of those unexpected surprises can bring and it reminds me of the song, "As I went down to the River to Pray"

-- Gerald Neufeld

A Mother's Love

I have a pretty amazing mom who has loved and loved and loved. She is 92 now and in Tabor Court, and still loving us all as well as her Jesus. Although I am a portrait artist, it has usually been done in lead or charcoal. This is my first painted portrait. My mom is also an artist so when I had this opportunity to learn how to paint a portrait, I decided on my mom as the subject. I thought if it didn't turn out I wouldn't have to show it to her! If it did turn out, I would be able to give it to her as a gift for the wonderful gift of the artistic gene she passed on to me. I gave it to her for her birthday that year and it still hangs on her wall! Includes is the image I used to paint it from.

-- Moreen Sharp

Bailey's PPP (Paw Print Painting)

Instructions: Dip Dog's front Paws in Paint, and then paint stem and leaves.

I saw a picture of this idea online, and wanted to do it with our kids' dog and give it to them for Mother's day. Kendra and David were living with us on and off for 2 years while he did his Masters at JUC in Jerusalem. Therefore, Bailey came to live with us for 2 years. This is the 3rd Mother's Day coming up, and I still have not taken the time to try it. During this stay at home time, our kids and grandkids are Zooming every week for about l/2 hour. We have challenged each other to make music, bake something, do artwork and this week we are challenged to make a tower and show everyone on Thurs. I thought- now is the time! I copied the painting I had saved, and Wha- La ! I am an artist!!!

-- Connie Peters (assisted by Charlie)

Painted Heart

This painted wooden heart was initially displayed in front of the Chilliwack hospital, along with Livia's classmates' decorated hearts. They will be moved throughout the community over the next couple of months, to show support for frontline workers during our Covid 19 crisis.

-- Livia Verde

Colouring

Here are 6 photos of pages I coloured with gel pens and pencil crayons. Moreen and I used to do puzzles, but we have gravitated more to colouring pictures, which I sometimes keep in a binder. I like to work on something with a positive thought, which I reflect on over and over. Sometimes I feel embarrassed over how much time it takes to do one page, but it is worth it, mentally and spiritually. It is great quiet time with God!

-- Paul Sharp

Lego & Mario

Sawyer combined his two favourite things, Lego and Mario, to create this masterpiece to share.

-- Sawyer Verde

Fibre Arts

Blankets

I like to make a soft blanket for my grandchildren when they turn 9.

I started this blanket gift later so our oldest grandchild, Brandon, got a memory quilt when he turned 20

-- Jozina Chinnery

New Life, Continuous Conversion

Influenced by The Solace of Fierce Landscapes, by Beldon Lane, and Transfiguration mosiac, 12th century icon, St. Catherine's Monastary, Sinai.

Sinai Mountain (background) - A place far from home.
Tabor Mountain (foreground) - Personal possibility; entry into the transfiguring Light.

Symbolizes Mount Sinai (ten Commandments, old law) and a tall Mountain (Tabor? Jesus Transfiguration, new covenant)...overlay/interplay

'There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission and this can only be done by continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God' - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

We come into the relationship though the miracle of God and through our own will to believe. Then we begin to get an intelligent appreciation and understanding of the wonder of the transformation in our lives.

Therefore He says "Awake you who sleep. Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Ephesians 5:14

-- Sandi Ernst

Needlework

I am not adept at handicrafts but there was a season about 25 years ago during which I did a number of cross-stitch pieces. This piece was the largest, most involved I ever did... I was attracted to the beauty of the scene and enjoyed making it come to life. I love the two-storey house, the detail of curtains & blinds in the windows, the open inside door which we see through the ornate screen door, the welcoming path to the front step, the picket fence and of course, the lovely manicured yard with its greenery and flowers. The scene made me now think of the song Steve Bell sings, "Why do we Hunger for Beauty?"

-- Marg Neufeld

View from my Knees, Alice and Other Saints

Image influenced by a Unicef stamp. My friend and neighbour Alice, figured in the white hair, always kept our family in her prayers. I dedicated this piece to her - Alice Davies - 1935-2014.

"When mists of time have like a vapour vanished
And all the saints are gathered 'round the throne
We'll sing Thy praise while ages roll unending
And worship Him who did for sin alone" -- Carl Boberg (1859-1940)

"I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment." -- A Word About Praising -- C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, pg 93-97

-- Sandi Ernst

The Great Winter Warm Up
MCC - Jan 18, 2020 @ Ross Road Community Church
-- Highland Quilters

Knitting

I have found knitting to be very therapeutic over the past few years and have leaned into it as a way to still my sometimes-over-busy brain. As I have done more knitting over the past year I have experimented with learning different shapes and stitches. I made toques for all of my nieces and nephews for Christmas using different yarns and stitch patterns, learned how to entrelac (the woven looking piece), learned the herringbone stitch, and made scarves and shawls in different textures and shapes. It has been wonderful to exercise my brain while stilling it. I am looking forward to what I will learn this year (mittens maybe…). I have included some photos of projects that have been completed over the course of the year, many in the last while as life has been forced to slow down dramatically. There is also a photo of the works in progress for myself and my two daughters. Especially right now there is something soothing about making something with your hands.

-- Jennifer Rempel

Wool Duvet

Instructions - Sandwich sheep‘s wool between 2 layers of cotton and thumbtack onto a wooden frame. Tie knots 4 inches apart to secure the layers. Roll up the quilt on two sides so you can reach the middle of the quilt. Remove quilt from frame, and sew the edges together.

Inspiration - It is our family tradition to have a shower and quilt making party for the new brides in our family. Landon and Kyla’s wedding was changed from June 6 to April 25. It also changed from a family affair to an intimate event.
The shower was not to happen at this time, so I made the quilt on my own.

It is always such a joy to present these quilts to the couple-symbolically we wrap our love around them and keep them warm as they begin their new life together.

-- Connie Peters (assistant-Charlie Peters)

Quilts

The first photo is my quilt, “Tropical punch”. It was part of the exhibit “Interaction” which Heinz and I had together at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in the fall of 2017 a few months before he died. When I made it I was challenging myself to use a variety of colourfully patterned fabrics in a coherent way. I like the way some of the starbursts seem to emerge from the shadows to burst forward and also the pinwheel movement that occurs in some of the motifs.

These next photos show several small wall hangings that I made after Heinz died. I called the series “Dark Matter”. They were part of an exhibit of my work at the Mennonite Heritage Museum, “Stars and Dark Matter”, in 2018.

And the last photo, from the same exhibit shows one star wall hanging and one dark matter quilt. These both remind me of winter.

-- Lois Klassen

Plants & Foods

Flower Arranging

Several months ago I arranged this bouquet and brought it to Highlands morning service. Several people commented on it, thinking the flowers were live (they are actually artificial). But the branches were at one time a part of an Arbutus tree. Ben Wall found them on a beach and asked me if I could use them in flower arrangements. Could I?! What a gift! Much appreciated. One never knows what can work into arranging flowers!

-- Jean Imbach

Homemade Goodness

Just another Saturday morning.

-- Katherine Wight

Community Garden

These pictures are from the Highland Community garden which shows how the garden is an expression of love to our church and to the community. It is a place to grow incredible vegetables, meet with neighbours and youth and collect extra vegetables to be given to the food bank.

-- Wendy McFarland

Garden Tour

I garden because it is good for my soul. Time in the garden helps me connect with myself and receive God's love. It brings me energy and joy. My family jokes that I photosynthesize. While I am in the garden I slow down and notice. Often I notice the weeds, the things that need fixing, but I also notice the insects, birds and good plants. I take the time to be thankful for the bees pollinating my fruit trees and the worms improving the soil. I watch the birds in the bird bath or poking around for food. I notice the bees coming to the edge of the water to have a drink without getting their feet wet. I see the small changes in my plants and appreciate the beauty of their flowers or the way that leaves and stems grow.

I garden because it is a way to take something boring or ugly and turn it into a space that is beautiful, that welcomes people in and calms their souls also.

I garden because it connects me with other people. I learn from other people's expertise. I trade plants back and forth with other gardeners. I get to talk with neighbours about what each of us is doing in our yards. Often through the summer I have food to share.

I garden because it provides food for my family, food that I know was grown without chemicals that would harm them and the earth. My children get to see where some of their food comes from and be involved in the process of growing it.

While I work in my garden I feel that God is working on my soul. Sometimes as I am weeding I ask God what they are weeding out of me. Or when I am harvesting I ask what is bearing fruit in me. Sometimes I just sit and enjoy the beauty, weeds and all, and remind myself that God loves me how I am right now.

-- Nicole Giesbrecht

Amateur Gardening

See photos of my amateur gardening, since March 11. Next year maybe I’ll send photos of the bags of weeds pulled. 😆

-- Marion

Hearth & Mountain Garden

We retired our wood stove and hearth and this is who currently occupies that space. A raven and an owl and coming up sometime- a bat.

The other photos are of our mountain "garden".

-- Lorraine Ratzlaff

Baking Bread

I have never baked bread before but coronavirus has forced me. I am loving it.

-- Shirley Kehler

Wood & Metal working

Vintage Truck - Relief

More than 20 years ago I enrolled in a relief carving class for beginners. I did several small projects at the time but life got in the way so my carving tools were set aside, until now. My interest has been rekindled so I quite enjoyed the challenge of this project in the past few weeks. So with a flat piece of wood, a pattern, a small collection of hand carving tools, sandpaper, quite a few hours, and some Danish oil I share a 3 dimensional perspective of an old truck.

-- Gerald Neufeld

Bead & Wire Tree
-- Marli Verde

Walking Sticks

These are walking sticks I made for myself, Keagan, and Ethan. All of the sticks were just random things I collected from camping trips, hikes, and walks. I debarked all of them by hand then sanded them smooth, I used a stain that would show the grain and inconsistencies in the wood and finally I waxed them to give them a water tight seal and a better feel in hand.

-- Nathanael Rempel

Twisted Wire Tree

This twisted wire tree was painful to mold and shape, but like so many other things in life, it was worth it.

-- Ethan Verde

WORDS

The Searching Man

While having played guitar for about 52 years, I never did much more than strumming or finger picking patterns. This new song is my both my first Blues piece and one where I attempt some lead licks as well. It's loosely based on an old chorus from about it 1970.

-- Henry Unrau

Dance

I love to dance. Last year at this time I was getting into a habit of dancing a bit after my run near the Vedder River, in the quiet of the mornings. I've just come out of a season with less dancing in it but wanted to submit this because I almost did it last year. I'm running from home now and found a quiet spot on our property to film the dance...uneven ground with sticks and the neighbours friendly cat too! Thanking God for good health, music, movement, creativity and His sacrifice that brings meaning to life.

-- Cara Abrahams

City of Beasts

I was raised in Yarrow, a village built by Russian Mennonite refugees in an effort to replicate how they had lived in the old country. Farming was king, and beasts abounded in barn and pasture. I learned the hard urban ways of the wider world while attending university and joining the long-hair student rebellion that helped stop a war. He eventually settled in Abbotsford, BC, where he writes, edits, and grieves for the degradation of our planet.

Thus runs the book bio for my most recent book of poems, city of beasts. My past informs my present and future, and thus of course my writing as well. The poem I’ve included for Expressions Sunday is one of hope. Images of a world as one. Milk and honey.

The beautiful (if somehow menacing) book cover is by talented Highlander artist Trevor Wight.

-- Robert Martens

Within

-- Lorraine Ratzlaff

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