a mass like no other

Order of Service for the Bishop's Golden Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving
© Teresa Newham

I was recently delighted to be asked to provide some artwork for a Mass of Thanksgiving to be held at our church for Bishop John Crowley's Golden Jubilee.  I handed over various designs and was thrilled when I saw the Order of Service; appropriately for a celebration of fifty years of priesthood, The Good Shepherd had been used on the front cover.

choir's-eye-view of the entry procession
© Teresa Newham

Those of us in the choir had a privileged view of  proceedings - although just being there was privilege enough.  How many people can say they've been to a Golden Jubilee Mass?  I never did manage to count how many priests were present.  I was trying to sing the Kyrie and the Gloria without being distracted by He is Risen, originally conceived as an Easter card:

'He is Risen' sandwiched between the Kyrie and the Gloria
© Teresa Newham

I am the Vine, (like The Good Shepherd, one of the Signs quartet),  appeared beneath the Communion hymn - another apt placement, beautifully complemented by the piece we sang while the priests were receiving:

Eat this Bread, drink this Cup, come to Me and never be hungry,

Eat this Bread, drink this Cup, trust in Me and you will not thirst.

'I am the Vine' and the communion hymn
© Teresa Newham

 As regular readers of this blog may remember, Signs is a meditation piece inspired by Pope John Paul II's Letter to Artists, and my first serious attempt at religious imagery following my reception into the Catholic Church in 2011;  a third part of the work, Loaves & Fish, had been used on the back cover, this time to encourage folk along to the reception after Mass:

'Loaves & Fish' on the back
© Teresa Newham

I've always felt that these little images were given to me to share with other people: and I'm grateful that they became part of this unique and special occasion, in honour of a unique and special man.

Here comes the sun . . . .

Art on the Common 2015
~ sketch by Teresa Newham

Regular readers of this blog will recall the fun we've had over the years at  Art on the Common - dodging gales, rain, hail, thunder and bitter cold - but this year came good with glorious sunshine throughout.  True, there was a chilly breeze on the Saturday - one or two bits and pieces went flying, and I found myself wearing a fleece as well as a sun hat - but that's par for the course with an open-air event.

our stall with straw bales on the Common behind us ahead of the Carnival celebrations
© Teresa Newham

This year we set up just outside the entrance to Rothamsted Park - much nearer town than usual - as our regular spot was taken up by Saturday's celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Harpenden Carnival.  The new location was a lot easier if we wanted to fetch a coffee from the local café, and meant that diners in the nearby restaurants and visitors to the park could see that there was an exhibition on.  We also had an excellent view of the Carnival procession:

colourful floats and costumes in the Carnival procession
© Teresa Newham

The shadows crept across the grass as the afternoon wore on, and the stalls were bathed in dappled light.  There was wonderful pottery and ornaments on show as well as paintings and photography - around twenty to thirty local artists displaying their work.

evening shadows stealing across the grass
© Teresa Newham

If anything, Sunday was even brighter, and the good weather continued to draw the crowds - we had even more would-be customers than on the previous day - and luckily we'd put out a table and chairs, as many of our friends paused for a sit-down and a chat.

Sunday morning ~ the sun is still out!
© Teresa Newham

Despite the constant stream of visitors I did find time to make a few quick sketches, even if I did have to finish one or two from memory as people moved on - as I started to draw a group of teenagers sitting on the grass their mum arrived to take them home and I had to turn one of them into a backpack . . . . !

quick on-the-spot sketches
© Teresa Newham

All in all it was an excellent weekend, and I had great fun sharing a pitch with Hillary Taylor again.  Here's to next year!