RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Disney-Britton
Today, is the first day of Advent, a period of Christian preparation for the Nativity of Jesus that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It is also called "Little Lent" because many Christians fast during Advent. This will be our first Advent Fast, and along with special "Be Still & Know" readings, I  pray it helps us grow our Christmas spirituality. This fast involves giving up meat, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil, and adopting a vegetarian-like meal plan for the next 23 days. Sound tough? You bet, so I was thrilled by this week's A&O introduction to artist Yisehak Selassie. He is the great-grandson of Rastafari-Messiah, Emperor Haile Selassie, and his "Shield of Faith" (above) is my Advent inspiration and NEWS OF WEEK.

In other Religious Art news from across the USA, and around the world:
We need your help! While each November, the A&O Prize for Contemporary Religious Art is awarded in celebration of our vision of an America that embraces religious diversity, the journey lasts all year long. That's where you come in as a member-subscriber of A&O News of Week. Please invite a friend to join today: [subscribe here], and help end religious prejudice with religious art. Why do we do what we do? We do it because we believe Religious Art is for Believers, but also Skeptics too.

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