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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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Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day 1: This is a new period of fast. Lent always connected me to the suffering of Christ on Good Friday but this one does not link me to suffering, or does it? What if I use this period to walk in the shoes of Jesus's Father, Joseph, how would that change or impact my view of Christmas? Joseph had faith but he surely also had doubts too but that's what faith is moving forward even when you have doubt. What were his doubts? His young fiance is pregnant by the holy spirit, there's plenty to doubt but spurred on by an angel, he pressed on. I press on too.
Wed Dec 05, 05:14:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day 2: The think about Lent Fast is I've done it for years and I know what emotions to expect and when. I especially look forward to the last week where I don't eat anything as I march up to Easter. This year is different. The Meal Plan is different. In many ways it is healthier but also more restrictive. It calls on me to think more about my choices in how I deal without meat, eggs, dairy, fish, and wine. Today, I forgot about the wine part, and I had a glass of wine. It however upset my body rythmn I guess because I didn't have meat, eggs, dairy or fish in my system. I am eating like a travelor on the road to Bethlehem. Nice image to keep in mind.
Wed Dec 05, 05:20:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day 3: Eating nuts, fruits, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and soda pop are the things you'd eat while on a journey. Tonight, we ended the night with spaghetti, salad and bread with garlic. It was so very good. I am starting to see this period differently. It is not the long road of suffering as I go to the cross, instead it is to feel what the journey must have been like for Christ's parents with only faith to guide them, dried foods to eat and perhaps one meal at an inn along the journey. Fazolis was our inn meal.
Wed Dec 05, 05:27:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #4: Long one. 5am to 7:30pm and days to go in the journey at work. I had the incredible joy yesterday of reviewing some artworks that reminded me of how important the journey is and not just the destination. The food for travelors remains odd and frankly unsatisfying but it adds to the experience. I am grateful for Advent.
Thu Dec 06, 08:37:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #5: In this morning's Advent reading, Luke 19:41-44, I was strucky by the closing line of accusation, "...you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” How many times do we see the face of God during our daily journey's but we don't recognize it? That's why artists are so important to me. They, more than the words of preachers call my attention to the face of God that I otherwise would miss. On this Day #5 of a 23 Day Advent journey I can already reflect back on the moments in the last few days when I have seen the face of God but did not acknowledge it, but also a few times when I did recognize it and the warm feeling I had as a result. I am greateful for the journey to Christmas.
Thu Dec 06, 08:41:00 AM EST
Gina Britton said…
So, you can have as many doughnuts as you like????
Fri Dec 07, 05:52:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #6: This morning I learned that an old friend, and artist Terrence Corbin dies this past year. Seconds later I received an urgent email that Charles Tripp, a new friend but older artist from her in Indianapolis is in ICU and unresponsive. I am overwhelmed with saddness right now. On this deadline day for grant applications at work, I am focused on my own saddness and loss. I'm also suddenly reflecting on my own mortality. How can my friends be dying? In Psalms 46, the writer reflects that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." I wish I didn't need this verse today but I am grateful for the Advent scripture that I do. Yes, God is my strength.
Fri Dec 07, 09:26:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #7: Tonight is A&O movie night, and we are heading to "Rise of the Guardians" where Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Sandman band together to form a united front against the Bogeyman. I do love films about good over evil, and where good wins in the end, but evil is ever striving. Yesterday was one of those kind of days. It was one very long and adventurous day filled with tensions and ending with great joy. It could not have been better, and I recognized the face of God throughout most of it. The tensions mounted as a the grant deadline for Creative Renewal approached at 5pm. I can hardly imagine that in the final hour 50 applications would be walked in, a total equal to the number of people who turned them in during the two weeks leading up to the deadline---final hour. In the end, nearly 200 applications were submitted. Following pancake breakfast (vegan style), I'm heading back into gallery in preparation for the next deadline on 12.12.12. Thank you God for Advent, and the gift of looking forward to Christmas.
Sat Dec 08, 09:49:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #8: I am completely inspired by the diversity and creative talent ofs of artists in central Indiana. A review of p2g projects yesterday was thrilling. I only wish there had been even more hours of discovery and more time to experience it all. It caused me to reflect on the frustration of being in NYC, a city rish with even great diversity, a vastness that ultimately overwhelmed me to the point that almost nothing was able to settle inside. It's the same in art galleries and life, we need space, solitude between deep experiences. As scripture tells us, we need time to "Be Still & Know" and in Indianapolis, I have more time to go deeper. For that, during this Advent season, I am grateful.
Sun Dec 09, 07:21:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Monday, Day #9: I dreamt all the night of the 12.12.12 project, and finally got up to go work on it in person. When we dream, it is God talking to us, nudging us toward action. Most often we don't understand what the dream means but it is God talking. God talked to Joseph about Mary in his dreams. I am sure it frustrated Josephy but it also gave him resolve. Once I got to work on 12.12.12, everything seemed to flow like a straight river. I am grateful for dream-dialogues with God. I am grateful for the lesson of Joseph.
Tue Dec 11, 08:17:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Tuesday, Day #10: I have always been fascinated by the notion of God will call you to do what sometimes seems crazy, and that's clear in today's Advent scripture (Judges 6:11-24). "Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.” What crazy thing is God prompting you to do? Maybe the person you thought you were isn’t the person you’re going to be, but you’ll never know until you get out and begin a journey. Last night, following several weeks of twitter isolation, I made the grand switch with Greg so that I will now return as @AlphaOmegaArts and Greg will be @DisneyBritton. It coincided with the crazy wondering about whether to post the Women on a Pedestal project as "Alpha Omega Arts" or as "Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts." It seems crazy,a nd counter to what my brain says but it feels God perfect...and so it is.

http://lifejourneychurch.cc/bestill/archives/9863
Tue Dec 11, 08:28:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #11: Of all the men/women of the bible, King Herod is the one I feel most sorry for because he was so very insecure that he took it out on babies. The slaughter of the innocents as depicted by Rubens, Tintoretto and others is the greatest horror of history (Matthew 2:1-8). Yes, I know that my Catholic Church compares it to Abortion, and that Jews consider their Holocaust the greatest just as African Americans consider American slavery as the greatest horror, but for me nothing is as horrific but still I can only feel sorry for him. He wasn't motivated by hatred but fear. The lesson for me in this is to remember to identify my motivations, and to be able to distinquish between motivations based on fear versus other forms. Fear shuts the door to love and all that is good and I want to live my life motivated by the hope of the Nativity of Jesus and not the Fear.

http://lifejourneychurch.cc/bestill/archives/9849
Wed Dec 12, 03:18:00 PM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #12: In Acts 8: 1-4, there is chaos going around everywhere but the challenge God asks is do you still trust me? This morning, after last night's hugely successful launch of the @power2give project here in Indianapolis, I came into the gallery expecting problems but not the volume of of emails that awaited and continued to envelope me. 158 emails greeted me at 8am, and then continued through the day at a torential rate. I grew frantic as I tried to keep up and forgot to trust--trust the process and the systems I'd put into place. If I had done so, I wouldn't have given myself a headache and the strong desire for escape! Today's verse is a reminder to keep your head during chaos because like Fear, it awaits every corner but we can control it if we trust God.

http://lifejourneychurch.cc/bestill/archives/9861
Thu Dec 13, 02:12:00 PM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #13: Today's Advent story is about the angel Gabriel coming to Mary about telling her that she would give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). It's a wonderful story about mystical ways God speaks to us, but what puzzles me is the connection to the line of David. Specifically, the angel says that Jesus "...and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David," but how can this be when it is Joseph (not Mary) who is the descendent of David? The only explanation that makes sense is that Mary is also in the line of David although it is not mentioned in the verses that I have read. What does a Christian do when there is such a disconnect? This relates to life in general too. What do we do when there is a disconnect? Do we worry and grow anxious, or do we "trust" the process? I hope that after this Advent, I am better able to trust the process and not to worry about the details: http://lifejourneychurch.cc/bestill/archives/9845.
Fri Dec 14, 11:42:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #14: There are only 10 more days before the 12 Days of Christmas begins, and I am very excited about our new tradition. The Advent Fast has helped a great deal but so has daily scriptures and keeping this daily log. I am nearly giddy with anticipation for this new way of honoring Christ the King. 12 Days of gifts to the King. 12 days of unique celebrations. 12 days of being Roman Catholic because this truly is the Catholic season. Todays we will do our annual pilgrimage to the outlet mall for shopping. No stress. Greg made vegan pancakes with brown sugar for breakfast but I am already looking forward to lunch of rice and beans. Its been a memorable season already and in 10 days the real celebrating begins. 12 days of Christmas.
Sat Dec 15, 10:23:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #14: There are only 10 more days before the 12 Days of Christmas begins, and I am very excited about our new tradition. The Advent Fast has helped a great deal but so has daily scriptures and keeping this daily log. I am nearly giddy with anticipation for this new way of honoring Christ the King. 12 Days of gifts to the King. 12 days of unique celebrations. 12 days of being Roman Catholic because this truly is the Catholic season. Todays we will do our annual pilgrimage to the outlet mall for shopping. No stress. Greg made vegan pancakes with brown sugar for breakfast but I am already looking forward to lunch of rice and beans. Its been a memorable season already and in 10 days the real celebrating begins. 12 days of Christmas.
Sat Dec 15, 10:24:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #15: What is the ideal Christmas? I don't mean what are the traidtions and family rituals that make it exciting, but what would really make an ideal Christmas that clearly focuses on Jesus's birth--all day? When it's my birthday, the focus is on me...allday. I bet the same for you but on Christmas we might give Jesus an hour of Mass if we are Catholic, and a mention during a prayer during dinner but if we are honest Jesus is not really the honored guest. So, I ask on this 15th day of Advent, what would be an ideal Christmas where Jesus was at the center throughout the day? I frankly don't know what that would look like. On MLK Day, I begin with a community breakfast in his honor and there are tribute throughout the day, but not for Jesus on Christ Day. That's a bit sad, and what's worst is I don't know how to change that rythmn either. This year, on Christmas I expect the focus to be on presents to family, rushing from house to home, and coming home exhausted but not filled with any deeper appreciation for Christ on his Day. What would an ideal Christmas really be like?
Sun Dec 16, 07:09:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #16: These holydays of December are new for America as we try to prepare for the birth of Baby Jesus. In the wake of the shooting of in Connecticut, we are a broken nation. In the wake of the death of my 9-day old granddaughter I am a broken man yearning to do something that will honor the birth of the Baby Jesus, and Kailee in a way that celebrates the life and hopes of all children. Las tnight, when President Obama described parenting as "having "your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around," I identified because mine has been pounded and emptied out, and now seeks something to fill that emptiness and soothe the pain. During yesterdays sermon at church, Pastor Jeff provided a roadmap for my Christmas season during his talk of the gifts of the 3 wise men. Today, while I continue my Advent Fast I can prepare for the birthday by planning 12-days of gifting to baby Jesus. While I still do not know what that looks like, I know what it does and does not feel like. It will feel like holding baby Jesus in your arms as the world melts away, and only you and that baby exist for that moment. It makes your heart vulnerable and open to pain. I never held my granddaughterm Kailee when she lived, but I did hold her tiny body on the day she died and I was shocked at the emotion that coursed through my heart. It frightened and fascinated me. Today, I ache to roll back to the few short days when she lived and to hold her tight. It's a selfish thought because it would do nothing for her. Her destiny was fixed and her time predetermined but what if every day during Christmas I could hold a tiny child? What if everyday during Christmas I could behold the body of Christ in all its newness in the glow and heartbeat of someone new? Pastor Jeff suggested that we use this season to look for moments to give something to Christ. Look for his face in the eyes of old and new, family and stranger, individual and church. Greg and I have begun to talk about what it might look like. Serving at the Wheeler Mission may be one way to hold the Christ child this season. Maybe freeing an animal now in captivity, as the Buddhists do for Bodhi Day is another? Maybe it's protesting at an Abortion Clinic? Maybe it's protesting at a Gun Rally? The Magi brought their gifts but what will be my gifts this season as I look for the face of the baby Jesus? How will I honor the children of Newtown, CT, my son and his daughter Kailee, and most importantly how will I celebrate the birth of Jesus during his 12 days on 2012?
Mon Dec 17, 07:48:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #18: The scripture today talks about how we all are given different gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) and because I work in the arts, that's a particularly important subject. Outside the arts, people talk about talents, skills, etc. but they are all gifts--the seed inside us that was planted as a link to God. Like most of us though, I sill wonder about my own gift. I wish I was more clear so that I could be better at making the connection.
Wed Dec 19, 01:32:00 PM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #19: In Acts 3:1-11, the lame man is given the blessing of walking after asking for money. My take-away is to remember "To Ask" and you will receive "something." Last night, I dreamed (more a mini-nightmare) of 1,000s of grant issues that kept laid open and I was overwhelmed by the inability to figure out how to close them. I struggled and struggled, but only after asking for help did the answer come. The answer was that they simply looked like 1,000s of open issues but were in fact only one. Once I let my mind relax I was able to see the one and it closed instantly and all was resolved. Back in the office, I've been dealing with an issue of loggin for Spirit & Place Festival and Stutz Art Gallery loggins. It's a problem that has dogged me (us) for days and days. I let it go yesterday and put my trust completely in my ASK for the developers to handle the issue. This morning, I came in and it was all resolved. Stutz has their first post submitted and I assume that SPF will have theirs coming soon. God speaks to me in dreams this Advent Season, and he reminds me to Ask.
Thu Dec 20, 10:12:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #20: In Acts 4:32-37, the scripture talks about how in the early church, everything belonged to the group and "no one claimed private ownership of any possession" which makes me think about Alpha Omega Arts and in general about all 501C3's. I wonder however about how this works in churches where the lead clergy dominate decisions about the belongings of the group? What does this teach me about Advent? What does this teach me about the coming of Christ the King? The 3 Wise Men gave gifts to the Christ child, but was that to the community? I don't think there is a connection here but I do think the idea of giving is critical notion and giving without the need to control is another critical point but instead to put trust in the hands of the community.
Fri Dec 21, 09:38:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #21: Just 3 more days before the celebration begins on Christmas Eve in Greenwood.
Sat Dec 22, 10:00:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #22: Just 24hours before the 1st meal of the Nativity of Jesus. It's been a wonderful journey. The list of blessings that came with this month go on, and on. My son's new job as Risk Manager at Hilton Hotel Cincinnati; the health of both Kasey and Grandma Renick; as well as the health of both Greg and myself (sugar levels reduced); the excitement at my new contract at the Arts Council and my generous raise after only 90-days; the advance of marriage equality; my mother's announcement that Indy will be her retirement destination in a few years; our bowling league of friends; and the many new insights into helping to making Alpha Omega Arts to grow in the model of Acts 4:32-37. Who would have thought I'd enjoy being a Vegan, and it's brought us up to 12 amazing days of Christmas where I have a gift for Greg for each day. Thank you Father.
Sun Dec 23, 10:46:00 AM EST
Ernest Disney-Britton said…
Day #23: Mon., Dec. 24 we broke our Fast at the annual Christmas Brunch with the Disney Clan. It was a great time for the nine of us, but what surprised, me especially, is that the taste if meat and eggs didn't satsify. The bacon wasn't the bacon I remembered. The ham seemed rubbery in the omelotte but the cheese was nice, the company was wonderful and the sharing was generous as always. For us, Christmas began on Christmas Eve in Greenwood and then headed to Cincinnati to meet my mother at Unity Church for 6pm service. It's the annual candle lighting cermony and it was beautiful. The service so filled me up with the light of God that I didn't feel the need to go to a Catholic service that nice. Perhaps it was in part that my Pope's nasty Christmas season attacks on the sanctity of Gay marriages hit me the wrong way, but it was also because I was filled. We then headed to Aunt Kayes for Christmas Eve chili and then to Mike & Kevins to close the night. It feels so much like the best of Christmas' ever. Happy Birthday Jesus.
Wed Dec 26, 10:24:00 AM EST
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