Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.  I rise. I rise. I rise.” —Maya Angelou

Join us during February as we celebrate Black History Month! Amplifying the voices of our Black brothers and sisters is a step toward the Kingdom vision of racial and ethnic diversity in Revelation 7:9. Together, let’s journey through the arts to experience the beauty of God’s desire for diversity amongst his people!

Celebrating Artist Steve A. Prince

During Black History Month, C4SO celebrates artist Steve Prince, a mixed media artist, master printmaker, lecturer, educator, and art evangelist. He has worked with churches of various denominations across the nation spreading a message of hope and renewal philosophically rooted in the cathartic nature of the Jazz Funerary tradition of New Orleans. To Steve, art media is like languages to a linguist as he adeptly tithers between two-dimensional and three-dimensional artistic practices while working with virtually every age bracket and multiple ethnicities.

Steve is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and he currently resides in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is the Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Muscarelle Museum at William and Mary. Steve received his BFA from Xavier University of Louisiana and his MFA in Printmaking and Sculpture from Michigan State University.

We have licensed four of Steve’s social justice artworks to feature on C4SO’s social media during Black History Month. We will also provide questions and prompts for you to do Visio Divina, or “sacred seeing,” an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into the image to see what God might have to say to us.

Learn more about Steve.

Image credit: Cory Miller Photography

Celebrating Black Poetry and Photography

 A Contemplation and Discussion Group led by the Revs. Teesha Hadra and Kimberly Deckel

Throughout Black History Month, Teesha and Kimberly will highlight several works of poetry by black poets from various eras. They will also explore the photography of Gordon Parks. Each week, look for a selected poem and photograph on C4SO’s social media, along with prompts for you to use as you contemplate these works.

Register now for a Zoom discussion on Monday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. CST, where Teesha, Kimberly and participants will discuss each of the poems and photographs they have selected and explore their thoughts and reactions.

See the poems and photos.

To participate in C4SO’s celebration of Black History Month, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.