Greetings, Emmanuelites! I feel very fortunate to be joining a wonderful group of interns from Boston area colleges and universities at Emmanuel. My name is Liz and I am one of the three first year Expressive Arts Therapies interns from the Lesley University Graduate School of Arts. I would like to introduce you to my two partners in creative expression whom I feel ecstatic to be working with. Evey, who shared her reflections about Emmanuel in last week’s blog entry, is a Dance Therapy major with a beautiful smile and a fondness for ballroom dancing. Amanda, a Bluegrass music loving sculptor, who will be introducing herself in next week’s blog, is an Art Therapy student. As a lover of variety who is admittedly a bit indecisive, I am enjoying the many creative modalities of the Expressive Arts Therapies major.
On Monday nights, Amanda, Evey, and I accompany Pam and several other volunteers from Emmanuel and beyond, to the Suffolk County House of Corrections for Pam’s Art and Spirituality group with incarcerated women. We all take part in a circle prayer and then make cards for loved ones. We end with a different circle prayer and say the names of people that we made cards for. I am always struck by the women’s appreciation for our visits. I feel appreciation for being able to take part in such a meaningful connection for them and also for us. It feels especially meaningful to be able to provide the women with an opportunity of freedom through the artistic process.
I have been amazed at the level of creativity and talent I have seen within the ecclesia ministries’ common art group that we meet with on Wednesdays at Emmanuel. Further, the sense of community and care for one another’s wellbeing has been remarkable. I know that Evey, Amanda, and I are very thankful to coordinators, Mary, Ken, the common art committee members, and participants for engaging us in the common art community, educating us about homeless and marginally housed people, and overall just taking great care of us. The art, leadership, and wisdom continue to inspire each of us.
Thursdays, at Café Emmanuel, Amanda, Evey, and I help serve lunch to elders within the LGBT community. Bob Linscott, several volunteers, as well as interns help to make each lunch special, even arranging fresh flowers at every table. The participants have lived very rich lives and tell great stories. I am so grateful for they ways they show us their generous hearts. Their curiosity about people and life is something I identify with wholeheartedly. I am so excited about their enthusiasm about the Arts as therapy and can’t wait to see what we come up with together.
So here we are about three weeks into my internship at Emmanuel and that warm feeling that I first felt is here with me every time I walk through the doors of the church, participate in a group, meet new staff, and even say goodbye to the construction workers who eat their lunch on the church steps. Emmanuel seems to be a place where the heart’s guard unfolds and everyone is welcome. No matter who we are we all feel the spirit and the connection to something we are all a part of. I am so looking forward to meeting more of you and sharing an incredible year of art, community, and celebration of our diverse and expansive human experiences.
Sincerely,
Liz Kelly