Art and the Super Bowl
On those few occasions when I use a sports illustration in my sermon, just know I have worked hard to research and get my facts straight to make it relevant to the sermon of the day. Sport stats and stories do not roll off my tongue, but here is a little sports trivia I do know, the first year the Super Bowl was ever played was the same year my church established an arts festival -1967.
Now I have no idea why the Super Bowl was established except it is a good reason to eat tail gate food and gather with friends around the television to watch the commercials. However, the Arts Festival at First United Methodist Church was established to encourage the use of art as an expression of God’s creative spirit that dwells in all of us and as a means of adding art to the church’s permanent art collection. In 1980, the festival was renamed to honor the memory of Rev. Tom Peyton, a former associate pastor who made significant contributions to the Cenla art community.
This year the Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival kicks off on Friday, May 2 at 6:00 pm with the opening reception and award presentations as this is a juried art show with competitors from Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas and of course Louisiana, including the local area.
Other events include a special exhibit by photographer Jim Johnson, and a school art exhibit by local student artists running from May 2 to 11. On Sunday, May 4, Dr. Chris Holoman, President of Centenary College of Louisiana will be our guest speaker at 8:30 am and 11 am. Jazz on Jackson will take place in the courtyard off Jackson Street on Friday, May 9 from 6-8 with Modern Jazz Movement as our special guests. Children’s Day will feature author and storyteller Rob Butler. He will share his book “Saint Amant Max, The Cajun Puppy” with all the kids followed by Louisiana themed crafts and snacks. This will take place in the Johnson Center on Saturday, May 10 from 9-11 am and is limited to 50 children so be sure to stop by the festival to register. We are also offering a new event, an artist panel for students and youth on Friday, May 9 from 4:30 – 6 pm in the 50/50 room where area teens can explore ways to make art a career.
The exhibit itself will be open daily from the 10 am to 4 pm from May 2 – 11 and all exhibits and events are free and open to the public. Come enjoy this “super bowl” of art at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria (2727 Jackson St.)
On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley
Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org