One More Story from Columbus: Doing Art for the Church Together

Lecia Beck only recently claimed the title of artist.

She was an “A” student in all of her high school studies – except Art and Music.  She always loved doodling, but the high grade in Art was elusive so she lost interest.  The interest was rekindled a few years ago when a friend introduced her to the art from known as “zentangling.”

The art form has become so popular that it is even trademarked – see www.zentangle.com where it is described as "an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.”

Lecia is also a candidate for the Master of Divinity degree at Trinity Lutheran Seminary where she is receiving the education that will prepare her for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

As in her call to being an artist, her call to ordained ministry wasn’t something she discerned from the beginning. Here is the story in her own words:

 I usually point to my time in college, being involved in Christian ministries on campus, but I have actually found journal entries from high school about it!  I started college studying engineering.  I love the classes, but through working in outdoor ministry, I discerned that my call was not to be an engineer.  I took a year off of college to join Captive Free - East Lakes as the sound tech on team.  After that time, I went to Malone College in Canton, OH for a degree in outdoor leadership.  While I had felt called to ordained ministry, I have a lot in common with Jonah.  I tried to bargain with God that I would pursue full-time outdoor ministry instead.  While that did not pan out, I spent the six years before starting seminary working for the YMCA in Columbus.  I worked with many low-income families, providing afterschool childcare and enrichment and becoming an advocate for them.  Through all of that, I still felt the nagging that God was calling me to ordained ministry.  I loved my work at the Y, but it was not complete because I could not share my faith.  Finally, at a retreat weekend, I spent time praying about this call and knew that the time was right.  From the point of leaving the retreat, I began seminary five weeks later.  It has been a wild ride of learning to trust God even more and forget my need to be in control.

Lecia’s two callings recently came together when she and classmate Scott Nellis conceived of a community art project.  They drew the outline of a dove that covered three canvases and specified rainbow colors as the background.  People from the community were invited to tear pieces of magazines and glue them to the canvas – DURING WORSHIP!  During the singing, preaching, or any other time, anybody who wanted to went to the in-church art studio to work with paper and glue to create the project together.  The project was left in the worship space during the week so people could stop in at will to meditate and create.

 

The community art project was finished just before Pentecost and soon after Trinity Lutheran Seminary became a Reconciling in Christ Seminary - hence a descending dove against a rainbow colored background.

Scott’s daughter, Lydia, was seven years old on the day that her younger sister was baptized and Scott was grateful that Lydia could have something to do, especially during the preaching!  Together, Lecia and Lydia included a piece of the bulletin with her sister’s name on the triptych.  Lydia was happy to see it again just a short time later when her father graduated.

Lecia was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The next step in her journey finds her 300 miles away from Pittsburgh in Loveland, Ohio at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where she will complete her internship under Pastor Jonathan Eilert.  She will graduate from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in May, 2017 before entering the ELCA’s first call assignment process.

Lecia Beck and an unknown friend.

What lessons has she learned from her journey as an artist?

“I struggled to be interested in art because I tend to be a perfectionist.  It has been a great journey for me to try to let go of that and decide what is good enough.  Inspiring community art was also a great exercise in having a vision and letting go of it.  I marveled at some of the "liberal interpretations" of colors!  While many people say that everyone can be an artist, I didn't believe them...and yet, I have learned it is true!”

Links:
Lecia Beck's Blog: http://soumonsa.blogspot.com/
Reconciling in Christ: https://www.reconcilingworks.org/about/
Trinity Lutheran Seminary: http://www.tlsohio.edu/