Christmas Feasts

/ Fresh Oil Artists / By

Title: Christmas Feasts.

Scripture: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it  more abundantly.” ~ Jesus of Nazareth John 10:10 NKJV.

Artist’s Name: Diane Tobolt.

Medium: Digital Art.

Source of Inspiration: The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Richardson.

Reflection: One of the themes of The Uncluttered Heart is slowing down, making time in the middle of the busyness of the holiday season to sit with God, to meditate on the meaning of why we celebrate. And also to slow down enough to really notice and appreciate all that is special about the Christmas season. It made me think of how Christmas is a feast for the senses – all the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures. Twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, Christmas carols and silver bells, balsam and spices, peppermint and sugar cookies, snow and red velvet and Christmas plaid. And all the other things: time with family, traditions passed down through the generations, joyful children, candlelight and choirs, nature brought inside and a world heading into winter.

A lot can happen to narrow our lives down, draining our time, energy, and spirit. Life seems myopic with all its work, chores, and duties. Even Christmas, whether we want it to or not, often ends up that way. It’s frustrating to feel that Christmas is another chore on the to-do list. The Uncluttered Heart invites us to think about being, not just doing. It really doesn’t take long to stop a few minutes to listen to people singing at the mall, enjoy the colors and festivity of the decorations, and notice the lights twinkling in the darkening evening. When we do, we participate in hope, peace, joy, and love – all the things the advent wreath reminds us to hold in our hearts.

Years ago I read a message that has stayed with me. Although I cannot remember author, the thought remains that all the traditions that have evolved around the simple celebration of the Christ Child’s birth (festivities, food, gifts, songs and stories) are part of what Christmas is. They are gifts of the bountiful and generous spirit of the season. Most importantly, they are refractions of the light at the center of it all – the One who came to give us life, and life more abundant than we know.

Prayer:O Lord Jesus, as you came quietly into the world, come into my life and bring your transforming light. Open my eyes to the many gifts you have given me, and the blessings that I can give to others. Amen.

Copyright © Diane Tobolt, 2022

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Communications Advisor

Debbie Gustafson

Debbie Gustafson has been an active member and participating artist since the first Psalms Exhibit in 2012. Consistently, she has supported our events and exhibits with wisdom and excellence. Her wisdom and faithfulness to our vision prompted us to seek her support as a board member, and she graciously accepted although she also serves her church and community in a number of other roles, including arts and education. In addition, she is an original member of our blogging ministry that now comprises our “Fresh Oil” artists group.

Programs Advisor

Roberta Sawyer

Roberta (“Bobbie”) Sawyer describes herself as “a lifetime dabbler with a love of experimentation with learners young and old.” Currently an elder at Prairie Community Church in Eden Prairie, Bobbie has participated in numerous types of ministry. She has taught art seminars for children including her “Art in the Park” outdoor summer series, served as a scenarist for church skits, plays and musicals, led Bible study fellowships for 12 years, and created backdrops and props for Vacation Bible Schools. She has also served as a literacy tutor and office support staff for South Hennepin Adult Programs in Education. Also an original Great Commission Arts core group member, Bobbie co-coordinates the monthly Art Klatch painters fellowship group. As a board advisor, she contributes much prayer, a tenacious faith, and a love for people and artists of all definitions.
Outreach Advisor

Geraldine Antoinette Mehta

Geri Mehta has served in numerous ministry positions, which include teaching Sunday school at Way of the Cross church in Blaine, directing girls programs at Hospitality House in north Minneapolis, serving on the mission field in Guatemala and India, and co-leading a home church. She has also been active in community organizations such as Jaycees and Toastmasters.
Geri brings a clear sense of vision and discernment to the board, especially in the area of outreach. She has a passion for promoting the gospel with compassion, love, and respect. As a painter and original Great Commission Artists core group member, Geri has served GCA faithfully in numerous capacities. Her wisdom, like her art, inspires us to seek God’s heart in all things.
Pastoral Board Advisor

Reverend Roger Kuhn

Roger Kuhn has extensive ministry experience, including numerous pastoral positions in New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, and Minnesota. Most of his career he has served as lead pastor and has particularly enjoyed discipling new believers. Currently, Roger serves as the National Pastor of Member Care and the Director of Church Relations at International Ministerial Fellowship, the licensing organization for W.I.N.D. of the Spirit Ministries. Additionally, his pastoral responsibilities include all IMF Alliance Churches and 200 Lead Pastors. With deep faith and a thorough understanding of ministry, Roger provides pastoral supervision, support, and prayer for W.I.N.D. Ministries, including Great Commission Artists.
Founder & Director

Marianne McDonough

Licensed for ministry in the creative arts through International Ministerial Fellowship, Marianne McDonough founded Great Commission Artists and serves as its director in addition to directing   W.I.N.D. of the Spirit Ministries, the 501 (c) (3) umbrella ministry. Believing the arts have a unique capacity to exalt God and inspire His people, Marianne loves to encourage and mentor Christian artists toward the full expression of their gifts, especially in the context of worship. Marianne’s experience includes writing in secular and Christian venues, leadership in worship and dance ministries, teaching worship arts seminars for children, and sponsoring visual arts workshops and exhibits.

In 2010, she initiated “Art in the Beauty of Holiness” seminars, specifically designed for visual artists and subsequently produced in DVD format. After the formation of GCA and its core group in 2011, she produced four more DVDs featuring artists’ interviews and three other seminars: Worship in the Potter’s Hands, Waterfalls with Rev. Paul Oman, and Banners with Elsa Hammond. She also created a cable television presentation on art and worship. 

Starting in September of 2012, Marianne inaugurated the first Great Commission Artists Exhibition, “Psalms Exhibit and Creative Arts Celebration,” at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This event included a juried exhibit, continuous original worship music provided by local composers, and dance presentations. Since then, as of spring of 2023, GCA has presented eleven exhibitions with multi-generational artist participation, including numerous high school students from local high schools. The last six exhibitions have traveled for month-long display at Twin Cities’ churches.

Additionally, Marianne believes the Great Commission applies to all of the body of Christ, including artists of all definitions. Thus, she has guided Great Commission Artists to create a variety of teaching conferences and art-based community service projects including Kids Love, a popular Valentines day outreach to homeless children. Great Commission Artists is fulfilling its namesake mission to minister Christ to their world and glorify God.

With a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota, Marianne is an author and speaker. She has served as a board director for the Minnesota Christian Writers Guild and also leads a Christian writers’ critique group. Her 2016 book, 8 Steps to Getting Real with Cancer, won the Midwest Book Awards in the health category. In 2018 she released Beating Cancer One Truth At A Time, another guide for newly diagnosed patients designed for individual or support group reflection.

Marianne enjoys writing in various genres and desires for writers to explore new ways to release their talents to exalt Christ. Her passion is to see God’s beauty revealed in all of the creative arts.