Jan Richardson
I am a writer, artist, United Methodist minister, and director of a company called The Wellspring Studio, LLC, which serves as an umbrella for all the writer/artist/minister stuff plus a few other things besides. My favorite projects are those that intertwine words and images. When folks ask me where The Wellspring Studio is, I say, wherever I am, there it is… You can pay a virtual visit to the studio at janrichardson.com; I would love for you to stop by.
I live in central Florida with my husband, the singer/songwriter Garrison Doles, and travel widely as a retreat/workshop leader and conference speaker. I serve as the Visiting Artist at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, Florida, and am on the faculty of the Grünewald Guild in Washington State.
The Advent Door is a blog I’m writing during the weeks leading up to Christmas. The rest of the year, you can find me at my other blog, The Painted Prayerbook.
An Illuminated Joy
December 3, 2007 at 12:01 pm |
I’m enjoying the Advent messages. Dug
December 28, 2007 at 10:36 am |
It has been a joy traveling through your 25 doors of Advent. Your writing was a continual source of inspiration during my 60th plus Advent journey. Of special inspiration were the doors revealing silence, way making, knocking from the inside, finding a secret room and doing some dreaming with Joseph. My favorites were lectio divina, my favorite kind of prayer, and remembering forward, the thrust of my Advent season this year as I erased the timelines between the Hebrew scriptures and the Christmas story. Your choice of words is also delighful. With gratitude.
October 15, 2008 at 3:21 pm |
Any thought to publishing The Advent Door (images and meditations) as a book? I know–how 20th century. Or perhaps putting it (or a new version for ’08) into some form that churches/individuals could purchase to upload day by day onto their websites or send to their (yes, my) parishoners. I LOVE your images and meditations, and would like to share them with my folks.
New Gloucester, Maine
First Congregational-Christian Church, UCC
October 18, 2008 at 1:44 am |
Linda–many thanks! Yes, as an inveterate lover of the book format, I’m aiming to translate The Advent Door into a book. I don’t have a time line for that yet but hope it will be ready before Advent of year A rolls around again (to be followed by Advent Door books for Year B and Year C). Thanks for also suggesting the possibility of making it available to churches to upload; will give that some thought. Thanks again!
November 8, 2008 at 11:57 pm |
Jan, I was checking out your music selections for Advent and Christmas.
Thanks for your choices. I appreciate the non traditional stuff. It gets me in the mood for Advent/Christmas/Epiphany and the planning of services for the congregation I serve.
Have you ever heard of Andrew Peterson? He wrote “Behold the Lamb” several years ago! It’s a favorite of mine. He and his band also have an Easter CD called Resurrection Letters II.
Thanks for your thoughtful blog.
Thalia
November 20, 2008 at 11:17 am |
Thanks, Thalia! I wasn’t familiar with Andrew Peterson but just spent some time on his site. Thank you for introducing me to his work.
I wish you and your congregation many blessings (and good music!) as Advent approaches.
January 14, 2009 at 7:33 pm |
Jan, I like your art work a lot! How nice to bump into it!
December 16, 2009 at 7:13 am |
Jan, I am so enjoying reading your blogs. One I continue to think about is the concept of approaching another person as an act of reverence because that person, created in the likeness of God is sacred. What a wonderful examples Mary and Elizabeth’s greeting are of that.
I am practicing this sacrement of seeing Christ in each encounter this advent…Thanks
December 6, 2011 at 10:56 am |
Great reflections and insights for one who is on the journey (me)
December 22, 2011 at 7:20 am |
Hi There great to see the poetic used to stir heart mind and spirit, I’d love to use some of this at events we create. We meet with spiritual people at festivals and solstice gatherings here in Guildford UK.
Keep going – so good
graceandpeaceandlove
Colin @ Eden People
December 22, 2011 at 8:28 am |
Jan,
Your reflection from John and your poem for Christmas Day are stunning. Thank you.