"Appearance" is a charged word, quivering between truth and falsehood.

Appearances can reveal and make known; appearances can obscure and deceive.

In a world awash with appearance, we dearly want a true epiphany—a revelation, a manifestation. We want an appearance which cuts through the fog of semblance. A light so bright and true it nearly blinds us, and then makes us to see.

In the season of Epiphany, we remember and celebrate the places where the Son of God made himself manifest—visible, tangible, offered to our senses and our understanding.

The visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus, his baptism by John, the miracle at Cana's wedding which was the first sign of his divine mission. God comes into the world, takes on human flesh, makes himself newly manifest, even to the Gentiles.

We have loved his appearing, and it has not slowed.
Some two thousand years now, Jesus the Christ has continued to appear.

In and through His Church. In and through Holy Scripture. Across seas and deserts and dense forests. In glorious palaces and derelict ghettos.

Since Bethlehem, Christ Jesus appears in the most unexpected places. Where does Christ Jesus make himself known now, even to those not looking for him?

God has gifted artists

To see
to interpret
to make manifest
the glory of his appearing

If you have been given and have nurtured creative gifts—gifts in the visual arts (from sculpture to painting to glass-blowing to design), gifts in the narrative arts (poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction), or musical gifts (performance, composition, etc.)—we invite you to devote those gifts unto the Lord’s service. We invite you to make an offering of beauty.

We would love to display your visual art in our Epiphany art gallery, or feature your narrative or musical art in the gallery opening event (and the accompanying arts journal).

In the midst of the year’s close and the anticipation of the Advent season, contemplate the ways and places you’ve seen Christ Jesus manifest himself.

Help us by shattering our illusions, seeing through the false appearance of things. Reset the focus; clear the cobwebs from our periphery.

Help us to see the unexpected places Jesus makes himself known.

Where have you seen his appearing?
How has he made himself manifest, here and now?

Help us to love his appearing.

If you’re interested

Contact Fr. Zack Clemmons at zack@ctkbirmingham.org.

We’ll talk details on your project, and any questions you have will be answered!

Deadlines

Saturday, December 9th Deadline for written submissions
Saturday, December 23rd Deadline for music submissions
Saturday, January 6th Deadline for visual art submissions