Dear People of St. James’,
As we end the Christmas Season, I want to turn your eyes towards Lent, which is coming up faster than usual. Ash Wednesday is February 18, and Easter is the first Sunday in April!
For over 30 years, on Good Friday, St. James’ has created and held space for Artists to express
their thoughts/feelings/experiences around the Crucifixion of Christ. This year, Good Friday
Project 35 (GFP), we would like to expand that to a space for Artists to express their
thoughts/feelings/experiences with the Divine in any form throughout all times in history. We
were created in the image of The Creator and thus are creators ourselves.
The Rev. Bill Miller once said GFP is a ‘thin space’ where Heaven and Earth overlap as the Gifts of
The Creator are offered back to the Universe in praise and thanksgiving; petition and prayer. All
enter and exit in silence; there is no applause. Gifts are offered into the silence and accepted as
unique works just as exquisite as the individuals created in the image of God. Over these 34
years, we have witnessed the Holy Spirit working through dance, song, music, visual art, film,
animation, photography, painting…in solos and groups, a capella, acoustic, and electric. The
feeling of connection and creation is powerful and unforgettable.
We invite Artists to use the Days of Lent to create/recreate/highlight their work in relation to the
Creator of All. If you know of an Artist who would like to offer a creation for GFP, please send
their name and contact info to gfp@staustin.org.
Many thanks to the GFP Team from 2025: Trina Robertson, Melody Fullylove, Theresa Garcia-
Burke, Kathy Carberry, Daniel Carberry, and Kathy Miller [if I missed anyone, many apologies;
thank you, thank you, thank you].
If YOU would like to participate in creating a Sacred Space for Artists on Friday, April 3, 2026,
send your name and preferred contact info to the same address.
Because Good Friday is early, we ask that you respond by February 1st, so we can get
invitations out before Ash Wednesday. Questions may be referred to the e-mail as well.
Happy New Year, St. James’! The work of spreading the Good News in ALL languages and
forms begins again.
Gina Houston
