A lesson in a 500-year-old Michelangelo sketch
BY LYNNE HARTKE
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known to the world as Michelangelo, was an artist, sculptor and architect whose work still fascinates his viewers centuries later. He thought out loud on paper with ink and chalk, sometimes with a shout and other times with a whisper. Drawings to him were as powerful as words, yet for whatever reason, he preferred to leave only his finished work and destroyed most of his preliminary drawings. About 600 sketches remain,
including 26 that are on display at the Phoenix Art Museum through March 27.
The sketch of the Madonna and Child, drawn about 1524, captivated me. Using a mix of mediums—black chalk, red chalk, red wash, white heightening and ink— Michelangelo created a 3-D image that seems to lift from the page.
Many of the sketches in the gallery were simple outlines using minimal lines. Michelangelo often utilized every section of the paper. He sometimes drew a detailed, additional sketch in a corner when
something caught his attention. A close-up of an eye. A leg. A face. 500 years later we can catch a glimpse inside the mind of a brilliant man by the sketches he left behind. What message can we find in the work of this genius? What words echo from his sketches centuries later?
If it is an act of a brilliant mind to focus close, can we also pause to focus on ways we discovered God this week? In the noticing of details, can we also draw attention to His pursuing love of us? Rather than feel the need to destroy our heart
sketches, can we share with one another in our circles of influence?
I hope so. With simple lines, I pray you sketch your own reasons to praise God who individually loves you.
Lynne Hartke blogs at www.lynnehartke. com. She is the wife of Pastor Kevin Hartke of Trinity Christian Fellowship in Chandler, 50 S. McQueen Rd. For information, visit www.tcfchandler.org or call (480) 963-7698. Lynne’s first book comes out with Revell in 2017.
Author Yamit Armbrister to speak at Sun Lakes Chapel Center
BY ALISON STANTON
In her historical fiction book “One Moroccan Woman,” Phoenix author Yamit Armbrister tells the story of Tamar Ben Zaken, a young Jewish woman who is forced to emigrate to the state of Israel under challenging circumstances.
Armbrister will discuss her book as well as the history of Moroccan Jews at Sun Lakes Chapel Center, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd N. in Sun Lakes at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6. The event, which is free and open to the public, is being organized by Friends of Israel from Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation and East Valley JCC.
After discussing the story of Moroccan Jews throughout the centuries, Armbrister said she will then speak about the silent exodus of one million Jews who fled from almost all of the Arab lands between 1940 and 1960.
“I will talk about their challenging absorption in the young state of Israel, which was in its toddling steps and which mostly consisted in those days of European Jews who did not share the same culture, ideas and traditions, other than the common religion,” she said.
Her talk will also include her family’s story and her personal experience as an immigrant to the United States.
“Mostly, I will talk about the differences between my immigration to the United States in the early 2000 to my grandparents’ immigration to Israel from Morocco in the 1950s.”
Michael Cohen, a member of Friends of Israel, said Armbrister’s talk fits in well with the group’s mission, which is to educate the community about history and current issues
that are relevant to Israel.
“Our ultimate goal is to initiate advocacy activities after the community is more educated,” he said.
There is often great controversy and misinformation about these issues.
“Awareness about problems in the Middle East is central to understanding foreign policy and American politics, so we have extended to invitation to everyone.”
Cohen, who has read both “One Moroccan Woman” as well as Armbrister’s book “Between
Author Yamit Armbrister will discuss her historical fiction book “One Moroccan Woman” and the history of Moroccan Jews during an upcoming appearance at Sun Lakes Chapel Center. Submitted photo
Egypt and Canaan,” said she has a “unique and realistic” perspective on Israel.
“She is a very good author, and I really think the audience will appreciate what she is saying,” he said.
Armbrister said she is looking forward to meeting some of the people who have read her novels at the upcoming event.
“I’m eager to speak about the story of the Jews from Arab lands. I have been lecturing for two years now in the United States, in Canada and Israel and each time I’m elated with emotions,” she said. For more information, sunlakesjewishcongregation.org and click on “future events.”
Final arrangements seminar set for Sun Lakes UMC
Sun Lakes United Methodist Church is sponsoring a Final Arrangements Seminar at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. Representatives of the church, Bueler Chandler Mortuary and the United Methodist Church Foundation will discuss various preparations that can be made prior to death. Topics will include memorial service planning, cremation versus burial, costs of services, veterans
and social security benefits, advantages of preplanning, estate planning with wills and trusts as well as the facilities offered at “The Gardens.”
The seminar will be held in the church’s chapel at 9248 E. Riggs Rd., Sun Lakes. “The Gardens” at Sun Lakes UMC is a memorial columbarium for inurnment or burial of cremated remains.
VUU free film series on racism
continues in February
A free film series called “Continuing the Conversations: Racism in Films” will be shown at VUU from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays Feb. 7, March 6 and April 10.
The films, in chronological order of the dates are “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Rosewood” and “Do The Right Thing.”
Movies will be held in the VUU sanctuary, and there will be a discussion after each showing.
“The films and conversations afterward will create a deeper understanding of how racist attitudes are embedded in our culture thereby supporting the practices of discrimination and brutality,” explained VUU member and co-coordinator
Worship 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Spanish Worship 1:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY (Summer)
Beverly McCormick.
She said the film series also supports the mandate for awareness issued at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly this year that “Black Lives Matter.”
Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation provides a welcoming diverse community that nurtures each person’s lifelong spiritual journey, creates a place of peace and celebration and strives for social justice and sustainable living.
VUU is located at 6400 W. Del Rio St., in Chandler. For more information, call (480) 899-4249, or visit www.vuu. org.
Student Wash Out Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
Marc Drake, Senior Pastor invites you to join in our traditional worship service at 9535 E. Riggs Road Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 480-895-1088 www.fbcsl.org Sundays: Bible Study: 8:30
‘Duck Dynasty’ star to lead men’s conference
Led by special guest Jep Robertson from “Duck Dynasty,” the Legacy Men’s Conference comes to Cornerstone Church from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.
Besides Robertson, speakers include Albert Tate, Ron Merrell and Tim Beal. Music will be led by Brian Wurzell and Ryan Axtell.
The rates are $65 for early bird before Feb. 8; $75 after Feb. 8. The student fee is $35. Email info@legacycon.com for groups of 10 or more. To register please visit www.legacycon.com.
Cornerstone Church Chandler Campus is located at 1595 S. Alma School Rd. Call (480) 726-8000 for more information.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p m SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a m
Jep Robertson, a member of the Robertson family best known as the stars of “Duck Dynasty,” will make an appearance in Chandler in mid-February. Photo by Art Streiber
