Henri Matisse and the Colors of Lent

From the gray of Ash Wednesday to the brilliant dawn of Easter Sunday, the season of Lent is a journey through color. And so what better guides to this journey than the words of Scripture and the art of Henri Matisse, one of the most daring, influential artists in modern history?

In this devotional full of Scripture, art, and weekly practices, we walk alongside Matisse from his childhood in northern France to what he called his “masterpiece,” the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence.

He once said he liked to pray with a pencil: “At the moment I go every morning to say my prayers, pencil in hand; I stand in front of a pomegranate tree covered in blossom, each flower at a different stage, and I watch their transformation… filled with admiration for the work of God. Is this not a way of praying?”

So grab a pencil (or a paintbrush!), your favorite Bible, and a decent internet connection (all the paintings referenced can be found online) Week by week, we’ll travel through the colors of Lent – all the way to the beautiful, joyful dawn of Easter morning.

We will begin Ash Wednesday after the 6:00PM service and will continue to meet on Sundays after service in the chapel/library/Zoom. Please contact the office if you are interested in participating or find the sign-up sheet in the narthex.