Although it was the words of visionary artist Meinrad Craighead that first attracted Durham resident Amy Kellum, it was her pictures that opened a door for the Durham woman and sent her on her own creative journey. Kellum heard Craighead speak at Duke University in 1999 about her work in expressing the Divine, especially the Feminine Divine, through art based on images of nature and ancient mythologies. Afterward, Kellum says simply, "God got bigger."

Moved to preserve and share Craighead's art and ideas, Kellum has spent the past six years documenting her work, gaining a certificate in Documentary Studies from Duke in the process. The result is a one-hour documentary titled "Meinrad Craighead, Praying with Images," which will be shown for the first time in the place where the project began, Durham.

"If I didn't paint," Craighead says, "I wouldn't know where I am in the world."

Her truly original art spans time and distance and tradition to combine imagery from Catholicism, Native American religions and ancient myths. Add to the mix her own dreams and mystic visions and the result is a unique synthesis of energy, color and connectedness.

Spiritual seekers, art lovers, nature lovers, animal lovers and anyone who just loves a good story will enjoy "Meinrad Craighead, Praying with Images." It is an opportunity to allow art to open a door to a bigger world and perhaps to a bigger idea of God.

Sponsored by two Durham-based organizations, the Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South and Minnow Media, the film will be screened at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University on May 21 at 7 p.m. Craighead will be present and the event is free and open to the public.

Church Women to celebrate Friendship Day

Church Women United of Chapel Hill-Carrboro will celebrate May Friendship Day on Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on Mt. Carmel Church Road.

The program, "Building Our Stories," will be presented by Women of First Baptist Church. A salad luncheon will precede the program.

Buddhist lecture to be given at Community Church

A Buddhist lecture with special significance has been set for Wednesday, June 17, from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. at The Community Church of Chapel Hill, 106 Purefoy Road.

The lecture title is "HH Dorje Chang Buddha is living in America." More than 100 enlightened dharma kings and great rinpoches have acknowledged and recognized Master Wan Ko Yee as the third incarnation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha and the second incarnation of Venerable Vimalakirti as documented in the book "H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III." Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche, a close disciple of His Holiness, will explain why this is so and introduce the Buddha-dharma contained in this book that can enable living beings to quickly become enlightened.

Church series to focus on spiritual gifts

Advent Lutheran Church, 230 Erwin Road, will focus on discovering spiritual gifts as individuals and as a church in all of its Bible classes and worship services during the weeks through May 10.

Sunday school and Bible classes for all ages are held on Sundays at 9:05 a.m. followed by Divine Service with Holy Communion at 10:30 a.m.

Pastor John Benham says that God designed each individual as part of God's plan to accomplish God's purpose and that the key to discovering how God wants to use individuals is to discover one's spiritual gifts. He has issued an invitation to all to join Advent for this discovery process.

St. Thomas More offers musical program

Songs for a Sunday afternoon at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael St., will feature a musical performance of eight newly composed songs by Roger Petrich, director of music, on the texts of Emily Dickinson.

Songs will be sung by two parishioners, Stephanie McElhinny and Aileen Sutter. The concert will include other musical performances as well.

The one-hour program is free and open to the public and will be followed by a light reception.

Please let us know what's going on in your church or faith group, so we can share your news with our readers. E-mail news and announcements to Flo Johnston at fjohnston3@nc.rr.com.

FAITH IN FOCUS

Flo Johnston