Zion Writer's Workshop
History
In 1999, by collision of a bible class on the history of liturgy and a creative-minded group of parishioners, the Hymnwriters! Workshop began. Meeting bi-monthly during Zion Lutheran Church's Sunday School hour, the workshop offered instruction and hands-on activities which led participants through the creative process, form the 'fuzzy mess' of an original idea, to its use within a worship setting. The class produced a CD of its work in 2002, and continues to share its music and its mission with churches in both the United States and the United Kingdom
Today
The Zion Writer’s Workshop has expanded to accommodate a wider variety of genres including poetry, creative non-fiction, drama, prophetic writing and more. The workshop attempts to integrate the life of the writer with a deepening awareness of his or her spiritual journey. Striving to put into words the ineffable, to clarify the deep questions of what it means to be made in the image of God, the workshop offers artists the tools to discern the calling of their own creative work through group readings, in-class instructional activities, and individual coaching with the workshop’s artistic director, Joseph Byrd.
You’re Invited
Everyone is welcome to the workshop, regardless of skill-level or experience. Through the assigning of monthly writing exercises, participants are guided toward the workshop’s yearly publication, Distillations, a journal refracting the experience of the inner, artistic journey through the lens of scripture.
About the Instructor
Joseph Byrd was one of five Associate Artists in Poetry from the United States under Master Artist Joy Harjo at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. While living in Berlin, Germany, his rock opera Resurrection! premiered at the Berlin British School and his musical The Secret of Adam and Evelyn in Portland, Oregon. His music is published by earthsongs and his poetry has appeared in Prism, The West Wind Review, New Verse News, Foxfire Books, and The Penwood Review. His book, "I Do"s (and Don'ts)" is available from iUniverse and barnesandnoble.com
For More Information
Please contact Joseph Byrd at lutheranwarrior@yahoo.com