Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Redemption Through the Arts


During film camp this year we talked about Redemption through the arts. This article found on Catholic Herold  conveys our message to the students who were apart of the film camp. Enjoy! ~Lumen Crew

Benedict XVI: art is a doorway to God

By STAFF REPORTER on Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Benedict XVI: art is a doorway to God
Benedict XVI greets the crowd at his general audience at Castel Gandolfo (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Beautiful art is not just for cultural enrichment but is an important way to experience God and become aware of the human thirst for the infinite, Pope Benedict XVI has said.
A sculpture, a painting, a poem or a piece of music can arouse a feeling of joy when it becomes apparent it is something more than just a chunk of marble, a canvas covered with colours, or words or notes on a page, he said.
“It’s something bigger, something that speaks and touches your heart; it carries a message and lifts the spirit,” he said as he held his weekly general audience in the town square at Castel Gandolfo.
“Art is like an open doorway to the infinite, toward a beauty and truth that go beyond everyday reality,” he told 3,000 visitors and pilgrims present for the audience.
The Pope continued a series of talks on the importance of prayer and the need to set aside some time in one’s busy day for God.
One way people can sense God’s presence or strengthen their relationship with him is through beautiful art, he said.
An artist is often trying to discover the true or deeper meaning of reality through “a language of forms, colours and sounds,” he said.
“Art can express and render visible humanity’s need to go beyond what one sees, revealing a thirst and quest for the infinitive.
“Art can open the mind’s eye and one’s heart, pushing us upward” toward the heavens, he said.
The “true paths toward God” that inspire prayer and strengthen one’s relationship with God, the Pope said, are works of art that express the faith and spring from the artist’s own faith in God.
Pope Benedict praised the Jewish artist Marc Chagall, who created a large series of illustrations of the Bible, which the Russian-French artist called “the greatest source of poetry of all time”.
The Pope also fondly recalled his attendance at a 1981 Munich concert of Leonard Bernstein conducting music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
When the last note of Bach’s cantatas was played “I felt, not out of reasoning, but deep in my heart, that what we had listened to had given me something of the great composer’s faith, and it compelled me to praise and thank the Lord,” the Pope said.
He said he also turned to Lutheran Bishop Johannes Hanselmann, who was sitting next to him, and they both agreed that “Anyone who has heard this knows that the faith is true.”
The Pope also recalled how sacred music had the power to convert the French poet, dramatist and diplomat Paul Claudel who, though he was raised Catholic, had turned away from the faith.
Claudel had gone to church one Christmas in Paris’s Basilica of Notre Dame to argue with those gathered there, but, instead, when he heard the choir chant the “Magnificat,” he felt God’s presence and became devoutly Catholic, the Pope said.
The Pope invited everyone to take advantage of the numerous works of art and architecture that “express the faith and call us to a relationship with God”.
He asked that museum-hopping “not just be an occasion for cultural enrichment, but be able to become a moment of grace, a motivation to strengthen our ties and dialogue with the Lord, to stop and contemplate the ray of beauty that strikes us – almost wounding us deep inside – and invites us to rise up toward God”.
Later that day at the papal villa, the Pope was treated to a concert in his honour by Italian Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, a composer and former director of the Sistine Chapel Choir.
Three soloists, a chamber choir and a philharmonic orchestra were to perform four works composed by Cardinal Bartolucci, including a new work entitled Benedictus for soprano, chorus and orchestra. It was composed specifically for the August 31 event.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Much Excitement!

In honor of Carlos' return from World Youth Day

Cheers:
  Yesterday and today we had Cuban Coffee in honor of Carlos returning safely from World Youth Day. He was gone for 5 weeks with the Home of the Mother on a pilgrimage prior to the World Youth Day events. The office has been quieter since he was gone, but boy did that change yesterday. His arrival back up to the office brought much excitement! The Lumen family is now complete! 

Hurricane Irene:
Irene Cat 2 Hurricane

On Monday, August 22nd, Jacksonville woke up to the news that Irene would hit us early Saturday Morning. Now, thanks be to God we were only affected by Irene's outer bands. This morning we were greeted with random down pours and a sky that made us feel like we were in a movie. The surfers were enjoying what Irene had to offer them. Our prayers today were offered up for everyone on on the East Coast who will be drastically effected by Irene. These pictures were taken by Nicol on her drive into work. 
Update:
1. Our Avid computer(the one that decided to take last Friday off) is barley hanging on. We have a new computer on it's way. 

Prayers:
1. Please pray for the Schwartz family. Ron Schwartz was a friend of Lumen and he joined our Lord on August 25th. Ron battled cancer for the last 6 years and he did so courageously. Ron leaves behind his wife and 3 wonderful children. 
2. Please continue to pray for us and for The Magnificat Cafe as we discern what is God's will for us and where He would like for us to be in regards to our office space.
3. Our computer will hold on and not permanently take a vacation until our new one arrives.
4. Skiff and AJ- we will have no more distractions and the financial and spiritual support will continue to come in. 


Thank you for taking the time to follow us and you all are in our prayers everyday. Have a wonderful blessed and safe weekend! ~Lumen Crew

Monday, August 22, 2011

Manic Monday?

It may just be a manic Monday here at the office...

  Well actually it's not too manic around here. One of our computers is down and Jacksonville will feel the effects of Hurricane Irene. 

Our Computer:
 One of our computers(our AVID computer) decided it wanted Friday off and stopped working. We thought it was completely broken, but we received word this morning that it is salvageable. Praise God!

Hurricane Irene:
     As Jacksonville was waking up this morning and turned on their TV's, we were greeted with the news of Hurricane Irene possibly hitting Jacksonville early Saturday morning. As of 11 this morning the new modules are showing her hooking to the right! Great news for us!

Prayers for the week:
   1. Our AVID computer will be up and running soon.
   2. Brothers and Sisters that have and will be hit by Hurricane Irene
   3. The safe return of everyone from World Youth Day.
   4. For Benoit and The Maginficat Cafe. God's will to be done with the moving situation.
   4. We will have clarity in regards to where the Lord wants Lumen Entertainment to move to. 

We pray you have a wonderful, safe, and Grace-filled week. If you missed Friday's blog, Coincidence or God-incidence?, check it out.  See you on Friday for some Cuban Coffee!

~Lumen Crew

Friday, August 19, 2011

Coincidence or God-incidence?

Happy Cuban Coffee Friday! 



  The Morning was kicked off with Cuban Coffee and Morning Prayer. The best combination one could ask for on a Friday. As you know we have had some excitement in the office this past week. To recap for those who are not caught up on our blogs, we have 36 seconds of animation left of Skiff and AJ's Fantastic Voyage, our 2011 Film Camp Movie The Gardening Man is posted on Vimeo embedded on the right of the screen, and we may have to move to a new location by the end of September... 

Coincidence or God-incidence?

 With the news of potentially having to move from our space above The Magnificat Cafe by the end of September, it has us wondering is this a Coincidence or a God-incidence? Well we have come to the conclusion there are no such things as Coincidences, there are only Godincidences. If we move, we are supposed to be out of the office by September 30th and in the new space by October 1st. The month of October is a wonderful month for us at Lumen. October 1st is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux, a favorite saint of many here at the office. Brian also produced the movie St. Therese. If you haven't seen it or you do not  know much about St. Therese, take the time to watch the movie. You will LOVE it(and no Brian is not paying me to put that plug in, it's said  from a personal experience)! The month of October is the month of the Rosary, we all love our Mother Mary! Not to mention the feast days of many beloved Saints and Blessed, including St. Francis and Bl. Pope John Paul II. With all of that said, it really makes us wonder what plans God has for us! We are fully trusting in His plan and will, because clearly His Plan is better than ours. :) 
    We humbly ask that you keep Lumen Entertainment and The Magnificat Cafe in your prayers as we are trying to discern God's will and where we should move. Thank you for all of your prayer support. If you have time check out the live footage of World Youth Day this weekend.  Carlos is over in Spain right now partaking in the World Youth Day Events! Have a blessed weekend ~Lumen Crew

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Film Camp Video

Happy Wednesday! 


 We are excited to share with you our Summer 2011 Film Camp video! We are now on Vimeo. Check out our page at http://www.vimeo.com/lumenentertainment. Let us know what your thoughts. We hope you enjoy it!


Other news:
  We are asking for everyone's prayers right now. The restaurant we work above may have to fine a new place to relocate. With that said that means Lumen Entertainment will have to find a new home. Our preference is not to move, but we are fully trusting in God's will for us and for the restaurant. We ask that you keep the owner Benoit and his restaurant The Magnificat in your prayers. We are staying very prayerful and have expectant faith, but in the end we know God's will is better than ours and He will provide. Thank you for all of your support!


Scripture for the Week
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God..."


Let us Praise the Lord for it being half through the week and for all the blessings He has given us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary Pray for us!
~Lumen Crew

Friday, August 12, 2011

Hot News!

It's a hot one today!
This picture best convey's how hot it is today
   Here in Jacksonville it's 97 degrees, but the heat index is 101 degrees. When you step outside you start to sweat bullets, literally! Today is not a good day to wear black, just ask Nicol who learned that from 1st hand experience :/

Can we get an Amen, Cuban Coffee is back!


Cubano Coffee:

  Though it is blazing hot outside, it's never too hot for Cuban Coffee. Since Brian is back in the office, Nicol will not experience another Friday without Cuban Coffee(check out last Friday's blog)!

Hot off the Press:

AJ and Skiff in the garage.


   Now for the real HOT news :) We have 36 seconds of Animation left of the movie!!!!!! Please continue to keep Lumen and everyone who is helping to complete Skiff and AJ's Fantastic Voyage in your prayers. We thank you for all of your support and we will continue to keep you posted. 

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend. Try to stay cool and we will see you on Monday! ~Lumen Crew

Friday, August 5, 2011

No Cuban Coffee

No Cuban Coffee for you!

No Cuban Coffee :(
     It's been incredibly quiet here at the office. Brian was off on a family vacation and Carlos is in Spain for World Youth Day. Which left Nicol in the office all by herself and no one to make Cuban Coffee for her! Boo Hoo Boo Hoo :'( Nicol has not mastered making cuban coffee and  she lacks the ability to make the perfect spumita and live up to Brian's high standards. Though Brian has been on vacation, the animators are still working to complete Skiff and AJ's Fantastic Voyage. Please continue to pray for the movie. If you have not checked out our facebook page or twitter, don't hesitate! We would love to have you follow us and also share it with your friends and family. Click on the links below and they will take you straight to our pages.   We pray that you have a wonderful and blessed filled weekend. ~ Lumen Crew
Quote of the Week: "Every Saint has a past. Every sinner has a future" 


Monday, August 1, 2011

Thank You

Happy 1st Day of August!


  Great news! We are close to a little over 1 minute left of animation of Skiff and AJ's Fantastic Voyage!  Please continue to pray for us and for the animators who are diligently working to complete the movie. Our goal is to have the movie ready for the 2011-2012 school year. We want to thank everyone for all the financial and spiritual support you have provided thus far. 
   Check out our new slide show we have added to the blog, it is to the top right of the page. The slide show is only half of our pictures and more to be added soon! Enjoy :) 


Have a blessed and Joyful week!
~Lumen Crew