Russell Peter LLoyd

15/05/2019

Last year I worked with TEAR Australia to create a series of empty wooden bowls, each carved with messages from people all around Australia calling on our leaders to do more to support those in poverty who are struggling with food insecurity and a changing climate.

In the lead up to this weekend’s federal election, it’s nice to know these are sitting in the offices of those in power as a reminder of the impact their decisions, and ours, will make.

31/10/2017

Just wrapped up another huge weekend working with The Justice Conference Australia.

This year's design "Four walls and locked doors"- inspired by the beautiful words of Anna McGahan - saw 25 tiny houses fill the stage and breakout spaces, inviting people to consider the fear, hate and distrust that stands between themselves and the other, as one by one those walls came down over the weekend.

The final image - a neighbourhood transformed by the opening of hearts and homes to each other - is my hope and prayer and encouragement for the communities of the 1000+ people gathered this year.

Here's what I wrote for the program.
---

They say that people never used to lock their doors,
that things have changed,
that the neighbourhood isn’t safe anymore.
So we close ourselves off from those outside
and hide behind our four walls and locked doors.

It’s as much a story of our hearts as our homes.

But how do you love your neighbour at arms length?
from the other side of a locked door?
from within these walls we build
to keep out those we fear and hate?

It’s only once we start to take down the walls,
forsake comfort, safety and security
and open up our lives and our hearts to the other
that we can begin to truly love our neighbour.

These houses stand as a symbol of both hearts and homes
I encourage you to use them as a reminder
to consider what it is that holds you back from loving your neighbour
and what your community, nation, and world would look like
if those walls came down.

---

Huge thanks to Eloise Corlett, James Turnbull, the folks at NORM and Tom's Shed, and all the volunteers who helped with the build. And to Zara and Paul and the justice conference tear for trusting me with your conference and generally being a joy to work with.

05/09/2017

In the studio this week setting up and capturing photos of a whole bunch of my stations and reflections to share with churches. One down, thirty four to go...

20/05/2017

I've been working on this rather huge installation for the Victorian Christian Youth Convention (aka VCYC (Official)) for the past couple of weeks. So encouraging to see people using the space to reflect on how Jesus' story impacts and intersects with their own.

22/02/2017

I’ve been working with some wonderful people to bring you 40 days of doubt; a collection of scripture, art, poetry, reflections and experiences to guide you through the season of lent and explore the wilderness of uncertainty.

If you’d like a copy, send me your address and I’ll get a pack out to you.

---

We fear doubt.
Run from uncertainty.
As if an unanswered question is all it takes for this to fall apart.
But it’s only when we venture into that wilderness
that we create the space for God to speak...

14/11/2016

I had the privilege of working with The Justice Conference Australia this year to create the stage design for their main session and workshop spaces at the Athenaeum and Melbourne Town Hall.

The work drew on their theme of 'live justice together'.
Here's what I wrote about the piece in the program:

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Justice isn’t ours to own
this picture of justice we long to see made reality this thing that is written in our hearts
that draws us together here, now,
can only be realised in community.

Alone we hold only a piece of the picture
But together...
Together we start to see the full image of justice.

Each of these frames holds a story.
A picture of justice lived out in the life of an individual.
Each a piece of a bigger picture, a greater narrative that we're invited to be a part of...

I encourage you to take the time to read some of those stories,
to consider what piece of this picture your life holds,
and whether you're working to piece it together, or keep it apart.

---

It was a huge undertaking, but a joy to work on. The passion for and philosophy and theology of justice (and worship) they crew behind the event share is incredibly refreshing.

29/09/2016

I'm hitting the road with a couple of installations for Beyond Festival in Canberra this weekend. Get along if you're in the area!

09/08/2016

I've been busy in the studio planning for some upcoming events, but I finally found time to capture the last 6 months. Have a read...

A bit of a look back on the past six months and what's been happening in the ministry of Russell Peter LLoyd

06/07/2016

Wonderful weekend with the Missio Dei conference in Tasmania.
Someone from Hope Christan Church, Spreyton captured Saturday night's celebration of communion beautifully... Such a joy to be able to create experiences like this.

The essence of Christianity:
We're invited to a feast and given a place at the table.
The invitation's broad, the host is divinely generous, the crowd is diverse, anyone's welcome.
The food is great and the wine flows freely!

30/06/2016

Micah has been hosting prayer and worship gatherings in major cities across Australia to pray for the church, our nation, our leaders and the world. What is it about prayer and gathering together as a part of our advocacy that's so important?

14/06/2016

Had an amazing weekend up at State Youth Games Victoria helping to make the concept of hope and light in the midst of darkness something tangible for the thousands of young people there…

I stood at the back during the final sessions and watching as representatives of each group were sent out through the audience into the night, each of them bearing a light - commissioned to take the hope of Christ with them into their communities. One of many powerful images from the weekend, which will stay with me for a while I think...

Shout out to 3d Arts Company (who wrote, choreographed and directed the dramatic, dance and spoken word pieces, and invest heaps in the young people they’re working with in the process), Indimax Productions (who shot and edited all the film pieces, produced some tight live video work and realised a lot of the concepts for the digital set), Powa Productions (who just know what they're doing), and the Youth Vision team (who got behind a pretty brave concept and approach to the event, and are generally just rad people). Awesome working alongside them to bring it all together.

16/04/2016

I tried to write a blessing...
To send a few hundred people out in the hope and knowledge and confidence that they are not alone.
In their struggles and fears and doubts.
In this pursuit of God, and everything we attach to it.

But it seemed so trite.
To stand up and say
"may you be blessed in the knowledge that you are not alone in all this..."
when we could know nothing of their experience.

And to try and capture a snapshot of what that means,
to acknowledge only a handful of those experiences
of pain and joy,
of triumph and loss,
simply reinforces that their unique position
is beyond our knowing
and our sharing.

So I left them with these words
of which I am sure.
No qualification,
No extrapolation.
May they be enough.
..

You are known.
You are not alone

[This piece itself ended up being adapted for the final blessing at Remain Festival's "One Night" event which I had been trying to write in the first place...]