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Current Works:
FROM SIMON TO PETER: THE SEEDS OF PENTECOST - This piece reflects on the transformative powers of God as seen in the life of Simon Peter. It reflects upon Peter's "denial of Jesus" as the critical point in his personal transformation. In this moment of rejection and despair Simon takes his last breath and Peter begins to plant the seeds of his forthcoming Pentecostal life.
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:41-42
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GEN X PRAYER - This piece considers the unique religiosity of Gen Xers. It is a prayer that considers a generation of people who seek and hope for community, family, home and inclusivity in all areas of their life.
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HAGAR'S HOPE...FOR SINGLE MOTHERS - In the book of Genesis we discover a lesser known biblical character named Hagar. Hagar was Abraham's concubine and, some time after the birth of Isaac by Abraham's' wife Sarah, she was banned to leave the safety of their non-traditional yet stable family. Hagar, along with the first born child she shared with Abraham, was soon forced to deal with both the cruelty of a patriarchal system and the harshness of the desert. After entering the desert with her son, Ishmael, the lives of mother and child go from worse to sheer hell. They are abandoned in a desert without any source of help and without a drop of water remaining to sustain them. Unable to watch her only son die Hagar leaves Ishmael by a tree, turns opposite of him and begins to cry out loud. Suddenly an angel of God appears12 to minister and comfort them both. Then God - the God of Love and the God of All Peoples - opens the eyes of Hagar and shows her a well filled with sustaining waters. Mother and child live on and life becomes renewed by the sources of love.
This piece is meant to reflect not only the story of
Hagar - an early archetype of single motherhood - but also the many stories of
single mothers around the world today. It is meant to minister and comfort,
just as the angel of God ministered and comforted these two beloved ones
centuries ago. It is meant to inspire the hope of Hagar that lies within
single mothers...and within us all. It is a hope that persistently suggests
that no matter how difficult our circumstances become its never too late for
the love of God to transform our lives.
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took
bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder,
along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about
in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast
the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a
good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, ‘Do not let me
look on the death of the child.’ And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up
her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God
called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar? Do
not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift
up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of
him.’ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, and
filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy,
and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.
He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from
the land of Egypt. Genesis 21:14-21
Click one of the options below to view Hagar's Hope...for Single Mothers
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HEART OF MINISTRY - This is a piece which seeks to view the news media of our day through a Christian lens. It purposively juxtapositions those events that are reminiscent of Old Testament plagues and the breaking of the Ten Commandments along side the loving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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HOLY SATURDAY - This is one of my earliest pieces. It was shown during the sermon for a Holy Saturday worship service and it is meant to encourage people to simply "remember." It reminds the post-resurrection viewer that "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary" did not have the luxury of knowing what happened next. These women sitting "opposite the tomb" did not know the story of Jesus as we do! They had no assurance of a risen Christ on Easter Sunday!
Instead these two women simply grieved and remembered the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In doing so they remind us to do the same: to recognize and realize the importance of Jesus' entire life even in the midst of the pivotal cross-resurrection event.
The scenes of this piece come from the 1999 CBS mini-series Jesus. The series bravely depicted a fully human Jesus. Unlike the emotionally-limited and stoic Jesus frequently depicted in the Jesus movie genre this Jesus is seen laughing, crying, smiling, hugging, dancing, yelling, playing and loving.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:57-61
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PRAYER FOR DISCERNMENT - Of all of my pieces, this work is most autobiographical. It depicts a life long journey of spiritual discernment where the questions of morals, sacrifice, waiting and revelation come into play. It portrays various biblical and contemporary images. It is a piece that seeks answers from the "road of life" filled with the stories, metaphors and signs of God.
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PRAYER FOR LOVE - This piece reflects the love between David and Jonathan. It is a representation of a "queer reading" of this story. Visuals depict closeness between men, the relationship of David and Jonathan, loyalty to King Saul, battling with Goliath, and the woman named Bathsheba who tested the love of these two men.
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1:25-26
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PRAYER FOR PASTORS AND SEMINARIANS - This work represents one of my earlier pieces. It was created during a period in my life when I was spending considerable time researching the changes occurring in the Christian church. During this time I stumbled upon one document suggesting that the average burnout rate among ordained pastors was merely five years. Consistently surrounding this research were many of my fellow seminarians who were struggling to understand the meaning, rights, privileges and responsibilities of "ordination" in today's mainline Protestant Christian faith. Both forces led me to create this piece which seeks to give hope among those called to be "set apart" in the Church.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:25
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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH'S FUTURE - This piece reflects the changes and chaos in today's Church. Hearing the words from my own denomination's Constitution (see below) this piece seeks to encourage the viewer to remember the need for intergenerational connectivity and sharing in the Church. This work considers the traditional order, the present chaos and the forthcoming new orders of mainline Protestant Christianity.
[The United Church of Christ] affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. "Preamble," Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ.
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PRAYER FOR WAITING - This piece simply seeks to understand the nature of spiritual waiting. With Jonah it considers how anyone might enter a time of patience, anxiety, stillness, worry and/or comfort with God.
and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17b
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REFLECTIONS IN HIDING - This piece reflects on the beginning of humanity and the reference we discover in Genesis that speaks of our inherent tendencies to hide from God. It encourages the viewer to imagine the many ways we hide from our God today, what we are hiding from and who we are hiding for.
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze and they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
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SABBATH MEETS WORLD - This piece was created as a final class assignment for an Andover Newton course entitled "Christian Liturgical Year." Ironically, it wasn't a Christian author but the work of a Jewish author that most impacted this piece. From the words of Rabbi Irving Greenberg I celebrate the creation-based and justice-based Sabbath in this piece. Here the Sabbath does not merely reflect a period of rest for a single individual but rather this piece considers what the entire world could stand to "rest" from.
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3
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SAVED(ING) - This piece seeks to explore the presence of salvation history in our world as it displays the various ways God has saved, is saving or will save us. It suggests that our God is a God of history who works through material, time and place. It seeks to explore the ways God provides salvation for our bodily needs, our psychological yearnings and our soul's dreams. It reminds us that God's saving grace is always present in our lives. It reminds humanity that we are both saved and in the midst of saving.
Grace can and does have a history - Karl Rahner
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COME - The purpose and meaning of the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion and Eucharist has been specaluated by theologians for centuries. Ironically these speculations have often led to divisions and instead of re-member(ing) our Christian community we created distances between us. While this piece seeks to reflect on the Holy "small hours" of one of our two sacred sacraments it also seeks to reflect on the holy value of community, faithfulness and obedience.
Come...all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
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EMERGING - Of all of my pieces (to date) this one represents the most complex piece. It is, therefore, open to multiple and diverse interpretations by the viewer. In effort to give you some insight to my intended interpretation I offer you these simple guidelines:
Love your Christian faith.
Love your country that allows you to practice your Christian love freely.
Then exercise you faith-filled freedom to love the whole world.
Imagine, for a moment, the viewpoint of our descendants -- those not living in 2008 AD --but those living in the year 52,008 AD. To them WE will represent the people who lived during the Early Church era. We will be seen as close cousins to Moses, to Miriam, to David, to Peter, to Mary, to Jesus himself. We will be seen as those people who built the very foundation of God's dominion on earth... - inspired by Brian McLaren
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ELECTION YEAR - In a time of war, economic troubles, media saturation, spin-doctors and political advisors around every corner it's easy to forget that all governments - and all leaders - ultimately reside in the hands of our God. This piece seeks to provide comfort during the difficult times of discerning our political leaders.
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CHRISTmas MAGIc - This piece, I believe, speaks for itself...
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"COME TO MY WINDOW" artistic showing by
Duane Romberger
Andover Newton
Theological School
April 19, 2006 to
May 19, 2006
Come to My Window explored the integration of theology, technology and the arts through the medium of “digital collage.” It was a result of two years worth of reflection, prayer and practice and the show meant to depict the many reflections (or windows) that exist in our Christian faith and lives.
Digital collage is a sacred practice where texturing, music, layering, stillness and the holy meet for a dance across the various windows of a large screen, television or computer screen.
Please note that some pieces include language or images that may not be appropriate for all ages.
Each collage can be viewed in a large format with lesser quality (requiring Real Player) OR in a small format with higher quality (requiring Flash Player)
List of Current Works:
C
CHRISTmas MAGIc (NEW)
Come (NEW)
E
Election Year (NEW)
Emerging (NEW)
F
From Simon to Peter: The Seeds of Pentecost
G
Gen X Prayer (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
H
Hagar's Hope...for Single Mothers
Heart of Ministry (Created for my father)
Holy Saturday (Created for Disciples United Community Church)
P
Prayer for Discernment (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
Prayer for Love (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
Prayer for Pastors and Seminarians (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
Prayer for the Church's Future (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
Prayer for Waiting (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
R
S
Sabbath Meets World (Part of the Andover Newton Theological Artshow entitled "Come to My Window")
Visit my digital collages through the Digital Collage Art Gallery tour
by clicking the picture above OR simply browse
the "List of Current Works" below.
The NEWEST collages are ONLY listed below!
Now you can also view my digital collages in the
Digital Collage Art Gallery
What are Digital Collages?
DIGITAL COLLAGE is a sacred practice where music, texture, layering and stillness meets the Holy for a dance across various windows of televisions and screens. It is an artform that evolved out of the combination of my creative spirit and my technological skills.
Some formats used to make these collages available online decreases the quality of the pieces. I apologize for the moments were you have trouble viewing the details of any given work.
