“I felt like the little drummer boy with ‘no gifts to bring.’” Sam Mylin remembered attending the 1999 Christmas Eve observance at Grace Church at Willow Valley in Lancaster, Pa. (John F. Smith, pastor), with his wife, Kate.
“That service was so ‘visual’ with the church family presenting their gifts before our Lord,” he added. “Some sang. Others used drama, while some even danced before the Lord.”
An artist who leads children’s workshops at the Lancaster County Art Association, at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington, Del., and in local churches in eastern Pennsylvania, Mylin felt led to present his own unique gift. He’d create a painting.
Moved by the story of the Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” he thought he might interpret the images in one painting.
“It was used as a catechism for the church to teach children the basics of the Christian faith,” he noted. As he began to pray and talk with others about the project, he felt like God was telling him to paint one [verse] at a time.
The first, “A Partridge in a Pear Tree,” was completed for December 24, 2002. As he revealed it to the few in attendance that evening, a small voice whispered in his ear: “Give it away to a loved one.” Bob Kern, a Grace Brethren pastor who served on staff at the church for ten years until his death in 2011, and his wife, Dorothy, received the painting.
It began a 12-year tradition of exhibiting the paintings in the days before Christmas, then unveiling the new work of art in the foyer of the church following the service.
“The clock began ticking each year as I completed another painting,” Mylin said. As paintings were distributed to “loved ones,” they were presented on the condition it be returned for the Christmas Eve unveiling. This year, the exhibit has been on display through Advent.
This Christmas Eve, with the unveiling of “Twelve Drummers Drumming,” the series is complete and it will be the last time the series will be exhibited together. (Click here to see a listing of the art pieces.)
Mylin sees significance in how the tradition has taken root.
“It really is not part of the service in the sanctuary,” he stressed. “We unveil it in the foyer. Even though this series is sacred and holy by itself, it is created to show that art is a process, and it is not a religious act as defined by society. It is an act of relationship where most people gather before and after services. God dwells amongst us, and what better place to dwell than a foyer?”
“You would think people would want to rush out to get on with other Christmas Eve activities, but each year has seen a growing crowd remain behind to see Sam’s painting and hear his comments,” says Pastor John Smith, who, with his wife, Sharon, received one of the paintings in 2003. “It has been a huge blessing! Sam always has an interesting perspective on God’s Truth! When Sam finishes up his remarks, he always honors someone significant in his life (and the life of our church) by naming that individual(s) as the recipient of the painting.”
The paintings range in size from 11- by 14-inches to 16- by 16-inches and each has both a secular and biblical meaning. Framed in gold to represent the “edge” of a Bible, only Five Golden Rings is presented in an oval frame. Three paintings are conceived as diamonds, for these are vital and valuable to the series, according to Mylin. The rest are presented in a square format. Each painting has contains a star, a heart, a cross, and a bird, and each is painted on a blue background.
In addition, every piece has as many layers as the number of the painting. “Paintings 10, 11, and 12 are painted on cloth to add to the depth of the painting,” explained Mylin. “I count the glue as a layer, as well the glazings and cloth.”
“All of this is for the Glory of God,” says Mylin. “I am just a paint brush used by my Creator. This series is not about entertainment, glitzy show, or self glory at all. It is a gift for my True Love.”
He’s been working on number 12 since July and he is not sure who will receive it. “I have ideas right up to Christmas Eve, but during the event it just happens,” he stressed. “It always amazes me who the real ‘true love’ is,” he added, noting that often the name comes to mind during the ceremony and whispers “like a flashing green light.”
He’s called the finale, “Love Happens, Love Counts!,” for it is the last time this series will be together. “All of my notes, studies, and sketches will then be given to the church to use as they wish,” he said. Each painting has been digitally photographed and he hopes the church will use the images to spread the Gospel.
Click here to read more about the “Twelve Days of Christmas” paintings.