Lifting dreams.
Francine LeSage (right) and Sue Morber (left) perform Carithmics at Resting Place, a new, multi-purpose art and spiritual centre they established at 5 Wilson St. in Perth.
Laura Mueller
PERTH - What once was a vacant storefront on Wilson Street now entices passersby with
the stenciled letters “Resting
Place” on the glass door.
Step through, and you are greeted by artfully draped organza, and impromptu
nativity and a circle of comfortable mismatched chairs and couches lit by
strips of afternoon sunlight that seep into the space from the window.
What exactly Resting
Place is is not clear from just looking at it. In
fact, it might be simpler to ask, “What is Resting Place not?”
This hybrid meeting place, gallery, classroom and ministry near the
corner of North Street
is still working out how it will fit into the community of Perth, but the organizers are confident their
creation will allow people to find their creative voices and give back to the
community.
“I’ve had a dream for the longest time now, to have a safe place
where people can come and give back to the community,” says Sue Morber, one of
the organizers. To her, Resting
Place is a place where “love becomes art” and
people can find help to pursue their dream, whether it is selling a painting or
starting a class.
Francine LeSage’s dream is to help people find grace through a
spiritual form of dance she calls Carithmics. She invented the meditative dance
movements to “awaken the body, soul and spirit to the love and presence of God,”
but never had a supportive or appropriate environment to teach it. Now that she
is working with Morber to establish Resting
Place, LeSage plans to offer the dance classes
Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Another woman who came into Resting Place would like to offer ballet
classes for young girls, while others have found it a good place to exhibit
their artwork. LeSage and Morber are hoping that more people come forward with
dreams they can help realize as the word about Resting Place spreads.
“When somebody comes here with a dream, we ask how we can lift their
arms,” Morber says. “When you create a support group around them, it becomes a
lot easier.”
“People have so many dreams, but no one to say to them, ‘These dream
you have – this is a place where you can move into them,’” says LeSage.
Aside from helping people tap into their creative and spiritual
sides, Resting Place
will host events and speakers. Since Resting
Place began to form in September, it has already
hosted a workshop on Living the True Process with Lise Lamontagne, an
agoraphobia presentation from Joe Foster and methods for healing for those
affected by emotional pain after an abortion from Rachel’s Vineyard ministry.
Morber and LeSage are both Christians who say they want to display
the character of God through love, generosity and helping others. While the
atmosphere offered at Resting
Place is decidedly Christian, Morber and LeSage
say their goal is not to preach.
“We have no right to give what is not wanted,” Morber says. “You get
what you come in for.”
The pair says Resting
Place has already attracted attention from area
residents, but many of the people who gather there are people they know from Orleans, where Morber
lives and LeSage recently relocated from. LeSage, who owns the building at the
corner of Wilson and North streets that houses Resting Place, moved to Perth several months ago.
Morber says everyone is welcome to visit Resting Place at 5 Wilson St. to learn firsthand what it
is about.
“We have a heart for any person,” she says.
Resting Place does not have regular hours, but is often open on a
drop-in basis. Speakers and events are generally held on Friday nights from 7
to 9 p.m.