The Rev. Joel McAlister has always been surrounded by creatives. His dad is a musician, his brothers are artists and his wife is a graphic designer.
When the Arlington native and Episcopal vicar began planting a new church in Fort Worth’s Near Southside, McAlister knew he wanted one of the congregation’s core values to focus on celebrating artists and their creations.
“By looking at a painting, we’re transported somewhere else,” McAlister said. “That parallels the work that is done in the church. Through liturgy, we are able to transport people to God and connect them with God and to each other in a way that they couldn’t normally do without it.”…