i painted in church

Today was the 3rd sunday where the focus has been on artists, in a series called "Imagine: Christians and the Arts" at Graffiti.
Every sunday, Taylor has spoken on a different topic, and a musician, dancer, or actors have given a performance which is connected to the sermon, because artists have a way of helping us to understand life, and life's hardships better.
So today was my turn, to help interpret the topic of "Dignity". [I'll put a link to the sermon once we have one.]
The specifics were about how God giives us a face, and we are created in his image.
I started painting right before the service began. This was my second attempt at this. On a canvas larger than I'd ever worked on. On stage, and I was to paint a portrait in about 45 -50 minutes.
I did all my prep work this week. I'd bought the canvas and had a wash on it. I had made a small version of it in colored pencils to help me work out the colors since the orginal picture was in black and white. I'd pre-mixed some colors. And I'd prayed a lot. But I was still a little nervous.
This painting was 3 feet x 3 feet. My last painting at church, off stage, with no special lighting on me was 18" x22". The biggest work I would usually do back in art school was 16"x20", and that would be over a couple weeks of working on it. This was done in acrylics. I used to paint mostly in watercolors and oils.
One friend said I was very brave. I said maybe a little brave with a large dose of insanity.
The neat thing was once I was painting, the nerves were gone, and I was super enjoying it. I was still aware of the time, and I did sing along with the congregation. but I was very happy. The biggest thing was that I had to listen for Taylor's ending point so as to be able to finish at the same time as him. I did.
People liked it, and were impressed. I pray that it spoke to people in a deeper way about his love, and that God was honored with my worship and service.
Of course, had this been a longer painting time, I would have added more to it, but once I stepped away from it, I liked it, even though I could see faults with it.