The right hemisphere of the brain is the more artistic and creative side of the brain, and engaging it often leads to more open and abstract thought.

Church of the Holy Trinity and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church hope to capitalize on that this year with their respective Lenten fine arts series.

The Rev. Billie Abraham of St. Alban’s said Lent is a time to let creativity flow.

“Our Lenten Arts Programs offer the opportunity to gently shift from the analytical left side of our brain to the visionary right side of our brain,” she said. “The performers bring us music and lyrics as well as passion and artistry.”

Abraham said all too often individuals unnecessarily seek out a plan of action.

“We do not need a plan of action,” she said. “In fact, calculated plans could only get in the way.”

Instead, individuals should simply open their minds, Abraham said.

“We just have to show up and listen,” she said. “The Holy Spirit, the Divine Agent of Creativity, will lead us through Lent and into Easter in ways beyond our imaginings.”

Although Abraham said there is one important plan to make, attending the Lenten Arts Program events.

“Then we’ll sit back and listen with the ears of our hearts,” she said. “This year, we will not enter Lent, Lent will enter us, and oh the difference that can make.”

The St. Alban’s Fine Arts Programs will run from Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Wednesday March 16.

Wednesday activities begin at 6 p.m. with a Holy Eucharist Healing, continue at 6:30 with a homemade soup dinner and follow with the 7 p.m. Lenten Arts Program.

• Feb. 17: An Evening With Thulani Mnisi, Tenor and Kipp Gill, organist.

• Feb. 24: An Evening of Sacred Choral Music, The Jubilee Singers

• March 2: An Evening of Gospel Music, The Lewis Family Singers

• March 9: An Evening of Organ Music, Dr. David Mahloch

• March 16: An Evening of Choral Music, The Mississippi Girlchoir, High School Chorus.

Ann Biedenharn Jones is the featured visual artist the year at St. Alban’s. Her work will be shown from Sunday until Easter Sunday, March 27 in the Parish House.

Jones lives in Bovina and shows locally at Peterson’s and in galleries in Jackson.

She is known for her narrative work, historical work and family portraits and pets.

The Church of the Holy Trinity Fine Arts Series will run Friday, Feb. 19 through Friday, March 18.

The five-week series consists of a concert each Friday at noon in the sanctuary followed by gumbo lunch in McInnis Parish Hall. Concerts are free, and lunch costs $10/each for seafood gumbo over rice, salad, garlic bread, beverage and dessert.

• Feb. 19: Patrick Smith Band

• Feb. 26: Ensemble Polonaise

• March 4: Jackson State University — Musical Scenes from Favorite Operas

• March 11: Sons of Abraham

• March 18: Mississippi Boychoir

Stacy Wills is the featured visual artist this year at Holy Trinity. Her work will be shown at our opening on Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in McInnis Parish Hall.

Wills lives in Canton and maintains a studio at Allison’s Wells Arts and Crafts Center in Canton. She works both as a mixed media artist and also as a spiritual director.

Friday, Wills will host an afternoon workshop titled “Finding Center — Creating a Personal Mandala for the Season of Lent.”

Wills will class will explore how to use mandalas for spiritual reflection.

The workshop runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $45, which inclueds instruction, materials and snacks.