Rev. Arianne Braithwaite Lehn is a parent, author, artist, and ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A South Dakota native, Arianne originally planned on Law School until God called her to Taiwan where she sensed the Spirit’s call to seminary instead. She is a mother of three, married to another pastor, and lives in Chicagoland.
Arianne’s book, Ash and Starlight: Prayers for the Chaos and Grace of Daily Life, came out as a second edition in 2023, and remains a touchstone of her calling to embrace all of life as a continuous prayer. She writes a weekly devotional Substack of reflection and art, Monday Manna. Arianne’s writing has appeared in various books and publications, including Prayers and Blessings for Healthcare Workers, Upper Disciplines, Pause, The Christian Century, Presbyterians Today, Horizons, and These Days. She is a team editor and writer for Illustrated Ministry and a contributing author to The Message Women’s Devotional Bible.
Arianne is an artist, creating vibrant and brightly-colored watercolor florals, landscapes, and lettering. Her work has appeared in gallery shows, and can be purchased in her Etsy store, ArianneBLehnArt or through personal inquiry and commission. Just as with her writing, she sees her art as an expression of God’s love and presence. She believes beauty has the power to save the world.
Arianne is also a speaker and has led church retreats, women’s groups, and watercolor teaching for preschoolers!
She believes the world is a broken and beautiful place, and that while God “saves us from nothing, God sustains us through everything” (James Finley). Her purpose in this space is to find connection, healing, and wholeness on the journey. To learn more about the story behind this blog’s title, please see her original post.