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Dec
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Written by:
host
12/2/2009 7:00 AM
 No person has seen Jesus for two millennia, but that hasn't stopped artists from creating visual representations of him in icons, paintings, statues, film, cartoons, and other media. Some of these images, such as Warner Salman's Head of Christ, are burned into the brains of millions of people around the world and simply ARE the face of Jesus for many. Others, like, say, South Park's Jesus, are rather less known. Images of Jesus can inspire, provoke, anger, and generate conversations both passionate and purposeful. Here's an activity that uses images of Jesus to spark such conversations.
The Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University is a place where progressive theology, faith, and interpretation of the Bible are practically daily topics of conversation. A few weeks ago, they displayed a few dozen faces of Jesus on large pieces of posterboard around the student lounge, then asked people to place comments written on sticky notes on the images. The images were hung from the ceiling at about face level, with one image on each side. The "Faces of Jesus" display was left up for a little over one month, and during that time Sunday school classes, youth groups from neighboring congregations, college students (including the Atheist/Agnostic Society from Iowa State University), and others wandered through the collection of pictures.
Chris Hockley, the Campus Ministry Associate who created the display, said that many people left comments on the more "traditional" images stating that those images were how they thought of Jesus, while others left notes saying, "Wow, I never thought of Jesus that way." Chris said it was interesting to sometimes see "how the image made some people think of something different from what the artist intended." Chris can be reached by email if you wish to ask him questions about the display.
To create a similar visual experience in your congregation, here's a simple, step-by-step process you might use.
- Choose the time period you wish to have the pictures on display (Lent would certainly be a good choice, though any time of year is fine) and determine where you will display the images. Your location will likely influence how you'll display the images: hung from the ceiling, resting on easels, posted on a bulletin board, laying on a table, etc. Ideally you'll choose a space where the images will not be disturbed and where the display can be available throughout the week.
- Send a letter to area congregations' youth directors and Christian educators, inviting them to come to see the display. Encourage them to schedule their visit in advance, and let them know that a discussion facilitator will be available if requested. Additionally, send a press release out to your local newspapers, describing the display and inviting the public to come and view the images.
- Promote the event within your own congregation a few weeks in advance, using posters, emails, classroom announcements, and so on.
- Find the images you wish to use. You'll find dozens of images here and here, as well as in church library books, Sunday school curriculum, eBay, clip art collections, and many other places. Remember that the images you choose will often be copyrighted material, so ensure that you have any necessary permissions to use them legally. (Here's an excellent article on the topic of copyright as it applies to educational settings.)
- Affix the images to larger pieces of paper or sheets of posterboard so that there is more uniformity to the visual aspect of the display, and so that there is more room for the sticky notes that people put on them.
- Create a simple brochure that describes the display, the goals you have for it, the instructions for comments, a list of the artists, or any other information you wish to share. Here's the one created for the diplay at the Wesley Foundation.
- Create a list of questions that a group leader could use to help the participants talk about the images in a group setting, such as:
- How did this display make you feel?
- Which was your favorite / least favorite picture, and why?
- Why do artists attempt to capture Jesus in image form?
- Which images confused you, and why?
- How does culture play a role in shaping the way people picture Jesus?
- Set up the display, making sure to put out plenty of sticky pads, brochures, pens, and any other church promotional materials you wish to make available to visitors.
- Continue to promote the display as frequently as possible.
- Check periodically to make sure that supplies are restocked, and remove any comments that contain profanity.
- Take pictures, both of the display itself and of people browsing the pictures, for use in your church newsletter and to help you remember what you did if you ever repeat the display a few years from now.
- Come back to DifferentVoice.com and tell us about your experience doing this event in your setting. We'd love to have you share your advice with others!
~ by Tim Gossett
Copyright ©2009 Different Voice
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