A few months ago, Jerry Gray was approached by Lisa Longo and was asked if he would try to do something with the space at the top of the stairs in the Gathering Space at Northminster. The original intention for the area was to provide a place to “slide-in” illustrations for various groups and people to express themselves. One morning in January, when leaving the Men's Prayer and Study Group, Jerry passed that area and was struck by how bare it looked. It struck Jerry immediately that what the area needed was a piece of art symbolic of our church, but was easily removable to allow the area the ability to achieve the original intended purpose.
The art piece is made from 1” x 12” x 8’ high-grade pine boards and Red Oak lumber for the Presbyterian Cross. The piece was then painted with artist’s acrylic paint. Jerry thought the Gathering Place was in dire need of a splash of color and wanted the artwork to bring inquiring minds trying to figure out exactly what it is and what it represents.
Jerry describes it as a kind of “Where’s Waldo” approach. He wants it to be about whom we are as a congregation and where we are going, with it being a statement that we are mission and service-oriented. Seek, Serve, and Embrace is our mission statement, and Matthew: 25 is how we will see this mission come to life. The background is filled with many things we are doing to accomplish these goals. Of course, all of this stands behind the central figure, the Presbyterian Cross, which means we are being guided by our savior Jesus Christ.
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