The Story of the Mosaic
A community project completed by the Youth of St. John's under the guidance of Arturo Ho. See more of Arturo's work at his website: www.arturoho.com.
First Lesson: Exodus 3: 11-14 (I Am)
Everyday we, as teenagers, are faced with the question: "Who am I?", and even as adults we may never feel satisfied enough to answer that question.
The thing some of us may never realize is that no matter who we are, God created us for a reason, he made us so that through our hands his work may be accomplished. When we began planning the Mosaic our only theme was, "God's Work, Our Hands", but then we began to shift into the theme of the "I AM" statements. We originally had planned to have the different ministries of St. John's flowing from the hands, but as the design developed, the "I AM" statements, or God himself flowed from the hands. What we now realize is that the ministries of St. John's are the work of God.
Second Lesson: Exodus 3: 2-4 (Burning Bush)
We choose the Burning Bush as the first thing to come out of the hands because Moses was picked at the
Burning Bush as the leader of the Jews to help them out of exile, God used Moses' hands to answer the
prayers of the people and to deliver them from oppression.
Third Lesson: John 15:5 (Vines)
The Vine in the Mosaic is God and we are the leaves growing from his power. He helps us grow to become what he wishes us to be and we prosper in the process. Like a vine supports its leaves, God supports us, keeping us strong through all the challenges life brings us.
Fourth Lesson: John 8:12 (Sun and Fish)
Through Jesus we are brought out of the darkness and shown the light. While we were in New Orleans one activity we did was fill the Superdome with only the lights from our cell phones, as you can imagine it was very bright, but what you probably can not imagine is the overwhelming feeling of security and happiness that came from those lights; a feeling that made you feel that no matter how dark things may be in your life you will never be alone and there will always be the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now it is our turn to help others see the light and be brought out of the darkness of their lives through God. The five fish we put on the wall are Hope, Joy, Love, Faith and Peace. We chose these five words because through Faith we are brought into the light and the light brings us Hope and Joy that we can then share with others through the Love in our hearts, creating Peace.
Fifth Lesson: Genesis 8:11 (Dove)
We choose the dove because it represents hope. Sometimes things may blind us from the light and start pulling us back into the darkness, but God will always be there to bring us back out. When Noah was on his Ark he began to believe that he would never find land, he was losing hope, and could not see the light...but then God sent the Dove as a sign to Noah, a sign that brought him hope and re-lit his faith.
Sixth Lesson: John 6:35 (Bread of Life)
God uses us to keep his promise that all who believe in him will not hunger or thirst. One ministry that many people in St. Johns are a part of is making casseroles for Bethany Women's Shelter. Through the work of our hands God is able to keep homeless people from being hungry. Also, thanks to many generous donations we were able to stay well fed while working on the Mosaic.
Seventh Lesson: John 7:38 (Water)
The Spirit of the living God will flow through us as we use our hands to continue to do God's work. The waves in the water represent the changes that we will make in the world through God, and the fish of Hope, Joy, Love, Faith and Peace will be our guides.
Eighth Lesson: John 11:25 (Cross)
We choose the cross as the symbol of resurrection. Not as the symbol of Jesus' physical resurrection but as the resurrection of his work through our hands.
Ninth Lesson: Deuteronomy 24:19
"...that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
|
