The two-week experience began on October 21, the week before Reformation Sunday, when Asimakoupoulos preached on the creativity of the body of Christ. Congregation members were surprised when they were told that that at any point during the service, they could get up from their seats and go to the back of the sanctuary where large paint-by-number canvases had been set up in opposite corners.
For all they knew, the canvases were abstract pieces of art. As the service ended, however, the paintings were brought together so that people could see they actually had painted a portrait of Christ.
Youth pastor Jeff Palmberg had searched the internet for public domain pictures of Christ and used a computer program to reduce the pictures to only several colors in a paint-by-number scheme. He then drew in the appropriate numbers.
Asimakoupoulos says he wanted the congregation to understand that “When we all are using our gifts in the church, what the world sees is Jesus.”
The following week, on Reformation Sunday, the church held its Festival of Arts, during which more than 30 artists who belong to the church were joined by calligrapher Timothy Botts.
“Rather than preach a sermon about the fact that every person is a member in the body of Christ, I thought it would be more effective to have that truth illustrated tangibly,” Asimakoupoulos says.
This time, only Botts painted during the service, however. He created a large rendering of a biblical passage on stage while explaining the symbolism behind the colors, fonts and images he was using.
The works of other artists representing people of all ages were displayed in the sanctuary. Artists included 86-year-old Covenant Shores resident Nina Doorneweerd, who exhibited an original oil painting and poetry. Chloe Sandvik, a junior at Mercer Island High School, shared a montage of photos from a recent assignment in her art class. Samuel Chong, a seventh grader at Islander Middle School, displayed miniature game pieces he’d created for a board game.
Members of the staff also were represented, but Asimakoupoulos says Palmberg, who was an art major in college, stole the show: He created comical caricatures of church members.
Asimakoupoulos says the work of longtime member Tom Russell, a juried sculptor, held special meaning for the congregation. He had looked forward to showing his work at the festival, but he died last month. Still, his bronze sculptures depicting biblical scenes were featured prominently on the communion table in the center of the sanctuary. A memorial fund has been established in Russell’s memory to help fund future Festival Sundays.
“A celebration of artistic gifts is a wonderful way to communicate how each of us bears the mark of our Creator,” Asimakoupoulos observed. Even he was surprised by the congregation’s gifts, however. “Last spring, when I suggested we have a Festival of the Arts on Reformation weekend, I had no idea how diversely creative our congregation is.”
Planning for the event began in September, says Kent Lottis, chairman of the festival. Organizers recruited volunteers through normal outlets such as announcements in newsletters, bulletins and morning service announcements. Commission members also did some serious networking among older members in the church “to identify the shy . . . artists that needed some coaxing,” Lottis adds.
As part of the weekend, Botts led a two-hour basic calligraphy workshop at Covenant Shores. Fifty people attended.
To learn more about Mercer Island Covenant and its ministries, visit the Mercer Island Covenant website.
