Church signs are often informative, sometime humorous and can be ‘preachy’.
Associate pastor David White likes his to be artistic and uplifting.
“I try not to think of myself as a Christian when I’m making them — I want them to be for everyone,” he says.
“The messages are about common human values such as patience, caring for someone, speaking for those with no voice and social justice. The words are never meant to be judgmental.”
Even before he began working at St Mark’s Anglican Church in Spotswood, Mr White was volunteering his time to make the signs, which can be seen by passing motorists.
He creates them from whatever materials he can lay his hands on and often has a theme. His most recent sign, ’50 shades of life’, is made from 50 disks and is a play on the title of the popular novel, 50 Shades of Grey. “I’ve always drawn. I was one of seven and my brother taught me while I was growing up in a Williamstown housing commission home,” he recalls.
In his 45 years as a minister, Mr White has had cause to use his artistic skills when making presentations and creating slides and videos. Now it’s the church signs that occupy his talents.
He sees the role of the church as helping a community come together and helping young people find a moral path.
That’s the focus of the Back To Church mass on Sunday, a national Anglican church initiative which encourages people to return to church.
“We believe lots of folks are busy for all sorts of good reasons, whether it’s having children, the pressures of work or just the whole pace of life which has caused a break in the connection with the local church.
“They may have appreciated the church in the past, but the speed of life has disconnected them and this is an opportunity for them to touch base again.”
A Back to Church mass will be held at 10am on Sunday at the St Mark’s Anglican Church, 622 Melbourne Road, Spotswood.
