Hand Banner
In late October, a project that had been receiving work for months got unveiled. It is a tree of hands. Built from the tracings of about 200 congregants hands. On the trunk are the hand prints of our oldest and youngest members. Which have about 100 years between them. It’s quite beautiful in a simple way. Dedication text follows.
Dedication of Hands Banner at ESMC:
And they brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his
speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him (Mark 7:32)
They came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to Jesus a blind man, and
begged him to touch him. (Mark 8:22)
There is no spiritual practice where the body does not have a role to play. The body
mediates the spirit and those coming to Jesus knew that and held trust and hope in
that action of blessing.
Hands are a sacred part of the human body used to hold, to heal, and to help. They
embody prayer. In our hands, prayer becomes visible. This beautiful, collection of
human hands from Erb St. people is the imprint of over 200 hands from the
youngest Ben Bienvenue to the oldest Vera Good.
Lynn Wolf Jo-Anne Matthies, and Don and Katherine Snyder created it with the great gifts of love, colour, and creativity.
We pray that it will be a visual sign of our commitment to build up this community
of faith and bear witness to our common life which is rooted in God’s Spirit,
growing in love and service and branching out towards each other and the world
as a living sign of God’s unconditional love.
Jesus took me aside and put his fingers in my ears, and spat and touched my
tongue. …I heard him say “be opened”. My ears were opened and my tongue was
released and I could speak.
Jesus took me by the hand and led me out of the village. Then. He placed his
hands on my eyes. I strained my eyes and I realized I could see.
Jesus we dedicate our lives to your in the sign of this collection of hands.
Jesus, we place our hands in yours. Take them and use them, as you will.
Lord, alone our hands are weak, but together with yours they are strong.
Jodie: Jesus use these hands to build up your Kingdom . Use these many hands for
healing, hope and peace among us. Use these hands for the restoration of justice
and the renewal of relationships with all creation and all your people. This we pray
in your holy name. AMEN