Congregation members were invited to design a tattoo that symbolized their faith. To get creative juices flowing the example was given of the common sailor tattoo of an anchor, cross, and heart.
Two weeks later, those who had designed tattoos, were given a piece of plastic (a corrugated “for sale” sign cut in half) and permanent magic markers to draw out their faith tattoo. The artists, young and old, gathered around a table drawing and talking about the meaning behind their design. When facilitating this project have the artists use the plastic sheets with the corrugation lines going up and down, this makes it easy to weave a piece of coat hanger up the middle. That way the tattoo sign can be planted in the church lawn.
When this was tried, the side yard of the church was filled with an array of tattoos --- 16 pieces of art. The art display stopped passersby and were pieces of conversation. Young and old shared their faith stories via the tattoos and on Sunday mornings talked with people in the community as they arrived for church –the tattoos being the item starting discussion. Everyone learned something about their neighbour and saw faith in a multitude of ways.