Page 30 - News Autumn_Winter 2024_Print

Beth's daughter
Hadleigh is shown with
some of the clay statues

THE FINGERPRINTS OF GOD

Beth Auger, Ladies’ Vice President, reminds through the diocese and my prayer is that these young
us that God has made us all unique and for people will all have been impacted by God’s love. They
use in His Kingdom. were offered a Youth Testament at their Leavers Service;
we pray that these will be read and used for God’s glory
During June 2024 children leaving a Church of England in their lives and the lives of their families.
Primary or Junior School in the Diocese of Winchester, The Bishop of Winchester drew a comparison between
were involved in creating an art installation in the these small statues created by the 10 and 11-year-olds
style of Anthony Gormley, a British Sculptor known and the individuals who have created them. Reminding
for creating the Angel of the North in Gateshead. His us that we are all unique and contain God’s fingerprints.
artworks often explore the aspects of human presence As Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Ephesus.
in the world, often employing more than one figure We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus.
within a landscape or cityscape. In 1994 he won the
Turner Prize for Contemporary art. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in
mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
Each individual child created a clay statue around in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And
15 cm tall. These were displayed in Winchester God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in
Cathedral during the week of their Leavers Service and the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the
remained in the Cathedral for the following week for coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his
visitors to admire. There were around 2000 individual grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For
statues, which were placed together. The diversity it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
of those small statues spoke very powerfully about is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works,
uniqueness and individuality, no two were the same. so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork,
Some sat down, some bent over, some looked as if they created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
wore clothes. Each were handmade using effort, time prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2: 4-10).
and artist flare.
This is a very well known passage about God’s gift
In this ministry which God has called us to, we are of grace, given freely to each unique individual who
all unique, with gifts and experiences that make us believes, so that they can receive new life in Christ, and
useful in God’s hands. Some of us feel that others are on a future day, be raised up with Him and be seated
more useful, more blessed, more experienced, more in the Heavenly realms. Quite a prospect in itself but
outgoing, better equipped for service. But when we are so that throughout the coming ages He may show the
all placed together, we speak powerfully of God’s love incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His
and His grace, which is sufficient for us all. kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
I expect that if you were to look carefully at each statue God loved us and knew us before we were made, we have
the children made, you would find the fingerprints His fingerprints on us and His guiding hand on our lives,
of each artist. The 2000 statues all together were a wherever we go. He loved us enough to send His only
reminder to me of all the Year 6 school leavers, whose Son to die in our place, incomparable, kindness indeed.
lives have been impacted by the education offered His story continues in us.

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News Autumn_Winter 2024.indd 30
News Autumn_Winter 2024.indd 30 18/09/2024 12:30