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Southwest Conference United Church of Christ

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“Homeless Jesus” religious public art dedication at Church of the Palms

September 29, 2023 in Church News

All are welcome to attend the dedication and blessing of the “Homeless Jesus” sculpture being installed at The Church of the Palms UCC at 14808 N Boswell Blvd in Sun City, AZ. The service is at 11 am on November 18. SWC Transitional Conference Minister Dr. Toni Hawkins will provide the blessing.

The art is a seven-foot bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian sculptor and a devout Catholic, entitled, “Homeless Jesus”, which depicts Jesus sleeping on a park bench.

His face and hands are obscured under the blanket; the only clue to his identity is the crucifixion wounds on his feet.

The original sculpture was installed at Regis College, University of Toronto, in early 2013. Over 100 casts of the statue have been installed worldwide since 2016—none in the Southwestern U.S.

The statue has been described as a ‘visual translation’ of Matthew 25 in which Jesus tells his disciples, ‘as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.’ The statue tells the story of Jesus and His ministry. Rather than a ceremonial robe, he had a blanket; he identified with the poor and outcast and for his challenge to religious hypocrisy he was executed.

Homeless Jesus, and its spot in the limelight, demonstrates how religious public art plays a role in promoting the ideas of an equitable society. Herbert Marcuse, said, “art that offers alternative perspectives and challenges social norms, can create spaces where people can identify and question oppressive social patterns.”

Homeless Jesus exemplifies how religious public art can communicate a religious belief in a manner that is respectful of and intelligible to a diverse secular audience.

Religious public art can be an avenue for faith-based organizations to meaningfully contribute to the bettering of social life.

The presence of the sculpture, Homeless Jesus, on the campus of Church of the Palms would be a continual reminder that Jesus identified with the poor and outcasts of society, not the rich or powerful. The presence of the sculpture will give authenticity to The Church of the Palms as a community of faith that expresses its concern for the marginalized and measures its actions by that standard.

The placement site is being prepared at the church. The Palms has received a special gift which will match every gift toward this project.

Tags: Homeless Jesus
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Southwest Conference United Church of Christ
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