Every person in this world shows a little about their personality without even realizing it. We express ourselves by displaying things around our home and office. A person who loves flowers may have them all around their space. A person who likes snow may have snow globes and other things. A person that has faith, may even enjoy displaying small figurines of religious individuals that they hold a fondness for. In every case, casting religious figurine molds could help you express yourself more easily. This practice can be used by churches and more.

Display Your Passion

What types of things do you love? For many Baptists and such, it is the cross or castings of Jesus. The manger scene is also very popular. Other religions have other symbols of faith that they believe in. These things, whether intended or not, reveal to all who know you about the importance of these things in your life.

In the church, it also makes an impact. People go to church to learn and be near their “God”. By having magnificent statues and beautiful sculptures of all sizes scattered around, people feel more of a presence. it gives them a figure that holds meaning to them on some level. For instance, the Virgin Mary was a mere woman, yet she became the Savior’s mother. Most who hold her dear believe that she signifies faithfulness, devotion, humility, and purity. Saying prayer in her presence can bring peace.

Show Your Faith

There are some figurines that are available in mass production. The manger scene is one example. Mass-produced is not always ideal because everything is the same. What if you could create your own figurines? Would you want to create and perhaps paint your own manger? It is easier than you may think.

If you have a pattern or another figurine that is similar to the one you want to create, you can use silicone to make a mold of it. Then fill it with resin after it is ready. If you do not have a figurine, you may need to purchase a mold. Once you have this part set up, which is the hardest part of resin casting, you will start the fun stuff.

After the mold is ready, you mix some epoxy resin. You should choose a type that is for deep pours, capable of thicker applications like two inches thick. Be sure to pick the correct resin type. Mix it as the instructions say to mix it. You can also add pigment to save you from painting later. It depends on what you want the completed project to look like. Pour the mixture into the mold and allow it to cure for 24 hours. Peel away the silicone and your figurines should be ready to enjoy.

Spread Your Joy

Creating is easy once you learn how. You can create all the figurines you want for yourself and make some to share with others who have a similar faith. If that’s not enough, you can then move on to casting other things that hold significance to you in your life. We promise you will love the end result when someone else loves seeing your creations.

In homes all around the world, people settle down together at the end of a day to share a meal. Frustrations of the day are put aside and good food is enjoyed. Laughter and secrets are shared. The same ideas can be implemented at church. All it takes is a decision to host “family meals” and discovering the best way to bring people to the dinner table. A starting point should be to consider building a custom table that is large enough for everyone in the congregation to eat comfortably, together.

Dining with the Group

Jesus, prayers, God, or other deities that you embrace all feature stories or place some value on family coming together in the church. As you read the bible, you will see terms like the “Lord’s Supper” or read verses such as:
“Matthew 26:26-29
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing, it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

There is even a very famous painting called the “Last Supper”, which pays tribute to the Gospel of John 13:21. It features Jesus sitting with the twelve apostles and Jesus announcing that one of them would ultimately betray him. It was created by Leonardo Davinci and still hangs at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

Bringing Everyone Closer Together

The challenge for most churches is finding a table that is big enough to accommodate a “Last Supper” or a family meal for some special holiday. The best way to get the size of the table that you need is to build one. Luckily, Live Edge Tables can be customized to be very long. The process is relatively simple, once you figure out how large you need it to be.

Each person at the table needs at least 1.5-2 feet of space. This means that the “Last Supper” table could easily have been 12-feet long. If you need to seat 20 people, you should build a table that is 18-20 ft long to ensure everyone has elbow room. Live edge tables allow you to lengthen the table and make it as wide as you need to accommodate everyone. However, many often wonder, is epoxy food safe? The short answer to this is, epoxy is possible to be food safe or food grade, but it is ultimately up to each individual to properly mix and pour the epoxy resin.

How to Create a Live Edge Table

Choose your wood. Ideally, you will have two slabs of wood that are similar. You want a natural edge that isn’t going to be sharp, but one that does not require you to sand away the natural shape of the wood. The longer the table, the more you have to pay attention to all your slabs. If available you can take down your own tree and have someone prepare it, then you will get very long slabs. Put them together, supporting the tabletop every few feet. If you want, you can finish it off by putting an epoxy coating over it.

The end result: It will be a beautiful table that everyone is happy to sit around.

A church without people is not a fun place to be. It becomes just a lonely building. Therefore, pastors are always striving to find new ways to fill their church with people. They can provide sermons that truly speak to the people on levels that are easy to understand, but is it going to be enough? To truly draw a crowd, a church must think of upgrades that will attract a larger congregation.

A Church’s Joy

The only way that people can come together in a church is to have one available to them. This is why there are churches everywhere. They are in the most remote locations. They may be old shacks or domed cathedrals. It does not matter. What matters most is that the people actually show up to hear and learn about God’s word, regardless of what name you feel He goes by.

Throughout history, the people would attend a church mostly based on the people that were there. The pastor, the choir, the family, and friends. Today, it is still a joyful place to be if those things are there, but it isn’t just about the people. We want more from a church.

Upgrades Worth Considering

An undeniable fact is that churches gain the most from having good people attending. But we all strive to push the envelope sometimes and churches are no different.

Today’s churches feature stages, guitars, drums, and more. Christian music has taken on a “pop” edge rather than just people singing along to a piano. This requires microphones, speakers, and musical instruments. There are also stage lights and ambient lighting options available. Some churches may even take the spirit of fun to the bathroom where they install a lighted toilet seat.

Many also have dance stages where people can get up and rejoice by letting the music move their feet and their soul. These upgrades make it more fun and a great performance can make for a great service. Upgraded and updated kitchen areas for big dinners, outdoor bbq areas for family fun days, and more are all worthy upgrades.

The People Will Come!

Young adults, teens, and children all feel that church is a boring place to be. Who wants to sit quietly when they could be home listening to music, talking on their phone, etc? As a church, you have to look at the world today, see what matters in your area, and implement it into your church. If you can do that, the people will come. As they begin to roll in and have a good experience, a fun experience, they will tell others about it. They will bring others to the church and your congregation will grow.

Most upgrades do not cost a lot. Instruments can be provided by those that know how to play them. Sound equipment can be affordable on any budget. Either way, if it brings people in, isn’t it worth trying?

Who doesn’t love a chance to get away from the normal routines that we all take part in each day? There may be no place like home, but it is fun to try finding out sometimes. This same mindset is now why so many church congregations take retreats. It allows them to step out of the “norm” and experience new things. This retreat into God’s country is a fantastic way to see what you truly can be with His help.

The Beauty of God’s Country

When you step out into the world, out into the great outdoors, miracles and wonder are everywhere. There is no better place to experience God’s word and his creations. You can see the trees, animals, waterfalls, oceans, and more that He has provided us with. Yet it goes much deeper than that for the congregation and other affiliations. By taking retreats, your group can bond, they can explore as a team or focus on team building, and so much more.

The Retreats You Can Take

We all have heard of a church bowling league or something similar. Even though it isn’t outside, it still allows people to bond with others in their group. When you step out for a retreat, the possibilities are endless. Congregations can go bird watching. They can take up canoeing or kayaking. They can go mudding down a hidden trail after rainstorms have come. Even washing ATV after mudding can be a group experience that brings everyone closer.

There are even games that can be played. Adults can enjoy scavenger hunts as much as children. Divide them up into teams, leave them some clues, and watch how they work together to find everything on the list. Outdoors is also a great place to play “minefield”. This is a game where groups of two must navigate through a course with small obstacles in their way, without stepping on anything. The challenge is that one member will be blindfolded and they are led through with words only from their partner.

Let the Fun and Bonding Begin

If your congregation does not take retreats, you should. You will all gain so much from doing it. It does not matter whether you are a small close-knit group or a group of several churches getting together outside of the traditional walls. What will you be able to achieve when you laugh, play, and bond as a group?