December 21, 2022 | I can’t speak for everyone, but personally, I find that sharing the faith is not always easy. It can be uncomfortable knowing that a peer, neighbor or friend may not respond warmly when I insert a “foreign” religious reference into an otherwise “normal” secular conversation. And that is just with friends! I can’t imagine what the missionaries and evangelists throughout the ages felt when they preached the Good News to those who responded with physical violence.

The Holy Father has given us great words of encouragement to go out and spread the word of God with joy, love and charity. And he has even assured us that we don’t have to be experts to share that message.

Great news! We don’t have to be apologists to share the Gospel. There are many different ways we can evangelize.

We can be a light to others by living our faith in all areas of our life, including in our own homes. Evangelists throughout the ages have used physical items and tangible symbols outside of and in their homes to share Christianity with those who did not understand. Early Christians depicted the fish or the alpha and omega. St. Patrick used the shamrock to represent the Trinity. The cross itself is a mere symbol of Christianity that has for centuries helped open dialogue and served as a reference for evangelists.

One way we proclaim the Good News in our home is through the art and decoration we display. The one you see here was made inexpensively with just a few supplies, a little bit of creativity and a lot of joy for proclaiming the Good News!

DIY Christmas Sign

• Unfinished wood panel (smooth surface is best)
• Dark wood stain
• Vinyl letter stickers
• Star stencil (cut from cardstock)
• Off-white acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Cloth rag

Either purchase or build a wood panel (I used 1” x 4” scrap wood boards and cut them to 24”-long pieces. I assembled the panel by gluing two vertical boards to the back).

Stain panel and allow it to dry completely.

Arrange letter stickers on the panel (vinyl letters are best – these can be purchased in the mailbox hardware aisle at most large shopping centers). Use a plastic card to firmly rub the surface of the letters, so the paint doesn’t run underneath (although some may).

Apply a thin coat of acrylic paint over entire surface. Take a damp cloth rag and rub away any excess paint. Also rub away in the area where the star will be and near edges to reveal some of the stain underneath.

Allow piece to dry and carefully peel away stickers. Position the star stencil on the panel and blot (with cloth rag) acrylic paint within stencil area. Lightly sand the edges of piece to give it a more rustic look.

If necessary, add picture frame hardware to the backside of the piece.

This article was originally published December 2015.