“God reigns and the Son shines.” The message appeared on the electronic sign of Resurrection Lutheran Church in mid-September, drawing attention from drivers passing along a road running between expanding residential areas and cornfields in a Twin Cities suburb.
The church regularly changes its sign, posting messages that range from humorous and practical to thoughtful, in an effort to inspire people and catch the attention of motorists and passersby.
Heather Hultgren, who oversees the daily messages, said the purpose is to remind people that they matter and are loved by God.
Posting messages outside churches is a long-standing tradition, but U.S. churches have increasingly turned to creative and humorous signs in recent decades. The messages are intended to brighten commuters’ days, encourage reflection and possibly reconnect people who have drifted away from Christianity.
“It’s a way to bring something lighter in the world,” said the Rev. Karna Moskalik of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Moskalik favors welcoming messages, including the familiar “CH - - CH What’s missing? U R!”
Some humorous church signs have become popular on social media. Messages created by an Our Savior’s pastor in the early 2000s were collected in a book titled “If there were no Lutherans, would there still be green Jell-O?”
At Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, a heatwave-inspired message read, “Lord, whatever you’re baking, it’s done.”
Elizabeth Pustinger said people sometimes stop to ask about the historic church’s sign and later attend services.
The Rev. Susan Sparks called such signs “a very powerful ministry,” citing her favorite: “Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet him.”
Rolf Jacobson, a professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, said humor can help people cope with tragedy and explore difficult questions.
“God’s business is turning mourning into gladness, Good Friday into Easter Sunday,” he said.
One perennial favorite puts the message more bluntly: “Too hot to keep changing sign. Sin bad. Jesus good. Details inside.”