Rejoice!

In the midst of this season of ashes and dust, if you are in ministry, you probably need to think ahead to plan an Easter celebration. At Carrot Top Studio we also work a season ahead, therefore the phrase “Rejoice at the coming of your King!” is currently dancing in mind. This reference to Zechariah 9:9 fills me joy!

How will your congregation illustrate the joy of the Easter season? It may possibly be through the traditional colors of white and gold. Many will display lilies (see http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoro2y/id66.html for an explanation of lilies) and spring flowers. Crosses will be draped in white and stoles and worship banners will display butterflies and the Lamb of God. Others will greet Easter morn while worshiping outside. The bona fide rising sun is an awesome visual display that could be part of any liturgical ritual.

What else can we do that is visual in worship for Easter? Involving children is keeping with Christ’s teachings. The young and young at heart would love to show their Easter joy with visual art that includes motion. Make ribbon dancers (directions follow) and let them REJOICE through movement accompanied by the uplifting music of Easter.

Ribbon Dancer

Supplies: 12” long wood dowel at least ¼” in diameter,
1 eye hook,
1 barrel swivel (found where fishing supplies are sold),
3-6’ silk ribbon, approx. 1” wide.

Attach eye hook in end of dowel. Attach barrel swivel to eye hook. Tie ribbon onto barrel swivel. Enjoy the movement of the ribbon by holding the dowel and turning your wrist.

Saint Patrick

Liturgical art is woven into my business creating unique stoles and worship banners. Therefore when I recently read, “the saints are to God like stained glass is to sunlight” I immediately loved the connection of a liturgical art form to faith. I think this person was seeing light changing as it passed through the colored glass. The many colors combine to form diverse hues to reveal hidden perfections of the original light beam. This calls to mind the virtues of the saints that help us to better appreciate God's comprehensive goodness.

Saint Patrick is of course one example from history that we can model our lives after. He was a missionary and the foundations of Christianity in Ireland are largely attributed to him. His life included a time in captivity, but he showed faith when he heard God’s call. The seeds that were planted when Patrick learned the Celtic language while in captivity allowed the perfections of God’s holiness to shine through him. By contemplating and honoring saint’s goodness, we come better to know and revere the overawing holiness of God.
Many of us are preparing to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Some will do this with a green beer in hand or a green carnation on the lapel. But you might model your action after St. Patrick who of course focused elsewhere. He said, “May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore.”