Purple for Lent

For the first millennium, little concentration was paid to creating fixed cycles of colors for the vestments and textiles that were related to particular seasons of the church year. Through the Middle Ages, most churches in Europe began developing and sharing traditions that associated certain days with certain colors. In 1570, when Roman authorities issued universal rules, these patterns differed from region to region and from parish to parish.

Today liturgical color continues to harmonize the message of the seasons and special days during the church year. Color allows us to see the Light of Life, Jesus Christ. The changing hues emphasize a specific "colorful" chapter in the life of our Lord and his church. We live this rhythm annually by the church calendar.

Frequent instruction about the church year and its corresponding colors must go hand in hand with its weekly use. For example, when thinking about the purples of Lent we are informed to know that violet or purple was a very cherished and expensive color in the world Jesus lived. The dye used to make the color was painstakingly acquired by massaging the neck of a Mediterranean shell fish that secreted a special fluid. It was therefore afforded only by the rich and worn most exclusively by the royalty.

Jesus, the king of the Jews, wore a purple robe only once. As the soldiers mocked and tormented him, the Scriptures record that they placed on him a "purple garment" in order to ridicule him and belittle the claim that he was a king.

Therefore, purple is used during this penitential season of Lent as a vivid reminder of the disrespect and ridicule he endured, and the subsequent sacrifice he made for our salvation. During Lent the purple of stoles, worship banners and other paraments should remind all Christians of their daily need to humbly give attention to leading a life of repentance.

Lent Banners

Our latest worship banners...headed to Chicago to help focus the congregation's worship on the season of Lent. The banner on the left represents the wilderness, reminding us of the forty days of withdrawal Jesus spent there. The banner on the right tells the story of Holy week. The palms are for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the rooster for Peter's denial, the nails and crown of thorns remind us of the crucifixion. Purple , the color of royalty is a reference to Christ the King. The variety of purples in addition to the black, red and gold remind us of the pain, suffering and passion that we remember as we pray, fast and are penitencial during this season.

It's Cold Outside!

Young visiting artist in the studio today...we decided it was too cold to go outside so she created snowflakes to dangle in our work space. We're delighted!

The Image of Jesus

The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple, Holman Hunt

January 20th and 27th from 9:45-10:45 I have been asked to speak about the "Image of Jesus" at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, PA and I am anxiously anticipating guiding the examination of many intriguing works of art.

The Bible doesn't tell us what Jesus looked like. So, how did our image of Jesus develop? Fairly early in history, he was shown as a man on the threshold of middle age, with brown to black hair and a beard, and an facade of sorrow and compassion. Beyond this, each age has produced its own deviation of the Jesus image to meet its own needs, projections and beliefs. The following is a little hint of what we'll look at...

The Gospels give us only one glimpse to satisy--or to pique--our curiosity about the childhood of Jesus. In Holman Hunt's Finding of the Saviour in the Temple, the incident narrated in Luke 2:41-52 epitomizes the ambivalance of his relation to the Jewish tradition. His parents find him seated among the teachers of the Mosiac law and confounding them with his questions and answers; but he gently rebukes the reproof of his parents by asking, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"--referring to the Jewish temple in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

If you are in the Pittsburgh area please feel free to attend. Additionally, worship at Westminster is at 8:30 or 11:00.

Baptism of Our Lord

This Sunday we will celebrate the baptism of our Lord in my congregation. Two baptism items come to our mind that we'd love to share with you. First, we love the hymn for this Sunday that is titled: Lord, When You Came to Jordan. The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion explains that the hymn focuses on Jesus' baptism and lifts up the tradition that suggests it was a moment of personal revelation as well as an outward sign of his mission. It asks questions concerning Jesus' inner life and then becomes a prayer on behalf of our being able to see God's work today. We just love when a story is told! We often convey a story in our stoles and worship banners and when we're in worship and the visual connects with the Word and the music the story really hits home!

Secondly, have you read Water, Come Down! The Day You Were Baptized by Walter Wangerin is beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Gerardo Suzan? It is a wonderfully imagined story of God's power and love joined in the baptism event---a story that will grow richer in meaning each time the book is read. We appreciate that the author also provides several pages of excellent resources for family Bible study, exploring the scriptural sources behind his story and making the theological concepts both accessible and engaging.

What do you relish about the celebration of baptism?

Epiphany of the Lord

The Three Kings Altarpiece, Hans Baldung.

About the Artwork
Baldung was a German painter and graphic artist. He probably trained with Durer in Nuremberg, but his brilliant color, expressive use of distortion, and taste for the gruesome bring him closer in spirit to his other great German contemporary, Grunewald.

In 1507 Baldung was probably in Halle when he received the commission for the alterpiece, The Adoration of the Magi (Berlin). Although displaying some clumsiness, colors are surprisingly sure, and Baldung's self-esteem is revealed by the fact that he drew a self-portrait behind the main character at the center of the retable of Saint Sebastian. It is an oil on wood.

The Liturgical Celebration
This Sunday we celebrate the epiphany of the Lord. The word epiphany comes from the Greek noun epiphaneia, which means "shining forth," "manifestation," or "revelation." In the ancient Greco-Roman world, an epiphany referred to the appearance of one of the gods to mortals. Since Hellenistic kings and Roman emperors were considered by many to be gods, the word epiphany was also used as a term for divine majesty. The Epiphany of our Lord is the Christian festival that celebrates the many ways through signs, miracles, and preaching that Jesus revealed Himself to the world as Christ, God Incarnate, and King of kings.

The scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Looking at The Three Kings Altarpiece

• What title would you give this work of art?
• What types of colors has the artist used? Does the color remind you of a certain feeling?
• Does everything in the artwork look equally important?
• What would you say if you were to meet the Lord in person?

If you enjoyed this post then bookmark our new blog www.RelatingToArt.blogspot.com which strives to describe, analyze, and interpret art as it relates to religon with new posts at least once a week.