Olympic Banners

The Olympic closing ceremony in Bejing included wonderful, dramatic banners. They were hung from guide wires and draped across the central space to direct our focus to the action. At Carrot Top Studio this makes us wonder how many different ways a worship banner could be hung. Each worship sapce is special and unique and we should think beyond just hanging a banner against a wall!

The Lectionary Text--in Art

This week's text from Matthew 16:13-20 says, When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Artists have been depciting Peter and the stories that surround Peter for many generations.

This tempera painting of Peter is by Marco Zoppo who painted it in the 1400's and it hangs in the US National Gallery.

This work is by Jan Richardson and you can read more about her interpretation at The Painted Prayerbook.

When you look at these pieces of art and think about the Word you might also ponder:

• what title would you give the art?
• what feeling do the colors give you?
• what does the artist want you to think/feel about what is in the artwork?
• what does this art mean to you?

We respond to art in personal ways. These two very different works can both serve a purpose in relating to the lectionary text this week. How wonderful that have such a wealth of art to respond to.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 summer Olympics were a splendid, visual feast! The colors, the lights, the costumes, the movement were all superior and left me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I found it particularly moving and symbolic to see the parade of athletes walking in the stadium and across an area of wet paint. The movement and direction of their footprints formed a gentle arc of a rainbow on the ground. It became a sign and symbol of athletes the world wide, representing many different lives, cultures, and colors coming together as one in peace. This of course made me think of how we try to visually stimulate and engage through color and symbols for times that we come together in community to worship God. I am thankful that God has given us the ability and direction to include the visual to draw us closer to Him in worship!

Malawi, Africa

We're excited that at this moment this stole and coordinating banner are on their way with a group from Pittsburgh, PA traveling to Malawi, Africa. The banner and stole represent "The Lord is My Shepherd" as David described in Psalm 23. God is seen as a caring shepherd and a dependable guide. The shepherd's cross on the stole helps us imagine Jesus as a shepherd, guiding us and looking after us. Additionally on the banner, the sun: the life giving force, is symbolic of Christ, the moon reminds us of the passage of time, the rainbows: a symbol of God's faithfulness, and the river calls to mind Christ's referenece to living water in John 4:10.

Our faith community has a partnership with a similar community in Malawi, Africa. We exchange missionary visits to learn and grow from each other. The people of Malawi are some of the most cheerful, positive outlooking I have ever met. Carrot Top Studio hopes that these pieces of fiber art will be a reminder to our friends that we are the church together..."so that we may be mutually encouraged by each others faith" (Rom. 1:12).