New Worship Banners

Where does a pastor, worship team or Carrot Top Studio come up with an idea for worship banners? The possibilities are endless! You might consider a liturgical season like Advent, a special occassion such as a wedding, or a visual interpretation of a piece of scripture. Our latest banners (seen at left) are actually an expansion of the church logo and their motto..."Gathered by His love for us -- Scattered by our love for Him!" We took the logo and created two images (instead of the existing one) and surrounded the images by the arch shape which echoed the sanctuary architecture. The predominant red was chosen as the traditional represention of the Holy Spirit. This was a great collaboration between a worship team that had a vision for a special Sunday that would include an ordination and the team at our studio.

Rituals and Family Traditions

It’s back to school time in my house. Even though my children are teenagers we continue to have the rituals of a new hair cut, something special to wear the first day of school, and a trip to the office supply store to gather the prescribed new notebooks and mechanical pencils. Another family tradition my children remain especially fond of is requesting that cookies be coming out of the oven as they walk in the door from their first day back to school. It can’t be a bag of their favorite store bought sandwich cookie or even a homemade cookie that was baked on a prior occasion and frozen for convenience (I am quite the freezer queen!) I believe it’s the act of the cookie that is coming directly from the oven that is symbolic of the warmth and security that they need to feel at the end of a day that is ushering them into a change in their norm. I must admit I love fulfilling this request but, it also makes me think about how important ritual and family traditions are and how this overlaps into the rhythm of the rituals in our Christian lives. These established procedures and routines also bring us comfort within the Church year. Gertrud Mueller Nelson writes that “Through rites we raise what is happening to us to a level of conscious awareness and in doing so we actively seek to be transformed.” Nelson wrote one of my favorite books on ritual and family tradition: To Dance With God.It has been available for several decades but its message and ideas are timeless. Pick up a copy to use within your own home, in your larger community or for a friend that needs encouragement that family ritual and celebrating the rhythm of the year is a wonderful connection to each other and the life of Christ. All of this thinking about celebrating has spilled over into Carrot Top Studio so we’ve added a “Colors of the Church year” stole to our collection. See it here!

I must leave you now...I think there is one cookie left...and I’m claiming it!

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).

Inspiration

I've just returned from New York City where I had the extra special, opportunity of seeing The Lion King on Broadway. My seat was at the back of the theatre, but it was still a great seat. This location caused me to reflect upon how we can't think of our worship spaces from just one up close "good" seat. How do you make the visual important from every angle of the congregation? In this photo from the performance the costuming demonstrates how very simple, yet dramatic color combinations can be one way to make a visual stand out. Conversly there are many times you don't want to call attention to a visual...you just want it to enhance an entire service. The patterns on the stage in this photo are an example of how the visual can be a supporting element in what we do in our worship spaces. When Carrot Top Studio works on a banner commission I always sit in many different seats within the worship space prior to confirming the plan for banners. It's an interesting task....give it a try!

Lessons from the Raspberry Patch

As an artist I tend to be a visual leraner (go figure!). Connections are made at times that I sometimes don't expect. Last night I was in my small raspberry patch enjoying the luscious, ripe fruit. We have never had such a bountiful crop of extremly large berries. What is different this year to produce such a wonderful harvest? Is it the water, the soil, the light, or did I actually remember to do the tedious chore of pruning the prickly branches last fall? While munching and collecting berries John 15:2 came to mind. It says: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. As a gardner and as a Christian I have learned that even fruitful branches need pruning. So this week I am thankful for the visual of the raspberry bushes that have reminded me that the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. So I look inward to see what I need to prune from my life today (I'm afraid there is always much to choose from)...and hopefully this fall I will remember to prune the raspberry bushes also!

A detail...

...of what we're working on. Can you predict the scripture this goes with?

What I'm Reading....

...Art in Service of the Sacred by Catherine Kapikian. Kapikian is the director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary and I have long been an admirer of her work. A DVD is included in the book with wonderful visuals to use while reading the text.

The book jacket promotes this wonderful work with this: "Art in Service of the Sacred encourages congregations to take seriously the role of visual art in worship and in the broader life of the church. This rich resource explores the dynamics between art, artist, and the church. It proclaims the power of art when used as art, reclaims the presence of religious symbols in worship, asserts the importance of the aesthetic dimensions of ecclesial space, and recovers the role of visual art to engage our senses and imaginations as we seek to encounter God in our lives."

I couldn't put this book down when it arrived and have gone back through it with several times sense. It is recommended as a vital resource for the artist/church relationship. Enjoy!

It's Good to Be Green!

In my youth and then through my own children I've watched my fair share of Sesame Street and recall that Kermit the frog didn't think it was very easy being green. If you don't remember this moment you can watch it here. Carrot Top Studio loves celebrating green during Ordinary Time and thinks it's very easy to be green! Green has traditionally been associated with new life and growth. Even in Hebrew in the Old Testament, the same word for the color “green” also means “young.” In Christian tradition, green has come to symbolize the life of the church following Pentecost, as well as symbolizing the hope of new life in the resurrection. The palette is inspired by the many greens God has gifted us with. But, Ordinary Time certainly does not need to be "ordinary," and is not meant to mean that somehow we get a break from the Liturgical Year. The opposite is true: Ordinary Time celebrates "the mystery of Christ in all its aspects." Our website has new stoles in many categories including Baptism, Ordinary Time, and the "even more stoles" category. Additionally if you like a bargain, you can try to win one of our stoles on eBay by looking here!

Resurrection Symbols

I grow garlic in my garden. It is a really fun plant to watch transform...first the appearance of the long skinny green leaves shooting into the air from the bulbs that are hidden under ground where they have laid dormant for so many months, then the long snake like stem with a bud wrapped tightly at the end. When it's time for the bud to open we wtach it transform throughout the day as the tissue paper like wrapping splits open and the bloom opens up.

This reminds me of other Resurrection symbols. I think of the transformation a butterfly goes through before it emerges, the lily likewise emerging from a seemingly dead bulb (grave), and the pomegranate whose seeds bursting forth are likened to Christ bursting forth from the tomb on Easter.

How does your garden grow?

Planning for New Banners

Today it was great fun to attend a meeting for a prospective banner commission. Beginning a new commission is always exciting...the ideas are brainstormed, the goals are set, and the creativity starts to churn as you try to meet the needs of the physical space in combination of integrating art that enhances but doesn't distract from worship. This meeting had some extra bright spots. First, I don't usually get to meet my clients face-to-face. Most work is done via email with an occassional phone call. Secondly, it was delightful to learn some of the history of this sanctuary. For example, the main stained glass window was actually taken from another church building that was no longer going to have a congregation and was installed when this sanctuary was built. I think this is a lovely symbol of the Church continuing--just in another location. Lastly, this group was particularly open to new ideas. Ideas were flying...long skinny banners instead of wide ones, flags with symbols telling the story of the church hung the length of the nave, painting of the walls (and ceiling!), and processing with the worship banners on the first Sunday that they were to be used. What is working for your worship space visually? What do you dream of adding to your worship space. Try this: take a photograph of your worship space and study it. Sometimes you'll see and think of things in a different observational mode with this technique. Dream, think, pray, plan, and search for those in your community that have the gifts to meet your needs!

The photo in this post is of a commission that took much prayer, planning, and time to execute so it would be ready for Advent 2007. And the commission all began with a vision of doing something a little different from whta had been done prior in this congregation!

Three Rivers Arts Festival

For me, it's always good to be amongst artists. This year's trek to the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA provided an interesting bit of installation art at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Trinity Episcopal is by itself a grand space that allows you to realize it is sacred. Artists Jeffrey Mongrain and Nicholas Kripal created several pieces that are a response to the site itself. "Our work involves creating ceramic pieces that respond to the history, congregation and architectural iconography of the church," Kripal says. Read more in the Post Gazette article here. If you're anywhere in the area Sunday is the last day....open 7-1:30.

Pittsburgh, like many cities, has wonderful old churches that reflect the culture, history and faith of the community. If you can't get to Trinity Cathedral tomorrow, but are in Pittsburgh another time you might be interested in a Pittsburgh. Learn more about the Pious Pittsburgh tour here.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Last night I had the fun opportunity of teaching an art class at my home church to 23 second through fifth graders. It's always energizing to step back to my professional roots of art education. The group was creating art that will be used in an exhibit in our church art gallery. Guess who's the curator of the gallery? ME! The gallery has the mission statement of "...to encourage artists, individuals, and the congregation to engage the visual arts in the spiritual life of the church. Westminster Presbyterian Church values the significance of visual imagery in spiritual formation and the development of faith." To me this includes the artistic gifts of the children in our community so, the children will display their art work during the month of July. I got a warm feeling when one of the little girls in the class showed me her work (shown) that was in response to Joshua 1:9-"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Before creating our art we discussed all of the places that God would be with us. This creative group came up with a wide variety of ideas including at the amusement park, to in the middle of a tornado, to while I'm at school. I particularly enjoyed this picture of God is With Me at Church. We get a glimpse of church inside and we can see church outside...a great example of the fact that the church is not the building. And, don't miss the fun detail on the left hand side of the congregants doing cartwheels! This art reflects the joy of God being with us at church seen through the wise eyes of a nine year old.

Devotion

I came across the following from the Rule of St. Benedict (AD 480-547).

Let us consider, then, how we ought to

behave in the presence of God and his
angels and let us stand to sing the
psalms in such a way that our minds

in harmony with our voices.

These thoughts on coming together for worship make me think of Psalm 63 illustrated here by Magrit Prigge an artist residing in South Africa.

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

You might think about these questions while examining this art:

• What might this artwork's purpose be?
• Do I recognize any images? If so, what?
• What kind of lines do I see?
• What kind of movement do they suggest?
• Are there any visual metaphors in the artwork?
• Does each visual metaphor look like something in or outside of the artwork?
• What does this art mean to me?

On My Travel List

I'm a list maker. I'm afraid I go well beyond the "what to buy at the grocery store" list. I have lists of books I want to read, movies I'd like to watch, things my children should pursue this summer, gift ideas, ways that I might fund my children's college educations, vines to try, etc. etc. I love to travel. For the time being most of my travel is in my dreams....so I keep a list of all those places I will go someday when time and funding allows. On the list is the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France. Henri Matisse used shape and color toward the end of his career to design this Chapel. I feel drawn to the simple and quiet and the photographs of this space tell me I'd love to experience it first hand.Isn't it wonderful?

Thinking of simple I'd also like to share with you one of the books I'm working my way through. The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life, by Paula Huston is about the author's search for simple living modeled after the lives and writings of the great monastic saints. Using her first hand experiences she relates a variety of practical, day-to-day measures that we might apply to our lives. Yes, it was on my summer reading LIST!

Healing Meditation Banner

Carrot Top Studio is now offering a selection of small banners on our etsy site. The image to the left is our newest creation.

This 24 x 30" art quilt would be meaningful hung in a church, retreat center or the quiet spot of your home. Use it to help you focus and center your thoughts and prayers.The images remind us of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4:1-26. The jug recalls the woman seizing the opportunity to get water from the well. Jesus uses the water as a metaphor to teach the woman. It is seen on the banner horizontally and vertically. The stones disappear visually to remind us that living water through Jesus "washes away" our sin. The woman goes to the well but receives so much more!

This inspirational banner is created out of cottons in a multitude of fabrics. The symbols are all machine appliqued. It is backed with a coordination dark blue cotton broadcloth. It has a 3" hanging sleeve that runs across the back for you to run your own dowel, curtain rod, or natural branch through for hanging (see photo).

Email us to arrange a purchase ($115 + 6.00 S&H/US) of this banner jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com!

Announcement

The green stole created for our birthday celebration is no longer available at the special price as mentioned in the previous blog post. Thank you to all our clients that chimed in.

If you love a bargain, great deals are still available for our celebration on ebay. Auctions end Thursday at 9:45 EST!

It's Our Birthday!

It's been three years since I took my faith, my quilting, art quilt, painting and educational skills and combined them to create my business at Carrot Top Studio. We love every day (I'm so not kidding as my teenagers would say). It's a pleasure to offer unique, handmade stoles and worship banners to ministers, pastors, priests, churches and wedding officiants worldwide. To celebrate we're offering stoles at $3 opening bids on eBay! These special auctions will close Thursday, May 29th.

We are also offering the green stole shown on this post for $33.33 + 6.00 S&H to US clients, 10.00 S&H to Canada and 12.00 to Europe. This offer is available to the first three people that email us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com. The stole is 49" long. It is embellished with a voided cross on the chest as a reminder that we are called to preach the gospel to all corners of the world. The border fabric is a lovely batik that carries many colors of Ordinary Time. It is lined with a solid green broadcloth and is interfaced for added body. Our clients and friends are wonderful....we have greatly appreciated your support the past three years. We welcome any suggestions of how to better serve you for the next three years at Carrot Top Studio. Thank you!

Trinity Sunday

This Sunday many people will celebrate Trinity Sunday. It commemorates and honors not an event, but a reality: the Holy Trinity. Trinity Sunday falls on the Sunday after Pentecost. The Trinity is a mystery. By mystery the Church does not mean a riddle, but rather the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension that we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. Symbols for the Trinity include three interlocking rings, shamrocks, the Chi-Rho, and an equilateral triangle. We see these in art, worship baners, architecture, and on vestments among other places.

A prayer I like for Trinity Sunday is:

Father, who sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three Persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever. Amen

For worship, Creating God, Your Fingers Trace is a Trinity Sunday hymn with the text based on Isaiah 45:7 The auther (Jeffrey Rowthorn) uses present participles to draw our focus to a God who is still working in our world.

And how would you explain the Trinity to children? You could try using a mobius strip. Children would even love making their own!

The how to:

Cut a length of adding machine tape — about 30 inches long — for each child. Show the children how to write the words "God" and "Jesus" on their strips spaced one on each end of the same side. Then flip the strip over — so the words are face down — and upside down. Then write "Holy Spirit" in the middle. Turn one end of the strip 180 degrees and fasten the two ends together securely, taping both sides. Twist the paper once and bring the ends together so that the paper forms a continuous loop (with one twist that won’t be very obvious). Tape the ends together. Now run your fingers over the paper from the word "God" to "Jesus" and keep on going. The word, "Holy Spirit" that started on the other side of the paper, is now on the same side as God and Jesus. If you fiddle with the paper, you can shape it into a triangle — and God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can all be read. What will the children say these strips tell us about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?

Pentecost

On this Pentecost Sunday it is fitting to think visually. This oil painting on wood is titled Pentecost and is by Chris Shreve. Chris states that he uses his art as a prayer, a meditation. The story of the birth of the church is familiar to many of us. The Bible is a gift that can be read and reread with new meaning and understanding gleaned from each exposure. The story is found in Acts 2 and begins with: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Relating to the art of Mr. Shreve you might consider the following questions:

• What is this a painting of?
• Is it fancy or plain?
• Do I recognize any images?
• What kind of lines do I see? How are the lines used?
• What colors did the artist use? Are they warm or cool colors?
• What does the color remind me of, or what feeling does it give me?
• What does this artwork seem to tell me about the subject?
• If I made this artwork, how would I explain it to others?

May this art draw you closer to the season of Pentecost as we explore and examine what it means to us personally.

For Your Book Shelf

I recently found a quiet Sunday afternoon (I love the Sabbath!) to sit and savor Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts by Rev. Philip Graham Ryken. This little gem draws out the Biblical view of the arts and the artists who make art for God's sake. Ryken concisely discusses how artists are called and gifted by God and recognizes how art is often misunderstood or rejected by the church. This book is full of encouragement for artists. It affirms that God loves all kinds of art (meaning types of medium) and that we as artists should have a high standard for goodness, truth and beauty.

I would recommend this book if you are considering incorporating the arts into your ministry, if the visual arts in your congregation can be improved or if you have a group (artists and non-artists) that needs a book to use as a discussion starter. The icing on the cake is Ryken's concluding suggestions for further reading. Pick up this highly recommended book to enjoy the conversational writing style. Maybe you are being called to be a catalyst to recovering the arts in the Church.

I had to chuckle as I read the newspaper this morning. In the "Living" section was an article about Crayola's new color choices that have been introduced to mark the occassion of the 50th anniversary of the 64 Box.

The new Kids' Choice colors include:

• Super Happy--A bright yellow.


• Fun in the Sun--An orangy color that means exercise and keeping fit are important and fun.


• Giving Tree--A lime-green color that shows kids are thinking green and want to play a part in protecting the Earth.


• Bear Hug--A brown hue of hamrony as kids want their homes to feel warm and loving just like a great big bear hug.


• Awesome--A bright red that means kids think school is cool and getting good grades feels awesome.


• Happy Ever After--A blue that shows that kids want to create moments for others so everyone's story has a happy ending.


• Famous--The pink-red color shows kids to believe they can become celebs just like everyday people who become stars.


• Best Friends--The shade that says spending time with you BFF is what you enjoy most.

Much of the business at Carrot Top Studio revolves around color used to celebrate the liturgical church year. So I'm going to write Crayola and suggest with the upcoming Pentecost celebration they should introduce a "Pentecost crayon". I envision firey reds, oranges and yellows on one end to represent the tongues of fire. On the opposite end we'd see a pale blue/grey for the rush of wind that was felt on the day we commerate as the church's birthday. We'll let you know when this crayon goes into production!

And now I must confess a particular fondness to Crayolas. In fact, on my studio desk sits a box of 96 crayons and if I'm in a creative dry spot the crayons can often help me through the process. Have a colorful day!

Mini Banners

Carrot Top Studio often gets inquries about carrying "ready made" banners. Up until this date we have enjoyed providing a custom worship banner commission service. We feel strongly that worship banners should be created to an appropriate scale/size for each worship space. Because worship spaces don't come in standard sizes (now that would be boring!) large worship banners are difficult for us to provide in standard sizes.

Through our etsy store we are now offering "mini banners". They are approximately 24 x 30". We envision these providing an option for customers to purchase a banner for their home, a quiet spot in a retreat center, or a chapel or small worhsip space. We are proud of our designs and craftsmanship and for someone not familiar with our products we hope this will be an affordable option for you to get to know us better.

Thank you to all our clients that took time to let us know that they desired in stock banners to be offered!

What We're Reading

Finding Time for the Timeless by John McQuiston II is a refreshing little book documenting how contemporaries practice their spiritual habits and routines. Over the years my personal routines have changed and evolved. Sometimes it has been starting the day with quiet, or being in tune to respond to opportunity, or even being able to make the mundane into the holy. This book affirms that there are other people that have similar routines as I do, but it also opens my eyes to a variety of spiritual enrichments I might add to my day.

A New Product

We have new products in our etsy shop!

One of them was inspired by Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."


Have you ever needed help focusing your mind on prayer? Some people like to use a journal but you can use the pocket on this pillow to record and remember prayers, disappointment, struggles, joys and miracles. Leave the pillow in a place where you can enjoy quiet moments.

The pillows are 9 x 12”. Each is embellished with a religous symbol and a pocket to hold written thoughts and prayers.

These pillows will make perfect gifts for a first communion, confirmation, graduation, sickness/hospitalization! A descriptive hangtag is attached to the pillow with an explanation of the pillow’s symbolism and suggestions for use.

Color Theory

This past week we closed the studio and took some time to focus on Holy week and have a little R & R. We had an opportunity to visit an old friend, a pastor, who kindly inquired about the business of Carrot Top Studio. I explained first that we have the very best clients and then mentioned that red stoles were one of our best sellers. My friend was suprised so I had to impart my theory...beyond the Holy Spirit connection (that's obvious!) red makes everyone happy. It's a color that we easily gravitate too. It can even be a color of confidence and leadership. Aren't you supposed to where a red tie when you go on an interview?

So now we're back in the studio and gearing up for Pentecost and ordinations...we're seeing red, designing in red, and stitching red!

Palm Sunday

Many varieties of plants and trees are used symbolically throughout the bible. Palm branches are most often used as a symbol of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the event that heralded his coming Passion and crucifixion.

By derivation, palms may represent the fickleness of human acclamation. Used by the Romans as a symbol of victory, they have been used by the church as a symbol of Christ's ultimate victory over sin, or of the saints' victory over death. Therefore in art history martyrs are sometimes portrayed holding palm branches and the branches were used as a funerary emblem among the early Roman Christians.

How will your congregation celebrate with palms this Palm Sunday?

Some of Our Favorite Books for Lent

Last Supper Art by the editors of Phaidon Press. This book presents a sequence of over 100 images of the Last Supper. It demonstrates how each artist responded to the complex challenge of creating a convincing group of individual personalities and expressing their relationships with each other.







Palm Sunday Parade by Martha McKown. The impact of that first Palm Sunday parade will be remembered long after the use of this resource. All ages will recall both the joy and the sadness of that day's events. Church families will experience the rich joyous praise as they become involved in the narrative, the procession and hymn singing.



The Image of Christ by Gabriele Finaldi is a beautifully illustrated, colorful history of how Christ has been portrayed by artists from the early church to the present. the book explores the challenges Christian artists have faced as they have tried to imagine what Jesus looked like. Since no eyewitness descriptions of Jesus' physical appearance survived, the earliest artists' depictions of Christ played on the symbols and images that he used in his parables--such as the Good Shepherd, the Light, and the Vine. Later, artists became concerned with capturing Christ's true physical likeness, based on miraculous relics such as the cloth that Saint Veronica offered him on his way to Calvary, which was believed to be imprinted with an image of his face. These stages in the history of Christian art are described by several art historians in brief essays, each of which is lavishly illustrated.

Visual Reminders During Lent

In worship we use stoles, paraments, banners, flowers and other elements as visual reminders of the liturgical season we are celebrating. What can we do at home to help us focus particually during our Lenten journey?

Rober Fulgham in From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives suggests using sand. "Perhaps a bowl of sand can help us remember our journey. God led the people in their journey in the desert. Jesus himself reenacted that journey to face his own temptations. The desert can be a place of retreat, where there is a freedom from distractions. It can be a good place to be led and to face our temptations."

May you make time for desert days prior to the joy of Easter.

Donut Day

I can't wait for tomorrow morning when this granola and green tea loving Mom will surprise her children with a great excuse to eat donuts for breakfast! I grew up in a Dutchy area of Eastern Pennsylvania where Fausnaught Day (donut day) was celebrated with great gusto. The original purpose was to use up the baking ingredients in one's pantry before Lent, as these items were not to be consumed and would not stay fresh til the end of Lent.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. So even though I went to the store to purchase our donut treat instead of cleaning our my pantry I hope the sugary breakfast will lead us into a great discussion of how we can retreat into the wilderness with Jesus this season.

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.

Family Time

Something to think about as we enter a time spent with families to celebrate the newborn King...If someone placed a hidden camera in your home, what would they discover about your family's celebration? What evidence would they find that Jesus is Lord of your home?

Have a blessed Christmas!

The Nativity

“... Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged.”

The Nativity became a favorite subject in Christian art by the 14th century. One of the reasons for this fascination with the scene was the devotion practiced by St Francis of Assisi. Around 1220 he celebrated Christmas by setting up the first presepio or crèche in the town of Greccio near Assisi. He used real animals to create a living scene so that the worshippers could contemplate the birth of the child Jesus in a direct way, making use of the senses, especially sight.

As a child my parents took me to see the elaborately, garnished 20' blue spruce at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that is surounded by a Baroque creche. It is dramatically displayed in the midst of the medieval sculpture hall. Today in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA I enjoy carrying on the tradition of marveling at the presepio with my children at the Carnegie Art Museum. I particularly enjoy the fact that this elaborate, Neopolitan masterpiece is surounded by many large live evergreen trees decorated with handmade ornaments from different groups in the community. The old and very classic figures of the presepio are enveloped by contemporary art from professional artists, hobbyists and children...it is artistically the best of both worlds!

St. Francis was certainly savvy when he realized that worshippers would benefit from using their senses to better connect with the message. Today we carry on the the tradition with elaborate presepios but the message can be accentuated in simple ways. The light of candles (Christ was the light of the world), the use of the colors white and gold (purity and royalty), or congregants adding pieces of straw to a manger to help prepare the way can be just as powerful.

Ceremony of Carols

Things we love about Advent....

...listening to music for the season such as the above posted Carols by Benjamin Britten.

...lighting Advent candles each Sunday prior to our evening meal. Included in our candle lighting are short readings from the Bible and family prayers.

...making paper chains to helps us count the days--purple loops for Advent (a pink one for the third Sunday of joy), white for the 12 days of Christmas and green or gold for Epiphany. We rip the loops off the chain as each day passes to help the little ones “see” the passing of time.

...praying for the people that we receive greeting cards from each day.

...reading--this year in particular we are enjoying the Advent blog by Jan Richardson. The rich artwork and text that is thought provoking and inspirational.