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.”

Color Is the Symbol

We woke this morning to a glorious scene of sparkling snow. The whiteness blanketed everything it could. The color set a feeling in me that was much different than when I rise on a grey, rainy day or a brilliant, sun filled day. It never ceases to amaze me how color can affect a mood, trigger a feeling, or set the tone of an environment. Thinking of this is very fitting with the beginning of Lent right around the corner. I love the season of Lent because it invites us to a more intense reflection and a recoiling from everyday life. How can this feeling and mood be approached visually in worship? The liturgical color for Lent is purple, a solemn color, and a color for royalty and repentance. Consider letting color, without symbols, be the visual, solemn code and vehicle for centering on Christ. The color is the symbol.

Sanctuary

Our studio has just completed a Noah’s ark stole design. This has caused me to ponder “the ark” and what it meant to Noah, his family and the animals. The ark was a sanctuary.

What is a sanctuary? Webster’s Dictionary defines it as a place of safety or refuge. In medieval law, a sanctuary was a place of religious right of asylum for felons on the run from the law. In churches the word sancutary defines an architectural space but varies in tradition from the elevated place where the altar stands in the chancel, and where the ordanined servant of the congregation leads the worship to a more general reference to the place where worship services are held.

Noah was faithful to God. May we also be faithful to God in our contemporary sanctuaries by speaking, singing, dancing, and creating the visual connections that are responses and celebrations of the Word.

Don’t Put the Celebration Away

Advent allows us to anticipate Christ’s birth. Christmas Day has arrived and we are now in the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Soon this part of the liturgical calendar will climax when most Christians will celebrate Epiphany on January 6th. Epiphany looks ahead to the mission of the church to the world in light of the Nativity.

The five pointed star is symbolic of the Epiphany, or the manifested nature of God. Matthew 2:1-12 records that the wise men came from the east and asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” The five pointed star is the star “out of Jacob” (Num. 24:17) and Jesus Christ, “the bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16) who manifested himself to the Gentiles. The five pointed star usually accompanies scenes of the nativity.

While celebrating Epiphany you may cut out paper stars and place them in the windows of your home. Alternatively you might gather with your congregation for scripture, song, and fellowship as your Christmas trees provide light in a bonfire. Regardless of how you celebrate, Epiphany is about letting God’s light and love shine through us and recognizing that light in others. Shine on!

*artwork: Nativity-3 by Kim Jae Im, Korea

Banners as Artistic Expressions

Do you seek to bring a sense of life and color to your worship space to enhance and expand worshipers’ perception of the reality and grace of God? Worship banners are a form of artistic expression that can do just that. Banners have a long established tradition is churches. Well-designed banners are an effective means toward the enhancement of worship both because of their visual appeal and because they can be continually changed in color and symbolism to represent the progression of the calendar of the Church year.

Whether the banners are to be in a small or grand scale there are several components to think about so you can obtain your goal. Who will make the banners? Banners can be created by teams of people gifted with artistic and textile construction skills. Artists can be commissioned to create banners. Children can also create banners under well planned adult guidance. Secondly, decide if the banners will hang for a short or long period of time. This will help dictate the type of materials used because anything from butcher block paper to magnificent brocade fabric has potential. Thirdly, examine and measure the space the banners will hang in. Proportion to the architecture is key to helping the banners function direct attention to God. It would not be appropriate for the banners to call attention to them or be present for their beauty as an end to themselves.

May your church banners echo the psalmist who declared, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is they name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)

*angels are a detail from new banners created by Carrot Top Studio for a parish in Michigan.

Don't Forget Advent!

• This Sunday we will begin a new church year. Advent allows us to once again turn our attention to the preparation for the coming of the Lord. Advent is a Latin word meaning “the coming.” Officially established by church leaders in the sixth century, Advent was originally meant to be a time when Christians reflected on the meaning of Christmas. Today, fourteen hundred years after the first Advent season, many churches and families use the symbols of Advent—wreaths, candles, and calendars—to bring the spiritual meaning of Christmas alive in a way that teaches minds, touches hearts, and reflects the original purpose of the tradition. How can we see Christ more clearly, judge the world more wisely, and live in relationship with God more faithfully? Consider the following for the church and/or the home:

• sing the hymns of Advent and save the Christmas favorites for Christmas
• make a paper chain to countdown through Epiphany-using different colors for each season (purple, white, green)
• hang banners and wear vestments and stoles that reflect the colors (typically purple or blue with accents of gold) and symbols of Advent
• enjoy the children’s book Waiting for Noel by Anne Dixon
• observe times as a family. Will this mean those that live just under your roof or does family mean your church family? Include those that might live alone in your family’s activities such as sharing a meal, baking cookies or decorating a tree.
• use an Advent wreath as a teaching symbol during worship. Invite members of the congregation to light the candles. These people can represent the entire faith family: traditional family units, the widowed, the single, and the divorced. A wreath can also be placed on the dinner table for lighting of the candles prior to family devotions and prayer.
  

We seem so eager for Christmas to arrive. If we hurry too quickly to the celebration of Christmas, we will be unprepared to welcome Christ. Blessings for your Advent.

Countdown to Advent: The Jesse Tree

The story of Jesus brings hope, so do trees that absorb the old air and produce fresh air. So, the use of Jesse trees in our churches and homes tell not only stories of faith, but represent symbols of hope for the world. The tradition of the Jesse Tree dates back to medieval times. The name of the tree refers to the lineage of Jesse, mentioned in Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” In creating a contemporary Jesse tree, one can use symbols from scriptural references and add others that have particular relevance for the local setting.

Learning is most significant if the message is delivered in several different means. If you have a Jesse tree you might also consider:

• A prayer of dedication for the Jesse tree.


• Incorporate hymns with the progressive decorating of the trees.


• Wearing a teaching stole with Jesse tree symbols. Such as the one found at http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoro2y/id36.html


• Use the Jesse tree symbols on bulletin covers.

Jesse trees can bring new life to old, old stories in your congregation this Advent!

In the News

Vestments, in the past several weeks, have been making news headlines! The Red Mass, celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law school professors and students, and government officials was celebrated at the beginning of the month. It takes its name from the red vestments worn by the celebrant and the people at the Mass to symbolize the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, it was a pleasure to read about the Rev. Gary Schulte as he was installed in New Hampshire to head the Congregational churches in that conference. Reportedly, hundreds celebrated by wearing white robes and colorful vestments.

Most recently, the news services have described the multicolored vestments that represent a new dawn, worn by Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as she formally took office Saturday as the first woman to lead the Episcopal Church.

Color has been used symbolically by all civilizations. I see it as a gift that unifies, focuses, and teaches. It also supports our emotions for celebrations and reflection. May we continue to embrace color through our faith and in our worship of the Almighty God!

Bring on the Processional Banners!

Pamela Hardiman and Josephine Niemann who wrote Raise the Banners High! open their book with this statement: “It never fails. Every time processional banners are used in a liturgy, people seem a bit more alert, more attentive. …A good set of banners actually helps people celebrate liturgy in ways that other works of art do not. They help us participate with more of our senses.”

Have you thought about using banners in a processional instead of on a wall? I’ve had two occasions to help create such banners for worship. The first was for a Pentecost service. The banners were simple and bold strips of colored fabric suspended off a T-frame made from plastic tubing. These provided not only the colors of tongues of fire but a sense of the movement that must have been felt on that marvelous day the church first began. Secondly our worship leadership team wanted to try something different than the “typical” Nativity during the family Christmas Eve service. That year the children’s choir processed during the opening hymn with banners that had the figures for the Nativity graphically designed on them and placed them in the appropriate spots in the chancel as the story was told.

Recalling both of these first hand examples remind me of the energy that occurred during those worship services. I have to believe that the processional banners, unique to these services, were a worthy addition to helping us focus on praising God.

Inspired

Where do liturgical artists get their inspiration? Ultimately the inspiration comes from God but I find things like a walk through a museum, seeing a detail on a wonderful piece of architecture or the color of a wall in a coffee shop for example can spark that creative spirit. When I need to get out of the studio I often find my way to a bookstore which is yet another way to fuel my energy into a new project or revitalize one that has yet to jell. One of my recent finds in How to Read A Church, by Richard Taylor. If you aren’t familiar with this title you will enjoy the explanations of interpreting images in church art, understanding symbolism of individual animals, plants, colors, numbers, and letters, and considerations of how a church can reflect the Christian year. Happy reading!

A Spider Made Me Think

A spider has decided to make my front storm door its home. While I was out of town it spun a beautiful web. At this point the children had watched the entire process and there was no way this spider was moving to a new location. Daily we see the web become more intricate or the spider catch food or the dew glisten on the strands, all while the spider gracefully moves about without disrupting a single strand.

Because we have so enjoyed this gift from the natural world it has made me wonder if we use the nature that God has given us to the best of our abilities in worship. I immediately think of cut flower arrangements which can be beautiful but sometimes they neglect to focus on or relate to the worship at hand. I heard of a congregation that used cut forsythia branches during Lent to represent the need to have simplicity during this season. As the days and weeks progressed the buds on the branches opened, timed so that at Easter this natural wonder matched the pageantry and glorious celebration of the Easter season. What a wonderful statement this must have made for this congregation!

We are approaching Advent and I wonder if my congregation will be using fresh greens instead of artificial. Their beauty and aroma will be reminders of the everlasting love God has for us. We’d love to hear the creative endeavors you have made to intertwine nature with our worship of the Almighty One.

Multiple Intelligences in Worship

Are you a visual learner? Researchers estimate that 40-60% of people learn visually. You are correct if this sounds like something students and teachers are thinking about during back to school season. This is not, however, to be neglected by the faith community.

In 1983, Howard Gardner published his landmark book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, in which he detailed a different way of viewing intelligence that was quickly embraced by educators. Gardner, a Harvard researcher and professor, looked at intelligence as many-sided rather than as a general aptitude that could be measured by a paper and pencil test. He saw these intelligences as gifts within an individual that should be recognized and fostered.

How is your congregation addressing the needs of those that will be more attuned to worship through visual elements? Worship and Arts committees might brainstorm and find ideas beginning with banners fixed in one spot, power point staging, processional banners, flowers and other natural objects, clergy stoles and vestments, mobiles. This is not an exclusive list! We are encouraged and instructed again and again throughout the Bible to worship with all that we are…just don’t neglect the visual aspect.

If you have never taken a Multiple Intelligences quiz you might find http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm interesting!

A Duct Tape Stole!?

I've just stumbled upon an old news story about a bride and groom that wore a wedding dress and tuxedo created out of duct tape. They were kind enough to complete the look by creating a stole out of the same supplies for the pastor. Reading this report has caused me to shake my head while at the same time chuckle out loud...what will someone think of next?

While maintaining reverence for worship, artists should think seriously about the materials that can be used for items such as stoles and worship banners. The days of felt glued upon felt are thankfully in the past! In my mind, any material that doesn't stretch is viable for these creations. When we think of worship banners the possibilities extend even further to include multitudes of types of papers. With both fabrics and papers, sheerness, transparency, texture, color, and pattern should be considered (and not forgotten) when seeking supplies for your next addition of something visual in worship. Happy creating!

Innovate, Educate

I worshiped, as a first time visitor, at a neighboring church this past Sunday. The worship space was large (probably seating 1000 people) with the focus being a stage that was central, wide, and very simply appointed. I suspect the simplicity was intentional by the architect because it allowed for this space to be multifunctional while at the same time it guided congregants focus. The drama of the visual immediately caught my attention as I prepared myself to worship. Upstage was a very well orchestrated visual that contained a ribbon floating and cascading through midair with three interwoven objects. I suspected that the objects were part of a sermon series or the "message of the summer" but I really couldn't conjur up what the message was. Thankfulfully I did not leave this service perplexed because the pastor was generous enough to eloquently explain the visual in his message.

Should I have had to sit through three quarters of a worship experience before getting the connection to the visual? Maybe this was good, because it got me thinking. And, thankfully I didn't leave the space still in a quandry. I ponder this today because I believe a large part of including the visual in worship is educating those that experience it. Including a description in the worship bulletin, make a verbal connection during the message, and reinforcing themes with the music chosen for the day are easy ways to educate about the visual images in worship. Adding or subtracting visual components to your worship space will keep the message fresh. Including scriptural references and thought provoking questions about what people are seeing will only enhance the church coming together as one body and strengthen our knowledge in what we believe.

How to Celebrate Ordinary Time

As a Presbyterian, my church celebrates Ordinary Time, for us it is the longest portion of the church year. It is a time of spiritual growth and we celebrate with the color green. Ordinary in this situation does not mean regular or average but it comes from the word "ordinal" which simply means counted time. We our currently in the midst of counting our days until we begin Advent.

Professionally I am the designer of stoles and worship banners. I love using the many greens that nature gives us during the months of Ordinary Time. The fresh, lively spring greens to the rich and deep greens of summer and finally the soft and subdued tones of fall are all so visually satisfying. Personally, this time of year conjures up a few symbols such as: plant life to represent growth, creation (I love connecting to 2 Cor. 5:17-19), and the anchor cross and a heart to signify faith, hope and love.

There is much to embrace when we examine our Christian life, growth, and the mystery of God. So, how do you observe Ordinary Time devotedly and creatively for so many weeks?