Campus Chapel Ann Arbor, Michigan Mark Roeda Note: See the accompanying PowerPoint file for the slides from this presentation.
As we pursued the objectives of our grant, we sought to think in terms of creating liturgical installations rather than decorations. We wanted artwork and objects that helped shape and inform the worship experience rather than just made the sanctuary look “pretty” or “festive.” For this presentation, we focused on two related aspects of our project: (1) integrating artmaking into the liturgy and, (2) by means of these symbolic actions, developing the installation over the course of the season. Slide 2: In the Fall of the grant year we examined 2 Corinthians. In the letter, Paul declares that Moses veils the glory shining in his face because Israel’s “minds were hardened” (3:13-14). The week our worship revolved around this passage we gave everyone a lump of clay as they entered. During the confession, they were invited to mold a pinch pot as they reflected on what it meant to have a mind malleable to God’s ways. They then brought these to the front. The next week we handed each person one of the pinch pots as they entered. They were asked to meditate on Paul’s image of “treasures in clay jars.” They reflected on the frailty of the dried clay as a way of considering their own mortality. Then they were invited up to receive a tea light lit from the Christ candle. This symbolized the “treasure” of the gospel which they placed in their “clay jars.” Slide 3: In Advent we used a symbolic action taken from Cloth for the Cradle (from which we got the phrase “symbolic action). A basket (or “cradle”) was placed at the front of the sanctuary and everyone given a strip of fabric. Signifying their desire to prepare a place for the coming Christ, they took turns laying their fabric across the basic. The next week everyone received a votive candle. During the service, these were placed around the basket to symbolize keeping vigil. We reflected on the fact that vigils are often protests. The advent vigil protests the darkness and awaits with hope the coming of Light. Slides 4 & 5: The words across the shoulders of the picture of Jesus (slide 106) are: “Upon him was the punishment that made us whole.” Using (blood) red markers drawn from a chalice, people came forward and added their names to his back. Inspired by liturgical artist Heather Bryson’s work, we placed a tree at the front of the sanctuary. One Sunday, each person received a “cocoon” made of clay. A golden cocoon hung representing Christ hung from the tree. As a sign of their commitment to die to self, each person hung their cocoon on the tree during the service’s call to commitment. Slide 6: In subsequent years, rather than using a tree again (which obstructed the view of our screen), we created a cross by lashing branches of various sizes together.
Slide 7: For Easter, spray-painting the cross white and adding butterflies highlighted the transformative power of resurrection. We had signified death and dying not testifies to life and living. In celebration of this, members of the congregation were invited to adorn the cross with flowers. In conclusion, these symbolic actions were probably the most memorable aspect of our grant project. Most of our community do not come from churches where the church calendar has much significance. Moreover, most of them tend to read time according to the academic year or sports seasons. These symbolic actions were a great way to help them discover a richer, more meaningful way of inhabiting time.