About Our Pentecost Processional Banner
In designing the Pentecost processional banner, I hoped to create a banner that was not only an attractive addition to our worship, but a meaningful symbol of Pentecost.
The Body of the Banner: I began to think about the division, confusion, and weakness that the disciples experienced just before, during, and after Jesus’ crucifixion:
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know
the way?” (John 14:5)
- They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” (John 15:18)
- When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts2:6)
To symbolize this confusion, I cut several different fabrics into 1-inch squares, representing the disciples. The woven threads that created the fabric were severed, making the individual pieces weak and vulnerable to fraying. It was no longer a cohesive, ordered pattern – but an unattractive collection of diverse patterns. It felt to me, the way the disciples must have felt after Jesus’ crucifixion….weak, isolated, estranged, and alienated.
I then began to carefully sew these squares together. As the process evolved, the individual blocks began to create a pleasing pattern and a unified, stronger, new piece of fabric…..in fact, a new and unique creation.
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
- “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23)
- All the believers were together and had everything in common. (Acts 2:44)
- All the believers were one in heart and mind. (Acts 4:32)
The Borders: To bind the 1-inch blocks together, I applied a white border, which, along with the dove, represents the unifying power of the Holy Spirit. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)
Finally, surrounding the entire banner is a deep red fabric that has beautiful flowering vines running through it. To me, it is symbolic of Jesus (The Vine), and God the Father, (the Gardener) whose astonishing love surrounds us at all times, even in the midst of chaos. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1) The border can also represent a protective surrounding; You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5)
The Ribbons: The ribbons add movement to the banner, symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a blowing of violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1)
The red ribbons remind us of the “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3) The white ribbons represent the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), and the gold ribbons hint at the “wonders of heaven” …… the words of the Prophet Joel, which Peter spoke on Pentecost. (Acts 2:19) |
