Christian Symbolism at Mount Vernon

The Sanctuary

One of the high purposes of a sanctuary is to offer deep emotional security to the soul of a person. When one enters to worship, there should be a feeling of oneness with what the building represents. Surely, a church edifice ought to be the honest expression of the faith of its people. Here has been created an environment where the human spirit takes refuge from the chaos and turmoil of life ... a place of calm, quiet beauty where the trivial is lost and the personality becomes whole.

Mount Vernon's structure is most unique. It has been conceived as totally worshipful, while still containing the element of flexibility, which is so necessary as we seek to house a variety of programs. The interior spaces have been situated to capture the emotional qualities of God's transcendence (the vast vault of the room) yet immanence (the central table where we commune with the Lord). God is distant, yet approachable, here.

Our wish is to utilize all mediums of expression to try to communicate the inexpressible ... God's love for His people. To achieve this, major art forms have been employed-tapestries, carvings and glass. This description has been prepared to provide an understanding of the "subtle symbolism" of our sanctuary. They help to renew our consciousness of the great, unseen realities revealed to us in the Christian faith.

When the sanctuary doors are opened, our eyes are drawn to the enormous wooden cross suspended from the ceiling. It is paramount in the room as it is in the lives of our members. It says-as the Session requested -"God is here, in Christ, among God's people, now." The room was designed not only to be an area of peaceful beauty but as a meaningful space to worship. The very shape of the room echoes the cross. The cathedral ceiling reminds us to reach up to our God. Beneath the cross, in central focus, are the pulpit, communion table, and baptismal font, symbols of the Word and Sacraments, God's reaching out to us. Specially designed for our sanctuary are flower stands and planters with palm carvings. Even the brick floor and pew design were specifically planned to contribute to worship by improving audibility. Belief in the priesthood of all believers, and their equal participation in worship, is reflected in the choir's location in our midst as fellow members of our worshipping congregation.

Symbolism and the Sanctuary .

The Apostles' Cushions

Designed by a mother and daughter, these cushions on the elder benches were a two year project of women in our church. The colors repeat the predominate hues of the faceted glass windows. Their beauty becomes even greater as we understand the meaning of their designs.

The shield was a part of a soldier's equipment in the ancient world. By placing the apostles' symbols on shields we are reminded that they were soldiers of 'Christ and defenders of the faith, displaying soldier-like bravery in spreading the gospel.

Symbolism and the twelve Apostles' cushions.

The Paraments

The paraments are banners which hang from the pulpit and on each adjacent side. Untold hours of planning, designing, and stitching by many Mt. Vernon women went into the creation of these beautiful works of art. The colors and themes represent the liturgical calendar which the church follows. Most of the church year is considered Ordinary Time, when no prominent festival or theme is celebrated. The liturgical term "ordinary" means that which is standard, normative, usual, or typical. Week after week, Sunday "ordinarily" celebrates the resurrection and unfolding of the new creation. This is in accord with the Reformed tradition, for which the Lord's Day has always had a dominant role whether or not annual festivals were maintained. Twice each year, however, Ordinary Time is heightened by the extra-ordinary time of the Christmas and Eastercycles. They are extra-ordinary in that they intensify the foundational doctrines of incarnation and resurrection. In the past because Ordinary Time was counted as so many Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost, Epiphany and Pentecost were misunderstood as seasons when, in fact, they are single days.

Symbolism and the Paraments.

The Banners

The outdoor banners which fly beside our entrances on Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road are colorful proclamations of the gospel to our community. As do the paraments in the sanctuary, they follow the church year. The banners proclaim our Christian faith with symbols and color. During Advent, the royal purple banners relate to the coming of Christ: four candles of Advent preparation, the manger, the angels' trumpets, and the skyline of Bethlehem. Christmas through Epiphany (Dec 25-Jan 6) the white and gold banners tell the story of Jesus' birth and the visit of the Magi. The crosslet cross conveys the spread of the gospel in all directions. During Lent, black and purple symbols tell of Jesus' passion and death. On Easter the gold and white banners proclaim symbols of the resurrection and new life. On Pentecost (50 days after Easter), red banners narrate the birth of the church. At other times, we fly green banners, reflecting the creation story as told in Genesis.

Symbolism and the Banners

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