Here is an image of the paramel. it sits on he pulpit on a daily basis and changes color depending on the liturgical calendar.

The colors included throughout the year are green(mostly), purple, red, and white. I was thinking that something similar could hang from the prayer stations and also perhaps as a tablecloth for the communion table.

Idea Bank

Here's the list of concrete ideas that came up at t he meeting. Feel free to add, edit, or expand...

- Mount or paint the words Holy, Holy, Holy, or something similar on the long walls above the isles. This would match the writing in the Sanctuary. What would be an equivalent scripture or phrase for the Contemporary service.

- Include objects and textiles from countries and places where Central supports Missions work. This is already reflected in our offering baskets.

- Paint the serving pass throughs the same as the walls.

- Soften some of the stark edges in the room by adding plants on the ends of the stage and hanging some long banners. This would have the effect of shrinking the stage .

- Add in more liturgical elements.

- Use the rear "prayer" stations as a missions spotlight (not a bulletin board). Are these stations better served as places of information? Can we turn this area into an entry where on moves into worship?

- Use the center rear station as a reflection response to the cross at the rear of the stage. This may include another cross.

- Incorporate some type of element that can be added to by the congregation periodically by pinning, posting, nailing, etc. This can than be a work of art in itself.

- Put half moon shaped rugs underneath the prayer stations.

- Have a candle lighting area with multi-colored "Mosaic" glasses

Our Personal Canvas

(sorry about quality, I won't lie they ar from my cell phone.)

These are photos of the space to give you two impressions:

1. How blank it is when you aren't looking at the stage.

2. What type of space we have available to work with.

Everything says something....are we saying the right thing?

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people. In order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" -1Peter 2:9

As a "royal priesthood," we gather weekly to worship God and to pray not only for ourselves but for this entire broken world. We pray for those who believe and for those who do not believe; for those who pray for themselves and for those who do not or cannot pray; for those who love God and for those who are indifferent or hostile to God.

But, what are those prayer stations for anyway? It's pretty clear that most everyone in the congregation doesn't even think of those Little alcoves as prayer stations, or really even functional at all, except maybe for storage and desk space. Not to mention the chairs that are underneath. So what do we do about it? This is probably our main area of creativity and purpose. They are blank slates easily transformed into beautiful pillars of worship. I found a general consensus among us to do things that weren't too extravagant. Julia was reminded of Canterbury cathedral-- Grand but simple. Something that captures the ancientcy of our faith, but speaks from the community of Central.