I grew up worshipping God in a church building with no stained glass windows. We were taught that, as Calvinists, such decor was distracting from The Divine. The windows were not even clear; they were wavy glass (not a technical term) so that we would also not be distracted by what even The Divine had created outside. You'd hate to have those trees take your mind of the sermon.Today, I experienced a revelation.
We visited a tiny church sanctuary outside Sleepy Hollow, NY which boasts nine Chagall windows and one Matisse window. Not your average small town church building.
You know how emerging worship spaces often feature art on the walls? This is like that only the art is priceless. In fact, the art is so "big" - not only in size but in power - it feels like you are cupped in the hand of God while sitting that space.
It made me feel like weeping. And it wasn't because Marc Chagall was so incredibly gifted. It was because I experienced in my bones that God is the One who gifted him.
I'm telling you, worshipping in this space every Sunday would be almost orgasmic. Teresa of Avila-esque ecstasy.
It was so beautiful and so stirring that all I could do was thank God. Without sounding overly dramatic, even writing about what we saw is overwhelming.
So . . . what's up with art in worship?
- There are certainly church buildings that have become museums. They do not house a congregation anymore but they are beautiful and people want to be there for the art and the history.
- There are church buildings with few to no artistic features, maybe because such things are theologically frowned upon or maybe because nobody in those churches has any sense of liturgical style.
- There are church buildings that feature artists but the connection seems unimportant between the artist, and faith or God or the grace of being born with these hands.
Marc Chagall was a Jew commissioned to create windows for a Christian church. What he made brings all kinds of people to God. Or is it just me?
Is art in worship simply an individual thing? It connects some to The Holy and others just think it's pretty? Or it distracts some (like John Calvin) but helps others (like me) focus?
All I know is that if I worshipped regularly in this little church, I would need no sermon, no music, no prayers except "Thank You." What's your take on visual art in worship?
Window is The Good Samaritan by Marc Chagall, commissioned in memory of John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. by the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, New York. The photo doesn't do it justice.
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11 comments:
Great post! It's the question of all artist in the church--does my gift make a difference because it isn't only verbal.
We're all wondering how we make an impact on the world we live in--through arts.
All I know is church would be DRY without the Arts... Arts bring to life the truths of God and His Word so we can visually see it.
I'm a born and bred Calvinist who is moved by good art, helpful art in worship that points to the Divine.
Hey! I grew up fifteen minutes from Sleepy Hollow/Pocantico Hills!
I think art in worship, when well done, is a wonderful enhancement. Out congregation had an education program on "Faith and Arts" a few years ago, and as a lead up to it for several weeks we featured various types of art in the Sunday services. I loved it, and people responded very well.
I want to visit the church you saw! Reminds me of a couple of years ago when we did a walk through tour of the Cathdral of St. John the Divine in NYC. Lots of beautiful art, especially sculpture.
Arts in worship - visual, musical, theatrical (well, that's bodily/kinesthetic as well as verbal), liturgical movement/dance, architectual (visual-spatial, "space teaches") - are absolutely essential I think, esp. when considering that everyone learns/experiences learning differently...if worship is for God's glory and to encourage/shape our participation in God's kindom on earth, how it expresses/teaches is very important...more than words can ever express. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences comes into play in significant ways.
Art is so needed not just in worship, but in all of life. I support using all types of art--music, poetry, drama, visual art--to enhance and bring life to the worship. It's like being a teacher and knowing that not all of your students are auditory learners. Some are visual, some kinestetic. Any way that we can bring the Gospel to the people is welcome.
I was raised Catholic, so I've always had a deep appreciation of the value of art in worship. Every Catholic church I've been in has had some kind of artwork, even if it is only the stained glass windows or the statues and crucifix. In fact, there is a link in my blog (at the top) that leads to a slide show of some murals at a church in Pittsburgh that are just amazing.
I haven't experienced that kind of deep, moving art as much in Protestant churches, at least not in the sanctuary. My mom's church (Lutheran) did have a Tiffany stained glass window behind the altar, but for most of its history it was covered up by a brick wall. They went through some weird phase where everything that was even a little bit ornate was removed from the sanctuary, or covered up if it couldn't be removed. The completely forgot about the window until some renovations were done in preparation for the 150th anniversary celebration.
I think Calvin's objections to art in worship were mostly rooten in how art in the RC church of the time had become allied with wealth, power, and the manipulation of popular piety by those with wealth and power. While it is always good to keep those potential abuses in mind, I hope we can agree that we are in a different era and need to make our own judgements on where art is and isn't appropriate in worship.
What Sarah said! Music and Arts are the language of the soul ... words are language of the mind ... and we are charged to love God with all our heart, mind & soul.
How appropriate to have this discussion on The Church for Starving Artists' Blog. I do think church is starving for art so often. I am right behind Sara and her comments.
amen to the post and these comments. beauty is a window into the divine. We need more and more of it!
I dont know what I'd do if my church stopped having an artist create work on stage during the worship. Our little church gallery is powerful too. Once i experienced how i could worship through art, i dont think i'd ever go back. I'd sooner start my own church. I think it's great that churches are reconnecting with the arts.
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