Is your sanctuary decorated.....

Minimally. We have some wreaths on our doors, some decorations in our fellowship center and our offices, and some decorations outside. But we have very little on the inside actually in the sanctuary. We have some small wreaths in our windows, but they are very low key. Maybe a poinsetta here and there. I guess I tend to go low key because I've really seen some churches do some really funky things to decorate seasonally. I don't mind decorations, just as long as we don't come anywhere near the gaudy zip code or a TBN kind of thing

 

We have some small wreaths in the windows (8 windows),a candle thingy in the window on the sill, one big wreath on each side of the baptistry window. A wreath on each of the front doors(outside). I think thast it. I really haven't looked to see.

 

Since we're still in Advent, we have blue paraments on the pulpit, altar, and lectern as well as blue banners and an Advent wreath. We have a Chrismon tree, but no Jesse tree this year.

Joshua

 

I guess I'm being pickey, but way back when I was in school I got in trouble by calling the auditorium a sanctuary. We were taught that the sanctuary went with Jerusalem was destroyed. But I do know what you mean.

 

In our sanctuary we have Advent reefs on the front door and similar decorations in the windows with candles and lamps. In front of the pulpit is a huge Nativity scene that is almost life size.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SaggyWoman:
What is a Jesse tree?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Jesse tree (the name is a reference to Jesus being a shoot from the stump of Jesse) is decorated with symbols representing the ancestors of Christ (Abraham, Jacob, etc.). The symbols used are things like a ram for Abraham, a lyre for David, a ladder for Jacob. It's a wonderful teaching tool (and visually creates balance - Chrismon tree on one side of the chancel, Jesse tree on the other).

Joshua

 

Squire
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Poinsettas on the steps up to the pulpit and choir loft area (aka the altar). And a tree in the Church parlor <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sounds like how our church usually is. They didn't go the poinsetteas this year. I don't know about the tree. It used to be out front, but since I come in and out the side door, beside the pulpit area(where all the class room are at and the stair well) I don't know if it is there thie year or not, If I had ti guess I'd say it is.


Joshua, that sounds noce, I like that. I have never heard of it before. I'll bet it's nice.

 

I looked tonight, and we have a tree in the foyer.Along with several manger displays.

 

There are a couple of ladies in our church who make a sort of ministry out of decorating the front of the church for each season. It's always in good taste and very lovely.

Our sanctuary seats at least 1-thousand, so it is fairly large.

This Christmas they decorated in purple and white. I know it sounds a little strange, but the effect is beautiful. There are Christmas trees on each side of the platform, decorated in purple and white ribbon and purple and white ornaments, and there are large wreaths on either side of the baptistry, also decorated in purple and white. Railings on either side of the platform are draped with green garland intertwined with white lights and purple and white ribbon.

It's different, but the effect is very pretty.

Elizabeth

 

In the sanctuary we have poinsettia's. In the front hall we have a nativity scene and on the doors we have wreaths. Fairly simple.

 

Elizabeth, purple is one of the two traditional colors of Advent (blue is the other).

Joshua

 

Yes, it is...especially since our worship hall (much better New Covenant word than Old Covenant "sanctuary" ) is decorated...because we have a house church!!!!
Seriously, John R. Rice wrote a little booklet called "I Love Christmas" and it wonderfully answers all those "bah, humbug!" type Christians who are afraid to celebrate Christmas because "it's pagan origins" etc. I heartily recommend it. Sadly, I have forgotten what the website was but if you run your search engine on the title I think you'll find it.
I spent years, as a young Christian, under the influence of the idea that, as Christmas was not commanded in the Bible we shouldn't celebrate it. We tried "Messianic Jewish holidays"--fun & meaningingful, but not nearly the joy we experience now as we openly proclaim the Savior's birth with cards, carols and the like.
Anyway, I'm getting off the subject...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
the javalady
(aka: PreacherDave's wife, Tami)

 

Elizabeth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>There are a couple of ladies in our church who make a sort of ministry out of decorating the front of the church for each season. It's always in good taste and very lovely <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We have the same thing. You sure you aren't in my church. Well we only seat about (including the balcony) 350. We had over 300 last night, pretty good for a town of 2500. We had people from all the other churches(christmas cantata).

 

We have white poinsettieas lining the front. Wreaths line the windows. A manger is displayed in the baptistry (easily removed if we need to use the baptistry). Angels are up front. It sounds like a lot, but it does not look over done. In fact, it looks really pretty.

 

what is a Chrismon tree?

 

We have pointsettas decorating the pulpit area(they're also donated as "friendship flowers"), plus we have huge Wreaths in various spots in the sanctuary. Those are hung up during our "Hanging of the Green" on the first Sunday in December. Its always a special service when our members from different countries tell how their country celebrates the holiday. Outside is a different story! We do a "Living Nativity" every year, so we have a "Bethlehem" stage set up. This weekend the live camels and such are brought in. We do a live, free, reinactment of the Birth of Jesus for the community. We have about 3000 members of our community come each year. It's a great thing and I've been involved for the past 8 years. I look forward to serving our community each year this way.

In His Service,

Karen

 

On the outside of our church we have wreaths with big red ribbons on windows that face the road. Our sanctuary has poinsettias, more candles than usual, and a HUGE Christmas tree off to one side, decorated with white bows and golden ornaments. It's very tasteful and elegant, nothing I could ever create. The setting for the live nativity is set up, and after reading a previous post about the re-enactment of the story, I think I need to attend that this weekend! It sounds wonderful!

(I've only belonged to the church for 5 months - everything is new to me. )

What?! No thread about how we decorate at home???