What's on the Altar?

A continuing series on the parts of worship

Flowers

Febraury 2009
Flowers are part of the beauty and frailty of creation, thus they are symbolic of our joy in Christ as well as earthly mortality and therefore are used universally to adorn the worship space.

Only the freshest flowers should be used, and their color and arrangement should be consistent with the season or festival being observed. Because flowers are used for their symbolism of life, joy and human frailty, “All people are grass, and their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades” [Isaiah 40:6-7], artificial flowers have no purpose and no place in the worship space.

Potted plants are not used on a regular basis, either, in place of fresh flowers, because they do not have the same symbolism of frailty and sacrifice as cut flowers.

Flower vases usually coordinate with other worship appointments. Flowers in their vases may be placed in various locations, depending on the design of the worship space. They are not, however, placed on the mensa (the top surface of the altar itself), which is reserved for the Eucharistic vessels, missal and candles. The flowers are never to be placed in the baptismal font either.

Flowers and other decorations should adorn but never obscure the central things: font, altar and pulpit.

In His Service,

Bernie Swanson and Pat Hamm
Co-coordinators of Altar Guild