Visual Arts & Drama - Sunday, 5 February 2023 – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A
VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be accompanied by a picture of salt and/or light, or a drawing of a city on a hill with light shining down on it.
LIGHT
The readings use the image of light. A banner depicting a lamp, candle or beacon may be made and hung near the lectern.
OR
Just as we place lighted candles on the altar, so also candles may be placed near the lectern to show that the word of God is a light to the world. Such candlesticks may be easily made and can double as ‘processional candles’. Use two lengths of thick wooden dowelling about the same height as the lectern. Two new broom handles will do perfectly. To the top of each pole, nail a small wooden nut bowl. These bowls act to catch the drips from the candles. Such bowls can be purchased cheaply from many stores. Purchase two small, low candle-holders which may be glued or otherwise secured within the bowl on the top of each pole to hold the candles. At the other end you will need two heavy blocks of wood into which holes have been drilled which are slightly larger than the diameter of the poles. These will serve as stands for the candlesticks. These stands are placed either side of the lectern.
During the opening hymn, as the minister and his assistants enter the church following the processional cross, two children may assist in carrying the newly constructed processional candles either side (or slightly behind depending on the width of the aisle) the processional cross. Then, as the hymn comes to a close, the candles are placed in their stands either side of the lectern, where they remain burning for the entire service. If there is a gospel procession, the children may carry these candlesticks in front of the Bible as it is carried to the centre of the church for the reading of the gospel.
Altar Colour: Green
Images for This Week's Readings and Sermons
You can access excellent examples of church art relevant to each season of the Church year on the Visual Arts website. The image on the Service Preparation pages and in Set 1 of the Epiphany (Green) slides was created by Jan Kaesler.PPT Slides (Widescreen): / Epiphany 1 / Epiphany 2 / Epiphany (Green) Set 1 / Epiphany (Green) Set 2 / Epiphany (Green) Set 3
PPT Slides (Standard): / Epiphany 1 / Epiphany 2 / Epiphany (Green) Set 1 / Epiphany (Green) Set 2 / Epiphany (Green) Set 3
Simply download your preferred slides and copy the liturgy and songs into each slide.
Recommended Sources for Images
His Word in Pictures
Heartlight.org
Unsplash.com
Refreshed Art Designs
freebibleimages.org
Drama
Dramatising the Readings
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer.
For instance, the first reading could be read by two readers: The Lord, and the response (v 3a).