Prayer Labyrinth Easter 2008

The Liturgical Arts Team created banners for the sunrise service of Easter 2008 at the Prayer Labyrinth. A plain white cloth was used to fashion the banners. The fabric was similar to what might have been used to wrap Jesus’ crucified body; this cloth was subsequently found discarded in the empty tomb (John 20:6). Also, the color white is traditionally used for Easter, as it represents the now fully-realized purity and perfection of the risen Christ.

Additionally, the banners featured white streamers with brightly colored, gathered cloth at the end. When still, the cluster resembled a flower blossom; when the breeze stirred, it lifted, evoking the flight of a butterfly. Blossoms and butterflies signify new life and transformation, which are appropriate for these symbols on the day we celebrate the Resurrection.

The banners were installed during the night. Just as Christ’s resurrection was discovered by his followers early on a Sunday morning, those who gathered to worship at sunrise encountered these symbols of Christ’s resurrection. The decision to use three banners created a suggestion of the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion at Golgotha. (There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them - John 19:18) And of course, the symbolism of the Trinity is represented by the number three.