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More Symbols Around Us
If we look around us, we see more to see and ponder— windows that grace the side of the sanctuary and the various physical items unique to the worship life of a church. These symbols are also deeply rooted and worthy of our notice. First, we look at the side windows, beginning at the front, on the pulpit side and then the lectern side. Second, we will consider the physical items that enhance our worship.
Star
The star is a symbol of Epiphany, the season of the church year that celebrates the wise men following the star to the Christ child. These Gentiles are the first of the many who will be coming from East, West, North, and South, from every nation, tribe, language, and people to know Jesus as Lord. In Epiphany, we hear of his preaching and miracles and we see the world taking notice of Jesus. We too have taken notice and have been called into his Kingdom.
“I am a historian, I am not a believer. But I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history.” (H.G. Wells)
Rose
The rose is the Messianic Rose prophesied in Isaiah 35:1: “And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” The world, cursed in sin, is like a desert, harsh and hard where life is a struggle. But, in the Messiah, all things will be made new. The desert shall rejoice; no more tears or sorrow or sickness or death. By faith, we live in this promise. Eternal life is already ours.
Stole
The stole is a symbol of the Office of Pastor. God has established this office for the Church, that it may be guided through proper teaching and preaching of the Word of God and be saved and nourished through the proclamation of and the administration of the forgiveness of sins and of the sacraments. “To obtain such faith God instituted the office of preaching, that is, the ministry. He gave the Gospel and the sacraments. Through these, as through means, He gives the Holy Spirit, who works faith.” (Augsburg Confession V)
The stole symbolizes a yoke. A pastor is yoked to Christ. He is to care for the people Jesus has given into this care. He is to point his people to Jesus that all may keep their eyes focused on the author and perfecter of the faith.
Stoles go back all the way to early church in the Roman Empire. All clerical ranks wore the stole, and its color would change by the season of the church year.
Crown
The crown is a symbol of Advent, the season of the church years that reminds us that “our King comes.” We wait for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, to come with trumpet blast and on a cloud of glory. (Daniel 7:13-14). Those waiting for him still living will meet in the air those who have died and be reunited with with Jesus when he returns. (1 Thess 4:13-18). “The Second Coming of Christ is not a mere doctrine—it is a living hope, a glorious expectation, and a blessed reunion with our Lord and all who are His.” (James Smith)
Unicorn
The unicorn, according to legend, wild and untamable, could only be tamed by a virgin. The unicorn was a fierce beast— a Christ figure with unparalleled power. The virgin Mary was able to “tame” him, even to bring him into her lap. Medieval depictions show the unicorn in the lap of Mary. The unicorn is a symbol of the incarnation, especially when seen with Mary. When alone, it is a symbol of Christ in his power.
Scroll
The Word of God given to proclaim, teach, hear and learn comes from prophets, apostles, teachers, pastors, missionaries, and parents. We hear it, learn it, and inwardly digest it. It nourishes us and is sweet like honey (Psalm 119:103). It is not static information, but it is dynamic and living— sharp as two edged sword (4:12.) It kills and it makes alive. It calls us to repent and to believe. It creates what it says. Human words can only describe. God’s word creates. “Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; at Thy speaking it was done.” (Thy Strong Word LSB 578:1). The Word became flesh. “The Word of God is not a word to be handled; it is a Word that handles us.” (Martin Franzmann)
Fish
The fish became a symbol in the very early years of the Church and its Confession. It may have been a secret marking shared by Christians during times of persecution. It may have been chosen to reference the miraculous feeding of the five thousand or the commissioning of his followers to be “fishers of men.”
The five Greek letters spell the Greek word “fish” — ichthus. The five letters are the first letter of each of the Greek words: “Jesus Christ of God the Son Savior.”
Manger
The manger, a feeding trough filled with hay, became the bed for Jesus, the Christ child and “the light that had come to shine in the darkness.” The X (chi) and the P (rho)— the ChiRho— is a symbol of Christ as the these two Greek letters are the first two letters for “Christ.” Christ is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah, or Annointed One. The rising sun is a symbol that he has come into our darkness to bring the light of God’s love and grace to the world. A savior is born! Good news, “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5)
Pelican
The pelican as symbol of the Christian faith, and especially of communion. Pre-Christian legend of the pelican was that in time of famine, the mother pelican would wound herself upon her breast with her beak and enable the young to feed on her blood, preventing starvation.
The first instance of this symbol’s Christian use occurred in the second century in Alexandria and was later adapted by church fathers. Dante in Paradiso, Shakespeare in Hamlet have referred to this symbol and to Christ.
Jesus’ self-giving, his sacrifice, his blood poured from his wounds, are worthy of remembering. When we gather at the meal to which he invites us, we “do this in remembrance of him.” We are fed by his broken body and shed blood in the bread and wine.
Drops of blood
“The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). All of us were held in bondage to the power of sin and to death. But God provided a deliverance for us. He covered our sin by his own blood on the cross, rendering the wage of our sin to be paid in full. His death became our life. His blood has washed us clean (Rev. 7:14).
Phoenix
A bird, a Phoenix, arising from the ashes, is a pagan symbol of life spring from the clutches of death, that predates the Christian faith. It became a symbol of the resurrection and of the Easter season.
“We have a bird which is found in Arabia, that is unique and of a singular nature, the phoenix. It is said to live for five hundred years, and when it dies, it regenerates itself from its own ashes. Do we believe this, and shall we not believe in the resurrection of the dead?” (Church father, Tertullian).
The resurrection, unlike a pagan myth, is rooted in history that can be investigated; it is a historically true event, upon which you can place your eternal hope.
Luther’s Rose
This stylized version of Luther’s rose is an international symbol of the Lutheran faith. In 1530 he described the rose to a friend. He said that “the black cross on a red heart reminds us that the crucified Christ saves us. The cross humiliates us and causes us pain, but also brings us righteousness and life when, in our hearts, we believe in the crucified Saviour. The heart is in the center of a white rose, to show that faith brings joy, comfort, blessedness and peace beyond that of the world. The background of the rose is sky blue to show that this joy in the Spirit and in faith is the beginning of the heavenly joy to come. It is surrounded by a golden ring, to signify that the bliss of heaven is endless and lasts forever, and is more precious than all other joys and treasures.”
Bible
The Bible, a collection of sixty-six writings, all inspired by the Holy Spirit, are authored by forty different authors of diverse backgrounds. Over time, it unveils God’s plan of deliverance from sin, death, and the power of the devil. The knowledge given to us in the Bible is more than a natural knowledge that all humans have written in their conscience. Rather it is revealed — and understood by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our public worship is centered on readings from the Bible and the assigned readings trace the life of Christ.
“If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant.” (Martin Luther)
Keys
The two keys symbolize the “Office of the Keys,” which was the unique power that Jesus gave to his followers, namely to forgive the sins of those who repent and to withhold forgiveness upon those who refuse to repent (John 20:21-23). While this mission to forgive sins is given to the whole church, pastors are called by a particular church to be that particular person who is set aside to exercise the Office of the Keys in a public setting or in private with people in particular situations. Lutherans practice private confession and absolution (one on one with a pastor) and general confession and absolution (Sunday morning worship). “The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to retain the sins of the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.” (Small Catechism part V)
Storm
God often transforms us in storms. Jesus called the storm and the disciples were struck with holy fear: “Who is this that even the wind and seas obey him?” (Mark 4:41). When Jesus walked on the water in the midst of a storm, Peter was called out of the boat to come to him; he began to walk on water when his eyes were fixed on Jesus. But when his fears and unbelief compelled him to look around at the storm instead of Jesus, he began to sink. “Lord, save me!” Peter cried out (Matthew 14:30) “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Boat
The boat is a symbol of the Church. It is often depicted in full sail on choppy seas. The faithful are protected by the church amid the stormy seas of the world. It is also set on a destination, the eternal shores of heaven. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church; it offers security in Christ. The church, created by the Spirit, is the body of Christ in this world. It believes and is empowered by the promises of the Word and of the Sacrament.
“The Church is the congregation of saints in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.” (Augsburg Confession VII)
Sun
Jesus is called “the Dayspring from on high” (Luke 1:78) and “the bright morning star” (Rev 22:16) and the “Sun of Righteousness with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2). John says his dwelling among is as light in a dark world. Isaiah calls out to those in a land of deep darkness that a light is coming. Jesus calls himself the light of the world. "I believe in Christ as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." (CS Lewis)
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant was where God located himself to save his people from their sins through the shedding of blood. The Israelites, built the ark at the instruction of God, after they had recently been rescued from Egypt’s slavery. In this ark were contained the ten commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod. On top of the ark are two angels facing each other with their wings held forward. In between the wings and in the center of the top, was the “mercy seat” which God inhabited as his earthly throne. The Ark was carried by Levites using long poles when traveling from place to place. Once the people settled, by the direction of God through the pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, a tabernacle tent was set up, which included the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant was then placed in the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter there, once a year, on behalf of the people, for the forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood of sacrificial animals which was sprinkled on the mercy seat.
The Ark is a symbol of God dwelling with us in grace. He did not abandon his children but rescued them from slavery. He led them through the difficult years of wilderness travelings. He is present and saving. He did not give them over to their sins, but provided a way for them to be reconciled to Himself, a Holy God, through the shedding of blood. These sacrifices presaged the giving of his own Son for the forgiveness of sins. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23)
Processional Cross
The processional cross is carried at the fore of processions entering and exiting the church. Its entry into the sanctuary symbolizes that the Word is coming among those gathered. Its exit from the sanctuary reminds parishioners that Christ goes with them out into the world. As such, it is customary to bow to the cross as it passes by.
Altar
The altar is raised table, prominent in the sanctuary and centrally located for all to see, where the vessels of the Sacrament of the Altar rest. It hearkens to the altar of the temple where sacrifices were made daily. But we live in a new covenant; “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb 10:10)
Because the altar represents Jesus our Lord and his great work of salvation, it is proper to bow before the altar. Five crosses are etched on top of it, signifying his wounds. These “wounds” are visible only when the altar is stripped— Good Friday.
Altar cloth
Dating back to the very early church, the altar cloth was used as a symbol of the garments of Christ since the altar was the symbol of Christ himself. The color is white signifying the righteousness of Christ. It is traditional to strip the altar of the cloth for Good Friday, signifying Jesus’ own stripping and sacrifice. When the altar cloth is removed, the stripped altar reveals the five wounds of Christ— the five crosses etched into the stone.
Colored Cloth
The people are guided in worship through the Word of God, assigned each Sunday to represent a portion of the life of Christ (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) and the ongoing life of Christ through his people, the church. These seasons of the church year are designated by colors.
Candelabra and Altar Candles
The candelabra hearkens back to the lampstand of the OId Testament tabernacle. It’s lighting and extinguishing signifies the beginning and the ending of the worship service.
The two candles on the altar are lit only when communion is to be celebrated. They represent the two natures of Jesus Christ— his humanity and his divinity.
Eternal Flame
This flame always burns, even when the sanctuary is empty. Its constant burning signifies that God is always present; his promises are eternal. “The Lord will watch over your coming and your going, from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8)
Christ (or Paschal) Candle
Jesus is the light of the world. This large candle, always marked with a cross and usually with Alpha and Omega (beginning and End) is lit to signify a special focus on the resurrection; namely, at baptisms and during the season of Easter.
Pulpit
The pulpit is where the Gospel is publicly heralded by the called pastor. The church and its pastor has a unique and notable Word to proclaim and hear— “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!” was the first sentence of Jesus’ first proclamation (Matthew 4:17). What comes from the pulpit comes from the Word of God and is different than what the world offers— moralism, politics, therapeutics, coaching, maxims, or cheerleading. It is rather “the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1:16)
Font
A font, the place where baptism occurs, can vary widely in size, material, shape, and placement. Here, water is poured and the Name of the Triune God is joined to the name of the baptized, who is then adopted in the family of God and sealed with the Holy Spirit who creates faith in the work of Jesus Christ. It is a moment and location in space and time that can be photographed and remembered and claimed: “I am baptized into Christ.”
Lectern
Here the Bible is read in our public worship settings. The word of God is proclaimed at the pulpit in preaching, made visible to eat and drink in communion at the altar, poured upon us in baptism at the font. The Word of God is the central point and power of our worship. Here, we hear it and receive it. The Scriptures that are read are typically based on the calendar of assigned readings linked to the cycle of the church year which traces the life of Christ (Advent through Easter) and guides the life of his body the church (Pentecost). This cycle is repeated three times, each year a different Gospel being highlighted.