Tualatin, Oregon
2020
To promote engagement with scripture and the Christian year in worship by reflecting on the life and teachings of Christ through stained glass art.
Provide a brief summary of the purpose and goal of your grant.
Our purpose was to enhance visually our worship throughout the liturgical year by creating four sets of faux stained glass window panels that we could change with the liturgical seasons. The panels were created from commissioned works by four artists working in different mediums. They observe Advent, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary time.
What are two questions that have generated reflection on worship and helped shape your project?
- What installations can we add to our art library that will inform and inspire our worship throughout the liturgical year?
- What can we create that is absolutely unique?
What impact has your project had on the worship life and habits of the congregation?
We refer to our church as “creative traditional”. Our window panels shared online and in holiday cards, were tangible proof that our creative traditional spirit continued to express itself throughout the COVID pandemic. Each year when we display the panels, they will remind us of God’s grace and comfort during this terrible time, and we will celebrate.
What have been your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)?
When encountering roadblocks, we have had to turn and proceed in new creative directions.
Our project had strict deadlines for installing each of our faux stained glass window panels. We had to work backward from each deadline, being mindful of each team member’s responsibilities and events in each team member’s lives, e.g. large projects at work requiring overtime, illnesses, injuries, and contracting COVID-19.
What would you like to share with other Project Directors?
The project director has the final say, but each team member needs a voice. Keep collaborating. Roadblocks are opportunities. Make a timeline calendar with all the important deadlines listed. Work backward from each deadline listing all the tasks required and the amount of time each will take. Only then will you know where and when to start. Use the Calvin worship Grant Team! They're amazing!
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Pray like the project depends on it. It does.