Visual Arts

Designing New Churches to Build a Sense of Community

Building a new church lets you rethink the message you send through its interior and exterior design. Good architectural choices can improve worship participation, promote a sense of community, and offer your church as a welcome "third place." A feature story exploring the design of new churches to promote community.

October 27, 2006 | 5 min read
Renovating Churches to Build a Sense of Community

Good architectural choices can improve worship participation, promote a sense of community, and make neighbors feel more welcome. A feature story exploring how church renovations can build a sense of community.

August 4, 2006 | 10 min read

How Congregations Create Worship Visuals

As Catherine Kapikian and other Christian artists have discovered, understanding the visual arts process is key to creating church imagery that builds community and deepens worship. A feature story exploring how congregations create worship visuals.

March 17, 2006 | 11 min read

On Worship Education, Helpful Themes for Discussion, and Choosing Carpet Colors

One of the major stumbling blocks we face is that most members of our congregation know very little about worship. But we don’t want to make worship didactic. Any advice?

March 1, 2006 | 1 min read

On Worship Education, Helpful Themes for Discussion, and Choosing Carpet Colors

One of the major stumbling blocks we face is that most members of our congregation know very little about worship. But we don’t want to make worship didactic. Any advice?

March 1, 2006 | 1 min read
Visual Arts in Worship: From either/or to both/and

What defines you? Is it what you know and do...or what you see and love? Your answer likely affects how you see the role of visual arts in worship. A feature story exploring more inclusive use of Visual Arts in Worship

February 3, 2006 | 7 min read
William Dyrness on aesthetically challenged Protestants

Moses saw God and then gave the law. Contemplating God in the temple inspired David to write songs and psalms. On Pentecost, Peter affirmed what Joel prophesied, that the Holy Spirit moves the faithful to dream dreams and see visions. And, till the Reformation, all Christendom celebrated the link between faith and the visual in worship.

February 3, 2006 | 4 min read