A Liturgical, Advent Banner by Lois Prahlow

"A Liturgical Advent Banner" by Lois Prahlow. Png. not for republishing

A brief explanation of symbols by Lois Prahlow

       The banner depicts traditional Christmas symbols: snowflake, angels, Christmas trees, poinsettias, and stars. The snowflake in the center brings to mind Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow,” and makes a fitting backdrop for the focus of the banner, the manger and the cross. Marked with hearts, the snowflake represents our Heavenly Father’s purity and His love for Jesus, His beloved Son, and for the whole world.

      The angel’s song, Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest!” is inscribed in Latin around the center, while words from Luke 2: 10-11, the angel’s message, is written around the perimeter of the circle.

      Four-pointed stars top each of the six Christmas trees and recall the story of the wise men, Matthew 2:1-12. The four points signify the light to be revealed to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32) in four directions of the earth: north, south, east, and west.

      The Christmas trees form six points of the Creator’s Star.

      Jesus Christ is the beginning of a New Creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

      The small circles on the trees, starting at the top and proceeding clockwise, represent the following:

1. Jesus, as a baby holding an olive branch, is superimposed on an open book. This symbolizes “The Word made flesh” (John 1:14), and the Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9:6).
2. Glowing candle: Jesus is the Light of the world (John 9:5)
3. Crown, sunburst, and IHS: Jesus, Triumphant King (Timothy 1:17). IHS are the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek. The sunburst brings to mind Malachi 4:2, which speaks of the sun of righteousness, risen with healing in his wings. The crown symbolizes kingship.
4. Christmas Rose: The rose is an ancient Roman symbol of victory and triumphant love. As here presented, the beautiful flower signifies our beautiful Savior. Five thorns represent His five wounds sustained at the cross. God was in Christ showing His love for us. The cross, once an instrument of shame and defeat, is now, by God’s grace, a sign of triumph and victory over sin, death, and the devil. Please note the poinsettias sprinkled around the banner are another form of the Christmas rose.
5. Fleur-de-lis and “M” monogram: A stylized iris, also known in olden times as a sword lily, and the letter “M” represent the Virgin Mary. She is called “blessed” by all generations because she bore the Savior of the world (Luke 1:48). The swordlily makes us think of the sword (sorrow) that pierced her heart when she witnessed the suffering and death of Jesus, as was prophesied by Simeon (Luke 2:35).
6. Lamb with Chi Rho in circle: John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

Alleluia Banner by Lois Prahlow

"Alleluia Banner" by Lois Prahlow. Png. not for republishing

        This banner is divided into four parts by four trumpets proceeding from the center cross. Each quadrant proclaims, “Praise the Lord!” We are reminded of the four corners of the earth where our Lord has directed us to carry the Good News of the Gospel. Between the trumpets are four petals in which are depicted human figures with arms uplifted. These figures in varying colors represent all humanity in all nations. Their song is “Alleluia” and the notes of that song have as their center of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. article and design by Lois Prahlow.

Luther's Small Catechism by Lois Prahlow

Luther's Small Catechism Banner Design by Liturgical Artist, Lois Prahlow. Png. not for redistribution.

      A flower with five petals represents the rose on Luther’s Coat of Arms. Within each petal is a golden heart (God’s love) with symbols of five of the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, The Lord’s Supper, Holy Baptism, and The Creed. The sixth chief part, The Office of the Keys, is represented in the center of the flower. Between the petals are blue flowering waters each marked with a Chi Rho (Greek monogram for Christ). The elongated form of the monogram suggests the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Drawn to the Cross in the water of Baptism (blue arrows), the repentant sinner is gathered in, forgiven, cleansed, and sent forth with the good news of the Gospel into all the world (dark golden arrows)! “YES” is the believer’s response to God’s love and call in these mighty teachings of the Spirit (red flames)! article and design by Lois Prahlow

Pentecost Banner by Lois Prahlow

Pentecost Banner designed by Lois Prahlow. Jpg. not for republishing.
 Original Banner 11 ft. across, made with felts.

        The colors used on the Pentecost banner help create a warm mood. Nine flames represent the gifts listed in gold on the edge of the banner: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10). The nine bunches of grapes symbolize fruit of the Spirit and are written white on the banner’s edge: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). The use of the vine and grape motif also suggests Jesus’ words, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Abide in me and bear much fruit (John 15).” article and design by Lois Prahlow

A Holy Week Banner by Lois Prahlow

Holy Week Banner designed by Lois Prahlow. Jpg. not for republishing.
 Original Banner 11 ft. across, made with felts.

       Done in muted tones of tan and beige, this banner suggests the somberness of the events of Holy Week. The stone-shaped squares which form a cross each depict those things which were done to Jesus by humankind: crowned with thorns, scourged, betrayed, pierced with nails, mocked, numbered with criminals and crucified, denied, offered vinegar to drink, and stripped of his clothing. They cause us to reflect on the stoniness and cruelty of sinful beings.

      The four quadrants are likewise stone-shaped, but are in the form of a heart, which represents God’s love for sinners in giving Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. He is the Cornerstone on whom the Church is built. The symbols in these quadrants represent what God has done for us in the suffering and death of Jesus; brought healing (OT brass serpent on a pole, a type of Christ), overcome death (OT story of the Passover), given His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins (cup and host), and served us all (ewer, basin, towel). The palm branches in the quadrants are reminiscent of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

      Around the perimeter are adjectives describing Jesus: betrayed, denied, abandoned, despised, scorned, rejected, mocked, scourged, humiliated, condemned, cursed, crucified. article and design by Lois Prahlow

Easter Butterfly Banner by Lois Prahlow

Easter Butterfly Banner designed by Lois Prahlow. Jpg. not for republishing.
 Original Banner 11 ft. across, made with felts.

      This banner is based on Romans 6: 4… “We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too, might walk in newness of life.” Its symbolism is taken from the life cycle of the butterfly. This creature starts out as a lowly caterpillar (not depicted here). The “worm” is entombed in a cocoon and later emerges as a beautiful butterfly, capable of soaring to lofty heights.

      Jesus took on human flesh, was crucified on the cross, spent three days in the grave, and was raised from the dead with a glorified body.

      In the waters of Holy Baptism (symbolized by the shell and the blue water droplets spurting from the center), the Baptized are united with Him in His death (cross), burial (cocoon), and resurrection (soaring butterfly). We are empowered by Him to daily die to sin and rise to new life of service to God and others.

      The monarch butterfly represents our King, Jesus Christ. His name is indicated with the Greek monogram, ICXC. The crown inscribed with the Greek word NIKA above the monarch speaks of His VICTORY over sin, death, and the devil for us.

      Smaller butterfly forms symbolize the Baptized. Their alleluia songs of praise are directed toward Jesus, their Monarch (top perimeter), as they fly out from the center of the banner in all directions, taking the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world as He has commanded them to do. As new creatures in Him, they spread the fragrance of Christ (II Corinthians 2: 14-16, symbolized by delicate flowers), the Good News of forgiveness and salvation in Him alone! article by Lois Prahlow

A Messianic Rose Banner by Lois Prahlow

Messianic Banner designed by Lois Prahlow. Jpg. not for republishing.
 Original Banner 11 ft. across, made with felts.

      This Christmas banner is a celebration of the “fullness of time,” when God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world. It is divided into 12 segments, representing the face of a clock. Galatians 4:4 says: “When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Ephesians 1: 3-10 also refers to God’s plan to make us his children in Christ Jesus in the fullness of time.

      The flower in the center is the Messianic Rose which symbolizes our Savior. A sharply pointed star in the center foreshadows the five wounds he endured on the cross, the price he paid to make us his own. design and article by Lois Prahlow

Creation Banner by Lois Prahlow

Creation Banner designed by Lois Prahlow. Jpg. not for republishing.
 Original Banner 11 ft. across, made with felts.

      The Creation banner ties together two texts from Scripture: Genesis 1-2:3 and John 1, and the concept of light. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, Let there be light, and there was light… And God saw that the light was good. (Genesis 1).” “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God   In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people (John 1).”

      The banner is divided into eight segments, seven for the days of the creation, and one for the day of new creation, the day of salvation in which we live. In the lower left, the separation of light and darkness is depicted on Day One. Proceeding clockwise, Day Two symbolizes the separation of the waters; Day Three, the establishment of dry land and plant life; Day Four, the creation of sun, moon, and stars; Day Five, the creation of fish and birds; Day Six, the creation of animals and man, with male and female being given dominion over all of creation; Day Seven, God’s resting from his labors, with open hands extending in blessing. Day Eight shows the hands of Jesus, God’s Son, marked with the wounds of the nails. From a chalice, droplets of blood splash beneath those hands. A cross and Host, marked with IHS (monogram for Jesus) are central to the eighth Day.

      Pure light, when broken up by a prism, reveals the spectrum of the rainbow. Hence the banner was constructed using the rainbow color progression to emphasize this quality of light. The center of the banner depicts the Spirit of God (dove) who moved over the face of the waters when the world was created, and Jesus Christ the pure Light of the world. article and design by Lois Prahlow.