Liturgical Arts, May 5th

As we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures, Liturgical Arts honors the culture of our speaker, Shizuko Kobayashi. They have created banner overlays reflecting Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. And they beautifully tie in the day’s scripture and liturgical color as well.

Message from Liturgical Arts

This First Sunday we will be celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures.  Liturgical Arts honors the culture of our speaker Shizuko Kobayashi.

The scripture from the Lectionary is Psalm 98, coupled with Acts 10: 44-48.

Psalm 98 celebrates God’s sovereignty over all the earth—over all the peoples of the earth—it celebrates that God will deliver from oppression and “judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 98-9) “…the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45)

It’s about the redemption of Israel from their sins as they were freed from slavery in Egypt.

The liturgical color for this Sunday is white.  We have created overlays for the banners and new paraments that reflect Kintsugi.  Kintsugi is the Japanese Art form of repairing broken pottery by mending it and painting the repairs with gold.  The piece is stronger and more beautiful than before it was broken.  The philosophy of Kintsugi values imperfections, viewing them as something to celebrate, not disguise.  It teaches us to embrace our struggles and repair them with patience and love, making us more beautiful and stronger having been broken.

In some ways, Kintsugi is a parable of the gospel.  We are broken vessels too, and we need Christ to put us back together.  When he does that, we need not hide or be ashamed of our scars or our brokenness.  Rather, they add to the beauty of our being.

On the banners you see, on the left, a figure bowed down under the weight of oppression.  On the right the figure is uplifted and repaired with gold.  Stronger, more hopeful, beautiful.

On the paraments you see vessels repaired with gold.  Even more beautiful than before.

In this time of racial inequity and tension, of political divisions, and of war, we hope to help you visualize the possibility of mending and healing our world.

In faith and love,

The Liturgical Arts Committee

Karin Lerew, Judi Haines, Barbara Hutchison, Mary Norris, Malissa Haslam