Christine McParland
Fine Art, Illustration, and Graphic Design
Visual Art in Worship
This portfolio features work done as part of a visual arts ministry at my home church, Lombard Bible Church. Visual arts in worship bring glory to God by beautifying His house (hearkening back to the original tabernacle and Solomon’s temple), affirming the value of both God’s visible creation and of His local place of worship. Such affirmation of beauty and of God’s house heightens the value of both in the lives of the congregants as well.
Visual art also brings a vital element to worship, collaborating with the music and teaching to engage both the visual and audible senses of the congregation. Thus, worship services become more accessible to visual learners, enhancing the audible tradition rather than detracting from it. Working in conjunction with scriptural teachings, images offer the power of visual symbols to impress truths in the minds of the congregants.
Community art projects bring an additional element to worship, offering congregants a tangible way to participate in worship and the beautification of God’s house. Participating in community art also provides them a deeper sense of ownership of both their worship and their position in the body of Christ. While not everyone is gifted as a visual artist, everyone has creative gifts that bring the users a strong sense of personal value when that creativity is used to bless others and glorify God. The simple yet powerful act provides worshippers an opportunity to tangibly offer a personal and valuable gift both to their church family and to their God.