| | | | | | | | | | | | Since its beginning, Nativity Episcopal Church has had members of great talent and enthusiasm. From its stained glass windows, to creative banners, to the “prayer corner”, this church has inspired a ministry of the arts.
Nativity began as a mission of Christ Church Cranbrook in 1956. When the church built its worship space in 1963, it turned to the famous Cranbrook School of the Arts for design recommendations. The resulting nave is embraced by the warm tones of wood and carpeting.
The striking stained glass panels were created and installed over the churches large clear glass windows in 1982 and 1983. The panels were designed and created by Margaret Cavanaugh of Warren, Michigan to represent the six days of creation as told in the Old Testament Book of Genesis. John Fredenburgh, Rector at the time of the installation, explained that, “because our church is very modern, we also wanted windows with an abstract design that would be inspirational and invite people to participate in the windows.”
According to a newspaper article at the time, Margaret Cavanaugh who specializes in liturgical art said that she likes to illustrate concepts with symbols rather than exact representation. She worked through the entire color spectrum in creating the six panels. She explained that she used the copper foil method rather than lead to give the panels a warmer, more sculptural feeling in both natural and artificial light.| | | | |  | | | The Labyrinth | | | |
In 2004, a labyrinth was built on the lawn just outside the windows and landscaped with flowers and grasses creating a meditative setting. From either direction – looking out into the world or looking into the worship space – one is drawn into the tranquil story expressed by the beautiful windows.
Nativity has a long history of working with artists and creating a place for artists to perform, teach, and show their art. Nativity began a Festival of the Arts in 1970 that over the years has included an exhibition of juried art representing all of the visual arts. During the weekend festival, Nativity offers workshops, visiting artists, liturgical arts performances, and a preview party and gala reception for the artists. Last year world-renowned Connecticut potter, Guy Wolff, was our resident artist teaching and throwing pots by the labyrinth. Throughout the years, relationships have been forged with many artists who have supported the arts at Nativity.
Nativity at Nativity is another way for the church to offer radical hospitality to the whole community. We create a walking meditation in our parish hall with borrowed Nativity sets, icons, and statues that tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Children and adults experience the story with art from all over the world. They are also able to create their own nativity set with materials prepared in a hands-on center. The material is often recycled corks, or bark, or java jackets, or shoeboxes – whatever we can create. In the fall of 2003, Nativity hosted a workshop with liturgical artist, Nancy Chinn, who taught how to make paper lace. Using her techniques, we created Advent banners beginning with 8’ long and 10’ wide photographic paper cut it in half lengthwise. We drew the city of Bethlehem on one side, and on the other we painted the chaotic colors of the beginning of Advent – black, blue, red and magenta. When the paint was dry, we began making the paper lace by cutting out the city of Bethlehem, but only cutting a little bit of the design for the first week of Advent. The banners were hung in the nave on either side of the altar and backlit so that the few slits of light came through the darkness. | | | | | | | |  View larger images
| | | | | | | | Advent Banners
Design by Melissa Parks based on techniques by Nancy Chinn.
Cutouts were made by parishioners. (paper) | | | | | | | | Each week we took the banners down and cut out more of the design. Each Sunday of Advent additional light came through as the mystery of the design began to be seen. Our music, our prayers, and our preaching all centered on waiting for the Light. By Christmas Eve each banner was filled with the city, the trees, the sheep on the hills, the stars, and angel announcing the birth of the Savior. They are still hung in the parish hall for Nativity at Nativity each year and at the altar for Christmas Eve.
The focus on the arts has brought another ministry to Nativity called Prayers and Squares, a quilt ministry that provides prayers and quilts to those going through difficult times. Many quilts have been made by parishioners and given away through the ministry. The quilters have also made beautiful stoles for our clergy.
One quilt remained at Nativity in 2004 and was hung during Advent inviting people to stop after receiving communion to offer a prayer and tie a knot in the quilt. This became such an important part of our worship that we incorporated the concept in our Lenten program. A weaver’s frame was created with a woven cross within the frame. Space was left for others to weave or tie a ribbon as they made their prayer. The cross was originally to be used only for Lent, but it was so meaningful, it stayed for Easter and white ribbons were put out, and then for the Day of Pentecost red ribbons were used. | | | | | | | | View larger images | | | | 
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| Prayer Corner - Lent | | Prayer Corner - Summer |
| | | | By parishioner Jane Hooper (fiber) | | | | | | | | It had become so ingrained in people of all ages; we knew something had to come next. We restrung the warp with a woven tree and using ribbons had it “leaf” with the soft greens of spring, then the rich greens of summer, and finally the blazing colors of fall. People come during the week to tie a ribbon and offer a prayer. The “Prayer Corner” as we now call it is always there offering a place of hope and listening and offering thanks. What began as a creative art piece has become an act of faith. | | | | | | | | | |
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