Arts and Enviornment

During all phases of the liturgical year, the Committee of Art and Environment and the Flower Committee, are busy year around to provide a worshipful atmosphere. If you would like to become a part of either of these teams or both, please contact, Frances Hairston at 662-312-2763 or at [email protected].

"I am honored to be a part of these teams and to help bring a worshipful atmosphere to the church liturgy."  - Frances Hairson

The church year is built around the life of Christ beginning with Advent and ending with the Feast of Christ the King. We go from darkness into light in the period of Advent. Each Christmas we joyfully relive the birth of Jesus and his entrance into the world. During Lent we walk with Jesus during the forty days of fasting and prayer. Palm Sunday begins with the triumphant march of Jesus as a king only to depart that day knowing what awaits Jesus during the Triduum. Holy Thursday is filled with the symbols of oils, incense, and the washing of feet. The altar is stripped bare as the blessed sacrament is removed to the Altar of Repose for prayer and watchful waiting with Jesus. The faithful return to the bare church on Friday with its somber service of suffering and death and Adoration of the Cross. Joy returns on the Easter Vigil where a fire begun outside the church lights the candles of all who enter the church suddenly illuminating the church. Easter lilies gloriously fill the altar. Bells are ringing. The choir is singing. Christ is risen. Easter is the heart of the church. People return on Easter Sunday morning to a church filled with light, beauty, and joy. Easter continues for seven weeks ending with Pentecost which celebrates the intense love and spirit of the Holy Spirit. Following Pentecost there are four Feast Days during Ordinary Time: Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christ, Feast of the Sacred Heart, and Christ the King. The remainder of the year consist of thirty-three to thirty-four weeks of Ordinary Time.



The Art and Environment Committee helps to establish the atmosphere for greater awareness during worship for each of these periods. The committee is an important part of the liturgy. 

During the walk through the life of Jesus, there are definite periods of ups and downs, periods of sadness and of joy. This atmosphere is established through the colors of the vestments and of the altar cloths. It is established by the lack of decorations and by the lavish addition of poinsettias, trees, lights at Christmas and the addition of palms and Easter lilies at Easter.

At Pentecost the colors of oranges, yellow, and reds in banners and vestments signify the spirit of fire. During the long period of Ordinary Time, the color green is used to signify hope and growth. At this time, the members of Flower Committee provide fresh flower arrangements each week bringing into the church the beauty given us by God.

The Flower Committee, which brings beauty into the church during Ordinary Time, is a part of the Art and Environment Committee. Comprised of eight teams, one team each Sunday arranges flowers to be used in front of the altar and on the Gift Table in the Gathering Space. Having this many teams makes it possible to only do flower arrangements four times throughout the year. During the thirty-three to thirty-four weeks of Ordinary Time, the team members are conscientious of arranging flowers tastefully and simply to enhance the liturgy.