Creative Ideas for Advent Worship: Visual Connections Beyond the Stole
As Advent approaches, churches are preparing to usher in the season of anticipation and hope. While clergy stoles are one way to visually mark this time, there are many other creative avenues to help enhance the worship experience through thoughtful and meaningful visuals. From decorations to interactive elements, making visual connections to the season’s themes can deepen the sense of expectation that Advent brings. Here are some ideas to help your church visually connect to the spirit of Advent—whether your congregation uses purple or blue to signify the season.
Advent Wreath Variations
The Advent wreath is a staple of many churches, but this year, consider reimagining it. Instead of a traditional wreath, try creating a suspended wreath of greenery and ribbon, hanging from the ceiling above the congregation. The colors of the candles (three purple or blue and one pink) can still be used, but positioning the wreath in a more prominent place could give it a fresh and dynamic look. (Non-affiliate image from Holy Land Art Company.)
Another idea is to create a collective wreath over the course of Advent, where each week members of the congregation add sprigs of greenery, ribbons, or ornaments, building the wreath together as a symbol of the community’s shared journey.
Interactive Advent Displays
Create an interactive wall display where congregants can write their hopes, prayers, and reflections on slips of paper throughout the season. These can be tied to a large tree branch, hung on a mural, or placed in a special display area. As the weeks progress, the display becomes a living reflection of the community’s spiritual anticipation.
This idea can be made even more powerful by incorporating Advent colors—using blue or purple slips of paper for the first weeks and transitioning to rose and white as the season nears its culmination.
Liturgical Banners
Banners are a wonderful way to bring the beauty and symbolism of Advent into worship spaces. Whether they hang from the rafters or are displayed near the altar, banners can serve as visual reminders of the season’s themes: hope, peace, joy, and love.
Consider creating a series of banners, each added one at a time over the four weeks like this example by University Lutheran Church. The colors of Advent—whether blue or purple—can set the backdrop, while symbols such as stars, doves, or candles add layers of meaning.
Advent Windows or Doorways
Another visual element to incorporate into your worship space is through doors or windows. Have each window or entryway decorated with symbols of Advent, such as the star or the manger. You could even create a progressive display where a new symbol is added each week, leading to a full nativity scene by Christmas Eve.
For a more modern twist, try using light projectors to cast these images onto walls or ceilings, creating a moving reflection of the season’s unfolding story.
Communal Art Projects
Invite your congregation to participate in creating an Advent mural like Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church recently did.
This can be done over the course of the four weeks, with each Sunday adding new colors or images that correspond with the liturgical theme of that week. The mural could depict the journey to Bethlehem, the Advent candles, or abstract representations of hope, joy, and peace.
By Advent’s end, the finished artwork will stand as a testimony to the community’s shared reflection and creative expression.
Candlelight Displays
Advent is often marked by the lighting of candles, and there’s something beautifully symbolic about adding light in the midst of darkness. You can build on this tradition by creating a large candle display, perhaps with oversized candles made from fabric or paper that are illuminated by lights inside.
Another idea is to set up a communal candle lighting space where individuals light their own candles in reflection or prayer during the service. St. John’s Presbyterian has done this successfully.
If your church has outdoor space, consider placing a path of lanterns or lights leading up to the sanctuary, symbolizing the journey of faith through the darkness of the world.
Advent Stoles and Vestments
Though Advent visuals extend beyond stoles, clergy vestments are still important in setting the tone for the season. Whether you use blue or purple, stoles that incorporate Advent symbols like stars, the journey to Bethlehem, or the candles of the wreath can deepen the congregation’s connection to the meaning behind the liturgy.
If your church has the opportunity to commission custom stoles, it’s worth considering how the visual representation of the season can be creatively displayed through these pieces.
The visual elements of Advent can enrich worship in profound ways, helping to draw the congregation deeper into the season’s themes of waiting, preparation, and hope. Whether through creative displays, interactive art, or special decor, these visual connections allow us to "see" the story of Advent unfold in our worship spaces. As you prepare for this sacred time, we hope these ideas inspire new ways to engage your community and make this season of waiting even more meaningful.
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