ARTIST STATEMENT:

We spend much of our daily lives in fear. The fear of being judged, of being out of place, of being imperfect, of being mistreated. And we have deeper fears that can surface: of death, of receiving harm, of causing harm to others, etc. Fear, fear, fear, fear. As I began working on this banner design, I thought a lot about the Greek word, phobos, which means “fear.” Luke 2:9 literally says, ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον, that the shepherds “feared with fear.” Those hearing this story would have understood the Hebrew concept צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם of the heavenly “host” or “army” of God which Luke brings forward in the Greek in verse 13: στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου. This Hebrew military concept of the army of God can explain why the presence of angels struck fear in the shepherds. Initially, one of God’s army appears to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. Earlier, another angel struck fear in Zechariah in the temple. God’s messengers arrive in ways that produce fear, not solace, the way that an unexpected bright light in the night is scary.

Have you ever experienced a bright light in the night in a way that strikes fear? It’s a different way of experiencing light at night. Through many centuries in European art, the heavenly host of angels have been visually represented as white women expressing a sense of calm, producing a sense of serene reverence. That is not what the Hebrew and the Greek are saying. These words that present fear of the army of God are literal fear, not a sense of calm or serenity. So, the first mention by the angel in Luke 2:10 is to tell us, μὴ φοβεῖσθε, “Do not fear.”

In this banner design, people bow in prayer poses along the Earth (see the abstract figures in the bottom right portion of the composition). Light shines down from the heavens in rays of light. On either side are stars, doves, and hands. The hands represent people overcoming fear and making room for the steadfast love of God in their midst. The doves represent the Holy Spirit showing us the way and journeying alongside us. The stars represent the visionaries in the scriptures of the Advent season paving the way for the coming Messiah. The angels are glowing in the open spaces of the heavens. Arriving with power and a fearful strength, they use the imperative mood, “Do not fear!” to direct those listening in every time and place. God requires us to overcome our fears.

—Hannah Garrity, banner design artist and Founding Creative Partner of SA

DOWNLOAD INCLUDES:

• Files to project and trace the design onto one 53”x69” banner. If you are creating a paper lace cut-out banner, we provide a flipped projection file so that you can trace and cut on the back of the banners (displaying the clean side as the front).

• Written instructions with 3 options (summarized below) for bringing this design to life in your congregation.

• Large, color file for printing the design as a vinyl banner (up to 6’x9’) through a company such as Got Print. This option allows you to install and display the banner art on the exterior of your church building throughout the Advent and Christmas season.

CREATIVE OPTIONS (SEE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS IN DOWNLOAD FOR MORE INFO):

Option A.) Painted Banner
Suitable for: Youth and adults of all ages
Level of time, planning, commitment: (3 of 5 stars)
Process: Following the tutorial video below and written instructions included in download, project and trace the design onto paper or canvas to create a banner. Invite members to paint the design using tempera or acrylic paint. 

Option B.) Paper Lace Cut-Out Banner
Suitable for: older youth (with supervision) and adults
Level of time, planning, commitment: (5 of 5 stars)
Process: Following the tutorial video below and written instructions included in download, project, trace, and cut out the design on photography studio backdrop paper to create a beautiful paper lace banner.

Note: Inspired by our Advent theme and branding, your completed paper lace banner could be displayed as a large cylindrical lantern. See this blog post for additional instructions and ideas.

Option C.) Printed Vinyl Banner
Suitable for: All ages
Level of time, planning, commitment: (1 of 5 stars)
Process: Send the included print file to a local printer or online print shop such as GotPrint for printing as a vinyl banner. Hang the banner inside your church building, in your worship space, or outdoors on your church property.

See more creative ways to bring these designs to life in this blog post: sanctifiedart.org/blog/art-for-advent-creative-ways-to-bring-our-banner-designs-to-life