Liturgical flowers are meant to glorify God. They do so in several ways. First, they are visible reminders of the glory of God’s creation. That is why the guild uses real flowers as opposed to artificial materials. Whenever it is possible, we use the plant materials that God graciously provides for us here in Central Virginia. When our local gardens are lush and abundant, we present to Him our loveliest blooms. On other occasions, the arrangers use their talents to create beauty using common elements like grasses and branches. Once in a while, they literally transform ordinary weeds into works of art—a lot like what God does in our lives!

But flowers can do more than that. Throughout Scripture, God uses tangible objects to instruct us and remind us of how to live and glorify Him. If we train ourselves to think about liturgical flowers in that way, they too can enhance our understanding of the spoken Word. Lent is a particularly good example of that. The floral elements used during Lent are intentionally subdued. This is because they are meant to reflect the somber purpose of the season.

Several years ago the Flower Guild made this point in a rather dramatic way. When folks entered the Sanctuary for the Maundy Thursday service that year, they seemingly walked through the entrance of a tomb. Rough rocks interspersed with bits of dried moss surrounded the Sanctuary doors. The "tomb entrance" was not meant to be pretty. It was meant to be a visual reminder of the darkness and death of Calvary.

On Easter morning, however, everything was transformed. Friday’s mourning became Sunday’s glorious celebration. Jesus Christ was risen! Thursday’s drab tomb became Sunday’s flower-filled gateway to beauty and new life. The church proclaimed its overflowing joy with flowers, with worship, with music, and with praise.

Another Lenten season is upon us. The plan for this year’s Lenten decoration promises to be especially meaningful. As we move through Lent, reflect on the message conveyed by these visual reminders and allow them to enrich your understanding of the story of redemption. Then, on Easter Sunday, join us once again to gloriously and lavishly celebrate the new life we enjoy because of our risen Savior Jesus Christ.