St. Boniface Episcopal Church

Processional Banner Collection

Designed and Constructed by Becky Patterson

BANNERS LIST

Advent     Christmas     Epiphany     Lent     Easter     Pentecost

Advent

Advent is a period of penitence, reflection, and meditation.  Two birds are an old Christian symbol for two souls meditating Christ.  Water is Christ referred to by Zechariah as a fountain of Living Water.  Water is for cleansing sins, and restoration. Stars symbolize God's promise to Abraham that his people would be numerous as the stars.  The shells in the corners represent John the Baptist, who was the first to prepare this coming.

Christmas is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Shepherds and Angles are symbols of the Nativity.  The shepherd's staff is for Christ the Good Shepherd.  The ox and the ass have been included in the Nativity because of Isaiah's prophecy: "the ox knows its owner, the ass its master's crib."  The Cross inside a circle is also known as the Christmas Star.  The Angles message of "Fear Not" is for us today as well as a symbol of praising God.

Epiphany is the season that signifies light, brightness and God coming to man.  It is about spreading the Gospel to all corners of the world.  The Magi or Wise men who follow the Star, were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus.  The 12 Stars of David represent the twelve Disciples who followed Jesus on Earth and who taught His teachings.  The shell and water symbolize Jesus Baptism, the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  The Camels bearing Gifts remind us of giving to Jesus and His Church - giving of ourselves, our time, our talents and material. 

Lent is a penitential period for reflection in anticipation of Holy Week.  INRI are the Latin words for Jesus Nazarenus Rex Indaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.  Tears and Thistles represent our sadness felt of Jesus death or of our dying to ourselves.  By the Crown of Thorns we feel the pain and humility the crucifixation meant.  Grapes and the Chalice and Host are symbolic of the Last Supper and the Body and Blood of Christ.  The Five Wounds in Christ are like Stripes.  "By His stripes "wounds" - we are healed."   

Easter symbols crowns, light, flowers, sun rays, gold and white are tokens of victory for the resurrection of Christ.  The Lamb of God is symbolic of Christ crucified and the shedding of blood for our sake.  The Butterfly is for resurrection, rebirth, regeneration.  The Pomegranate represents the Church's Unity.  The Easter Lily is another example of resurrection.  The Chi Rho are the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (XPICTOC).

Pentecost is the Church's Birthday.  The Trinity (a Circle and Triangle) is emphasized as Unity of God, the Son and now the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.  Symbolic of the Church is the Fish or Cross on an Orb.  Wheat is for Christian's productivity.  The Dove represents the Holy Spirit.  The nine Flames represent the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in Corinthians: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

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