Anchor Images
In the Worship Design Studio, I use three
design terms that I came up with to describe
what I think are important aspects of design.
Last week we began working with
“Frames” (the tittles and synopses of the
services themselves) and we wrote synopses for
the Advent/Christmas series you have decided on. This
week, let’s focus on the term “Anchor Image” to come up with ideas
for actively engaging the people in their participation.
An Anchor Image is an essential starting point whenever I design. It
is not necessarily the title of the theme, nor is it the theological
concept or main message for the season. It is truly an image–a
metaphor or symbol–a tangible thing from life that can connect us to
the theme and story of faith. It is rich enough to offer many possible
variations. Of course, if you are doing a non-lectionary-based series,
landing on an anchor image will come out of the
particular direction you want to go with for your series
(for instance, one of our Templates for Lent is a series
on healing called “Holy Vessels” with the Anchor Image
of glass jars and broken beach glass).
But if you like to follow the lectionary all the time, or
occasionally, you will find something in your exegesis of the lectionary that offers a
grounding or provocative image to carry a season. For
instance, in lectionary Year C, the Epistle readings are
from the Letter to the Philippians in one particular part of
the year. It occurred to me that “letters” could be an
intriguing Anchor Image for a thematic series because this
book is essentially a “how-to” letter to a new leader. Our
brainstorming, then, would include stories about lifechanging letters, people who gave us important guidance
in our lives, and brainstorming all the things that letters bring to mind: communication,
connection, love, acceptance (and rejection), prison ministry through letter-writing, etc.
This is an image that “anchors” the whole season and can be an important visual
element that we interact with as well.
© Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com For local church use only.
1
Anchor Image Idea for “Roll Down Justice” Series
In our latest worship series for Lent, “Roll Down Justice,” waterfalls represent the
waters of our baptism: ever-flowing, never ceasing streams of holy water.
Waterfalls also represent justice flowing down into the places where justice is
needed, a mighty river that refreshes and restores us to God’s love for all people.
Waterfalls provide a very versatile anchor image to work with as you consider
possibilities for media projection, visual installations, and verbal imagery through
the waterfall metaphor. Search for Creative Commons photos for waterfalls, and
you will find lots of good results. One good starting place is our collection of photos
on Unsplash.
We also like the idea of creating an installation that stays in your worship space
during the entire series and adding to it as you go. The bottom right photo is an
example of the style we are envisioning for the construction. Strips of varied blue
fabric tied to dowels is one easy way to do it.
Another idea is to echo the symbol of your baptismal font through several glass
bowls of water lit with floating candles.
This is an easy way to add luminaries
throughout your space that correspond to
our baptism theme.
Bottom Left: Photo courtesy of WDS member
Becca Girrell. Thanks, Becca!
Bottom Right: Image from Pinterest.
© Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com For local church use only.
2
Anchor Image Idea for “Gifts of the Dark Wood” Series
Our anchor image for “Gifts of the Dark Wood” is a shadowy forest, full of
earthy colors and gnarled trees to evoke the feeling of getting lost in a deep,
dark wood. Throughout most of the liturgical year, we tend to celebrate colors
of life in worship—fresh flowers, brightly colored banners and paraments, or
abundant altar arrangements that catch the eye. Lent encourages us to strip
down to the “bare essentials” and to remember our need for restorative life and
renewal. Experiment with more muted colors, like tans and browns, and
consider using dead branches and dry stalks as part of your altar
arrangements. Since this series evokes strong imagery of a “dark wood,” a
naturally stark or barren feel for Lent may provide some fresh, introspective
contrast.
© Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com For local church use only.
3
Anchor Image Idea for “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places”
Our anchor image idea for this series is to use the word “love” in all sort of
ways, especially in distortions and with jumbled effects. You could distort the
image in a funhouse mirror and use various projections of that as a Media Arts
thread. Lots of varied images and perspectives will complement your
exploration of twisted substitutions for real love throughout the series. In
contrast, casting an image with clarity when you reach the heart of the
message will reinforce the ideas of love we want to emulate or embrace.
Here’s where you can get your own funhouse mirror to create distortions:
https://www.a3bs.com/jumbo-fun-house-mirror-u40275,1_p_643_14940.html
Background: LOVE by Shiyang Huang via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
© Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com For local church use only.
4