"Rose and her family entered the new sanctuary awash in bright colors and light. She sat down and marveled at the beautiful banners and how nicely they looked by the new altar. The new pew chairs felt warm and comfortable. Rose had been concerned that the changes would make her church a strange place. Instead, she'd felt a new sense of calm.  She bowed her head and prayed." 

Isn't this how you hope your sanctuary will be received once it is finished? Warm, inviting and homey are examples of intangible adjectives that come to mind when people find their "right" sanctuary.

The "feel" of a sanctuary is more than just the correct paraments and banners, or even the choice of chairs over pews; it's the gestalt, or whole, of all the elements coming together to make parishioners feel centered, at peace, and ready to begin their worship. It's not only sights, but sounds, smells, and touch that create an inviting, welcoming environment. 

How does this happen? Well, first of all, it doesn't just happen. It's usually a well-planned and well-executed effort by all those involved, from a sound engineer to an interior designer, from the pastor to the music director. 

However one goes about it, outfitting your sanctuary is often more complex than just choosing the right furniture, carpeting, and lighting. Each sanctuary has its own personality and way of honoring God. Many times, it is the "little" things that will distinguish one worship area from another. The use of decorating items often does as much for a sanctuary as the furniture and general layout of the space. Of course, the "right" look will always be determined by you. Using the right combination of banners, wall hangings, flags, flowers, paraments, and churchware will give your sanctuary the perfect touch.

Visual Appeal - Banners
Banners that use symbolism of the season can be used that complement the worship experience. They are available in many different colors and more frequently can be purchased utilizing various shapes besides rectangular. You should limit the banners so that there is only one or two messages that you want to convey through their use. Be careful not to clutter your walls with too many messages. They can be confusing and oftentimes will defeat your purpose of guiding the congregation towards a single message. Depending on the architecture of your church, they can be mounted on the wall, ceiling, or floor.

Visual Appeal - Flags
During World War II, many churches began displaying the American flag as a way to honor those who were serving overseas, as well as a visual reminder to keep them in their congregational prayers. Since that time, the use of flags in the sanctuary has been a divisive issue within the church body. Whereas some churches have no problem with placing the Christian and American flag in the sanctuary, others find it completely unacceptable. Should you choose to place a flag within the worship area, remember that the flag on the right is reserved for the one with the highest priority. Thus, the Christian flag should always be to the right of the American flag.

Visual Appeal - Altar Cloths
Historically, colorful and attractive altar cloths have decorated the church, not only to serve the functional purpose of protecting the altar, but to add symbolism to the worship experience. The purpose of the altar cloths, especially the antependium, is to communicate the Season of the Church year through color and design. The embroidery on these pieces, as well as other cloths and banners, add a simplistic beauty to decorating the church. The art of embroidery is often traced to Helen, the mother of the first Christian emperor, although 18 centuries earlier, Moses erected the tabernacle and decorated it with "all the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen." –Exodus 35:25. Whether they are purchased or made by the hands of your church members, the use of embroidered altar cloths are an excellent addition to any sanctuary.

Furniture Placement - Function and Flow
The old adage that "form follows function" is very true. Remember, your house of worship is meant to accommodate your existing worshipers and those you anticipate will want to worship in your facility in the future.

Does the flow seem "user-friendly" for those not familiar with your rituals? Has signage been considered at key points to help direct guests? Have sound equipment, screens, and lighting been placed strategically to assist without interfering with the flow?

Most people have an emotional response to their worship space. How does the sanctuary "feel" when parishioners enter? Surveying your congregation can help determine what people value in their sanctuary. Is the worship style traditional or contemporary? Do they want darker rich woods and ornate carvings, or a lighter finish with straight lines? Perhaps they don't want wood at all and value the open appearance that acrylic furnishings provide.

How does light play into the equation? Does the sanctuary have enough natural lighting, or will it need supplemental lighting for different times of the year? How will projectors be affected by ambient lighting? Will your existing equipment be powerful enough in five years?  

Furniture Placement – Respecting the Sacred
Are symbols a central part of the worship experience, or do symbols get in the way of the experience? Some of the largest worship centers don't resemble traditional churches at all and are completely void of Christian symbols. This is a direct visible statement of their Christian philosophy. Is this appropriate for your congregation, or does it offend them? 

Liturgical consultant George Hoelzeman recommends "remaining open and empathetic to the spirit of a community and how they express their faith" when planning the design and arrangements of furnishings.

Planning and executing a sanctuary build or renovation can be exciting and filled with joy for all involved. Using some of the above guidelines will make the process more predictable and enjoyable. Focusing on visual appeal, function, and aesthetics will make the worship space sacred and comfortable.

Neal Rosner and Rick Emmelhainz own ChurchPartner Resource and Distribution Service, Inc., www.churchpartner.com.