“Come thou font of every blessing”

Renewing Congregational Publications

KATE TEG TM EIER Prince of Peace Lutheran | Dublin, OH

KT Publications & Design

publicationsbykt@gmail.com

CH AD FOTH ERGILL Temple University | Philadelphia, PA

chad.fothergill@temple.edu

Workshop Summary

As a writer, Martin Luther not only carefully chose and arranged words but also supervised their transition from

parchment to print—even to the point of recommending paper types, page layouts, and typefaces! The print

revolution of his time is not unlike the digital revolution of our own: decisions about the placement of words and

images in blogs, newsletters, and bulletins continue to require thoughtful care, for each offers an invitation to

encounter the holy.

This workshop takes a closer look at the craft of designing congregational materials for our visually-driven culture

that—to borrow words from one graphic designer—“convey through tangible media the essential truths and

messages of faith.” What do certain typefaces or images convey to visitors about the timelessness or disposability of

the Gospel message? What might images overtly or subjectively convey about our congregational priorities? Are our

bulletins really as accessible for visitors as we think they are? What are some useful resources for finding lectionary-

related print and digital images? While publications may not be part of every cantor’s portfolio, the refined aesthetic

sensibilities of musicians have primed them to serve as effective participant-leaders in conversations about ways in

which all of the body’s senses are engaged.

Why does this matter?

“Today’s religious communicators are encouraged to see graphic design as both a descendant of illumination as well

as its present day soulmate. The works of the illuminators can remind graphic designers that through aesthetics the

elements of hand, eye, word, symbol, and image become subordinated to a higher order. They teach us that content

alone is incomplete without form. They teach us that the communications of one’s faith are still worth of our best

efforts and brightest talents. They teach us that the hospitality of visual grace can become prayer for both maker and

viewer. Both illumination and graphic design have distinct qualities to offer, and when in dialogue they may result in

works that pass on the wisdom of tradition and beauty through a fresh, powerful new voice.”1

Commercial Design Religious Design

Explain, sell

De-mystify

Culturally-relevant, popular, current

Appeal

Here, now

Self-expression

Invite

Wonder, ponder

Countercultural, timeless

Truth, beauty

Pause, reflection

Relationship in community

1 Kantor, Graphic Design and Religion, 38. 2 Dawn, Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time.

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The Bulletin: Invitation and Navigation

Create trust, be reliable

Focus on worship

Words and images matter

Use white space, consistent margins, and consistent formatting to guide the eye and foster trust

Try to make print decisions with “fresh” eyes: what enables you to “reach out without dumbing down”?2

Hospitality of page numbers

2 Dawn, Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time.

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A S S O C I A T I O N O F L U T H E R A N C H U R C H M U S I C I A N S B I E N N I A L C O N F E R E N C E 9

The Bulletin: Typography and Music

Typography, Language, and Music

Typography is the craft of endowing human language with a durable visual form.

Well-chosen words deserve well-chosen letters; these in turn deserve to be set with affection, intelligence,

knowledge, and skill.

The typographer must analyze and reveal the inner order of the text, as a musician must reveal the inner order

of the music she performs.3

For Consideration

Which provides the most clarity or legibility?

Which lets the eye move most gracefully?

Which calls the most attention to itself?

Which calls the least attention to itself?

Which best expresses holiness and wonder?

Is the most beautiful always the most clear?

Dialogue and Rubrics Comparison

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Arial Narrow

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all. The assembly

is invited to chant the verses in bold type.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Garamond

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all. The assembly is invited

to chant the verses in bold type.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you. Verdana

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung

by all. The assembly is invited to chant the verses in

bold type.

3 Bringhurst, The Elements of Typographic Style, Fourth Edition.

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The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Unico

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all. The

assembly is invited to chant the verses in bold type.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Minion Pro

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all. The

assembly is invited to chant the verses in bold type.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you. Optima

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all.

The assembly is invited to chant the verses in bold type.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Goudy Sans Book

The psalm refrain is introduced by the choir, then sung by all. The

assembly is invited to chant the verses in bold type.

Heading Comparison

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending

Britannic Bold

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending Mason Sans

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending

Trajan Pro

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending

Papyrus

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending

Copperplate Gothic Bold

Gathering Word Meal Sending Dark Roast

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending Uncial Antiqua

Gathering

Word

Meal

Sending Archeologicaps

Inserting Music

Compression of musical graphics hinders singing

It is better to split the graphic across the page

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A S S O C I A T I O N O F L U T H E R A N C H U R C H M U S I C I A N S B I E N N I A L C O N F E R E N C E 13

Art Resources

Art (like the language of worship) is always purposeful, not filler

What are the central symbols of a community, season, or service?

Consider a congregational photo ministry?

Synodical Resources

Evangelical Lutheran Worship Graphics CD-ROM (ELCA) https://augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9466/Evangelical-Lutheran-Worship-Graphics-CD-ROM

Concordia Art Library: Lutheran Service Book Icons (LCMS) https://www.cph.org/p-17415-concordia-art-library-dvd-lutheran-service-book-icons.aspx

Ian Welch, Paramentics (WELS) http://paramentics.com

KT Publications & Design http://www.publicationsbykt.com

Databases and Subscription Services

Art in the Christian Tradition (Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-search.pl

Bowden Collections

http://bowdencollections.com/index.html

Eyekons

http://www.eyekons.com

Newsletter Newsletter

https://www.newsletternewsletter.com

Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive

http://pitts.emory.edu/dia

Sacred Art Meditations (John A. Kohan)

http://sacredartmeditations.com

The Text This Week, Art Index

http://www.textweek.com/art/art.htm

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General Images and Indices

Philadelphia Museum of Art

http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/search.html

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Collection Online

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online

Unsplash

https://unsplash.com

WallpapersWide

http://wallpaperswide.com

WikiArt: Visual Art Encyclopedia

http://www.wikiart.org

Individual Artists

Cerezo Barredo http://servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo

Tanja Butler http://tanjabutler.com

Mary Button http://marybutton.com

Laura James http://laurajamesart.com

James B. Janknegt http://www.bcartfarm.com

Rafael Lopez http://www.rafaellopez.com/#/editorial

Nicholas Markell http://www.markellstudios.com

Libuse Lukas Miller http://libuselukasmiller.com

Stushie http://stushieart.com

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Further Reading and Study

Bringhurst, Robert. The Elements of Typographic Style, Fourth Edition. Seattle: Hartley and Marks, 2015.

Dawn, Marva J. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time. Grand

Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 1995.

DeBoer, Lisa J. Visual Arts in the Worshiping Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2016.

Fothergill, Chad. “All our Treasures: A Musician’s Care for the Visual Arts.” Prelude Music Planner Blog, May

2017.

Jensen, Robin M. The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and the Christian Community. Grand Rapids,

Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2004.

Kantor, Daniel. Graphic Design and Religion: A Call for Renewal. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2007.

Ozment, Steven. The Serpent and the Lamb: Cranach, Luther, and the Making of the Reformation. New Haven

and London: Yale University Press, 2011.

Pettegree, Andrew. Brand Luther: 1517, Printing, and the Making of the Reformation. New York: Penguin, 2015.

Potter, John. “Reformation 500: 50 Reformation Artworks.” Living Lutheran, 17 April 2017.

In Your Congregation

1. Think for a few moments about the publications generated for and used by your congregation on a weekly

or monthly basis. What are some of the strengths of these publications? What works well?

2. In what way(s) could they be improved?

3. Name three ways in which your regular Sunday bulletin could become clearer or more hospitable. How

might you go about constructively making those changes within the next few months?

4. Who in your congregation might be able to coordinate or contribute to a “photo ministry”?

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5. How does your congregation use visual art?

6. What are some pieces of art that you find moving? Why? How to they contribute to your own faith?

7. What are some models of good design—that which is clear, hospitable, and beautiful—that you know of in

your church? How do they invite viewers to encounter the holy?

8. Bring a copy of a Sunday bulletin to a family member, friend, or colleague who does not attend church. Do

they find it easy to read or follow? What abbreviations, symbols, or other instructions do they have

questions about? Ask what other words they might use to describe the bulletin’s ability to guide or invite.

9. What other questions should guide discussions of print and digital publications in your congregation?

10. Who can help do this work? How can you as a musician support publications in your community? Author?

Editor? Proofreader?