The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus at Concordia Seminary will host a liturgical art event in collaboration with Concordia University, Nebraska’s (CUNE) Center for Liturgical Art on Friday, Sept. 25. The all-day event will include the final construction process for a large, new, artistic wooden relief to be installed on the outside entry to the chapel. The completed mural, constructed mainly from wood, depicts a cross and will have Biblical messages and phrases adorning the design. Seminary students, faculty, and staff will participate in the application of the messages, thus adding unique hands-on participation.
“With this cruciform mural, the artistic skill and design expertise of CUNE’s Center is making a significant contribution to the Seminary’s worship and spiritual life,” commented Dr. Kent Burreson, dean of the Seminary’s chapel. “This collaboration will inspire and enhance an appreciation for the arts in the life of the church for all on the Seminary campus.”
The artwork will be a one-of-a-kind mural made especially for the façade of the large and stately chapel. The art will be executed by officials and students associated with the Center for Liturgical Art, an integral part of Concordia University’s educational endeavor. The university, based nearly 450 miles away in Seward, Neb., offers a well-rounded liberal arts education and ample opportunities for students and faculty to express their artistic abilities. The university is one of 10 institutions in the respected Concordia University System of higher learning in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is one of two LCMS seminaries that prepare pastors, deaconesses, and church workers.
“The artwork is fitting for one of the largest and most renowned seminaries in America,” commented Mark Anschutz, director of The Center for Liturgical Art, who was involved in producing the mural. “Much thought went into the work. What kind of message should an entrance convey? How can this chapel proclaim its purpose while staying consistent with its design motif? Those were some of the challenges in designing the art.”
The public may view the final work upon completion on Sept. 25.
For more on the Center or to contact Concordia University, Seward, Neb., call 402-643-7431 or go online at liturgicalart.org [1]. For more information about this event taking place in St. Louis, call 314-505-7379.