Wood carvings: the boat
At the front of the sanctuary are four beautiful wooden pieces that were conceived, designed and produced by people in our church, a scallop shell, a fish, an anchor cross, and wine, branches and fruit.
The symbols represent some of the ways the church has communicated the changeless message of and about Jesus through the centuries. We intentionally picked Christian symbols that tie in with our location on Cape Cod and our proximity to the ocean.
Learn more about these symbols: scallop shell, fish, anchor cross, boat, and wine, branches and fruit.
The Ship is a symbol of the Church and it is a reminder that following Jesus involves being part of a community.
On a ship or in a church, we are all in the same boat, even if that isn't proper navy terminology. We are fellow
passengers and we share whatever comes together. One early Christian wrote, "The sea is the world. The Church is like a
ship, buffeted by waves but not swamped, for she has with her an
experienced pilot, Christ. Amidships she has the
trophy of victory over death, for she carries Christ's cross with her... for her double rudder she has the two Testaments...
with her she carries stocks of living water, the regenerating bath..."
A ship also requires the cooperation of a number of people in order to be operated successfully. In the same way, the Apostle Paul writes that there are many kinds of spiritual gifts and abilities in the body of Christ that is the church.
Jesus may be the pilot of the ship but he needs a capable and committed crew.
There are many jobs on a ship from rowers, to those who set the sails, swab the deck, make the meals, or set the course or steer. The ship reminds us we do not follow Jesus alone but as part of a community of faith in which each of us has spiritual gifts to share in service to glorify God and help the ship of Christ to more forward.
The sail of the boat and the bow plowing through the water remind us that boats are not meant to be tied up at dock, they are made to move through water and sometimes that means the boat will be rocked. However, as long as Jesus is leading us forward in his mission, the movement will be for the sake of taking the church where it needs to go.
Links: scallop shell, fish, anchor cross, boat, and wine, branches and fruit.