Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

On Sundays and other occasions, we each make our way through the courtyard, on our way to services and events at All Holy Spirit. We are eager to worship and to be together as we share the blessings of our faith community. But our courtyard is much more than just a pleasant place to pass through on our way to the activities of the church. It has been thoughtfully designed to welcome each member and guest, enhancing the visit through the beautiful symbolism displayed. When time allows, visit the courtyard as a destination, not just a portal.

The circular patterns and motifs on the floor of the courtyard illustrate a pattern called an interrupted flow. This design is symbolic of the River Jordan and of our Baptism. This design element is ancient, reliably dated back to the Crusades (1149 AD) when the pattern was included on a massive altar inside the church of Holy Sepulcher (learn more here). As we pass through the courtyard, it is appropriate to reflect on our own Baptism, how this blessed sacrament unites us to Christ and to one another (The River Jordan is mentioned 195 times in the Bible!)

In the center of the courtyard, we encounter a mosaic of two peacocks drinking from a cup. The peacock symbolizes several unique spiritual themes. Peacocks are associated with paradise and the tree of life. The feathers on the peacock fall each year, and the new feathers that grow in are more colorful and beautiful each year. This phenomenon reflects Christ’s resurrection, rebirth, and new life. The many eyes on the peacock tail are sometimes as interpreted as the all-seeing eye of God. Another interpretation is that the tail displays the cosmos, including the sun, moon, planets and stars as they are arrayed in the vault of heaven. The peacocks drinking from a cup symbolize both the Sacrament of Communion and the cup of eternity.

Our faith tradition encourages us to include various symbols and iconography to stimulate spiritual thoughts, prayer and reflection. As you arrive at church, may these welcoming images enhance your Christian experience.