CEDAR RIDGE DECORATING MINISTRY GROUP GENERAL POLICY 

The Purpose of the Decorating Ministry Group is to use our God-given gifts and talents to “set the tone” to create a beautiful, worshipful environment that reflects God’s handiwork in nature.  This goal especially, in our sanctuary without it being distracting to worship.   Above all, we want to creatively glorify God in the way we decorate at Cedar Ridge Church.

As Lisa De Boer stated, “God is beautiful. Christians believe that is an objective fact. If our worship is truly Christian, how can it not tell of, reflect, and rejoice in that?”  See link to article here: Strength and Beauty are in God’s Sanctuary

The Decorating Ministry Group will consist of members to be elected yearly with a chairperson who directs.  This ministry group will plan for and implement the decoration of the interior and exterior of the church building and grounds. As a rule, we agree that all ideas are valid and encourage openly brainstorming and creating together.  Critique is also valid, necessary and helpful in a spirit of art critique.

To achieve its purpose, the Decorating Committee will:

  • Lead in making decisions regarding the interior and exterior décor of the church property.
  • Create or purchase floral arrangements, buy decorative materials, table coverings for special occasions, etc. as needed.
  • Change arrangements, wreaths, and other decorative items by seasons and for special occasions.
  • Upon request by the Hospitality Ministry Group, decorate tables for occasional special church-wide fellowship meals (such as Christmas and Thanksgiving). Talent or Christmas Show decorations are the responsibility of Hospitality MG, and it is at their request that we assist them.
  • Lead in clearing out and organizing the storage areas as needed.  Remove and store all decorative items immediately after their use. Store linens and table coverings in the Crockpot Alley cabinets; store floral and decorative arrangements in the room(s) designated as storage for decorations (2nd floor), etc.]
  • Loan out, with permission, resources for congregation members’ weddings or baby showers, if needed, and make sure they are returned. Be aware of the use of decorative items by other committees and groups in the church; provide directions for their care and storage.
  • We welcome and often need the help of others outside the Decorating Ministry Group.

Focus Areas:

  • Foyer to create a ‘welcoming’ atmosphere
  • Pulpit table, piano, banner wall & cross, music cabinet
  • Shelves to the right of deacon closet
  • Restrooms
  • Crock Pot Alley
  • Living room, kitchen
  • South entrance pots & door and North porch/patio

Transitions of seasonal change:

Spring– Early March change over to boxwood, ferns & ivy for greens.  Flower color purple & white -put evergreens away.  BANNERS- 2 purple banners that can be used prior to Easter.

Easter:  Just prior to Easter, change banners, put out lilies and Easter pulpit arrangement.

BANNERS- He is Risen, Crown Him King, Etc., Purple satin drape for cross.

Summer: Two weeks after, change to summer wildflower arrangements.  BANNERS-  Love Banners (Can also be loaned out for Cedar Ridge WEDDINGS with permission)

Fall: September just prior to new classes beginning, decorate for fall.   Save pumpkins to add in October.  BANNERS-  We have two fall banners- falling leaves and wheat 

Christmas – decorate on Thanksgiving week.  Create new advent arrangement.  Let kids set up and decorate tree.  BANNERS- 2 Christmas Banners with large poinsettias, or Red Sola Banners

Winter–  Tweak décor by taking out the red poinsettias and other obviously Christmas elements and convert to winter with branches, evergreen, berries, red roses.   Banners: Red Sola Banners

Supplies:

Flower room- some arrangement stay assembled, but some are disassembled and put in tubs.

Table runners are in top drawer of buffet, iron is in lower right door.  Ironing board in deacon closet

Banners in table/broom closet

Christmas tree in outdoor closet

Some Easter (lilies) and Christmas (poinsettias) in bench storage in sanctuary

Some non-essential additional supplies in cupboards underneath stairs on ground level

Future Plans

  • Antique bench storage area in sanctuary
  • Children making yearly Christmas ornaments (possibly coordinate with children’s classes to guest teach)
  • Decorating Workshops to include and train members of Decorating MG
  • Spring Banners
  • Outdoor-benches for conversational gathering areas.