The
Banner's Story
The
stars represent the innumerable descendants of Abraham (Genesis 15:5) which
we are. They also call to mind the great company of heaven – the
communion of saints. The river of water flowing out of the stars
in the sky begins as the source of inspiration and the grace available
through our Christian faith. Flowing through the Church (using our
All Saints’ “2 roof motif: Church and Chapel”), the river becomes both
the waters of baptism and the Church’s mission in evangelism. (Luke
5:4-10)
As the water flows out of the Church, the fish (disciple Christians) begin
to appear, becoming very numerous – representing the catch of 153 (John
21:11) which speaks of all nations and peoples, all sorts and conditions
of humanity. As the fish/Christians continue onwards, they
begin to assume the shapes of flame, the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
In our Christian lives, we are both shaped by the Holy Spirit and called
to be spirit-led people. This is shown in the Pentecost flames at
the end of the river, the spiritual destination of our discipleship.
The flames rise upward into the starry sky, our eternal life joining the
company of saints. In that company, we too will be that “great cloud
of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) which becomes again the source of inspiration
for the Christian faith and life which will continue in this cycle until
the Second Coming of Christ.
