Find art for use in worship
Perhaps you’re looking for a bulletin cover or projection graphic for this Sunday’s service. Or perhaps you’re seeking images and ideas that will spark your creativity as you work on a sermon or plan the liturgy. Here are some online resources you may find helpful. Please note most of these websites are not affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Do you know of another great website related to worship and the arts? Tell us about it. Email David Gambrell.
PC(USA) website: You may use photographs or graphics you find here on the PC(USA) website.
Explore great museums and art collections around the world through Google’s Art Project.
Flickr Churches and Houses of Worship Photo Pool
The aim of this flickr group is to provide a space for images and graphics that connect with this week's lectionary readings. Please add photos or graphics that might help in reflecting on the Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Lectionary Illustrations from Cerezo Barredo
This Web site is in Spanish. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find links to drawings for the gospel readings in Lectionary years A, B and C. The first link, "en texto," provides a simple list of liturgical dates by season. The second, "en miniaturas," allows you to see a thumbnail of the illustration.
Heard Library Art in the Christian Tradition
The Art in the Christian Tradition (ACT) database is a freely available, regularly updated visual image internet resource. Designed for scholars, students, pastors and religious educators, all of the images may be used for educational and/or religious non-profit purposes. Images are added regularly.
Eyekons marketplace for contemporary spiritual art
Eyekons, "a digital marketplace for spiritual art," includes an image bank of visual works with religious themes, as well as resources that churches can purchase and use for projection or publication.
SundayGraphx
This blog, created by the late Presbyterian artist Don Silva, shares art work related to at least one of the Revised Common Lectionary readings for each Sunday. The site includes graphic illustrations (with English and/or Spanish texts) that can be used as church bulletins covers and PowerPoint backgrounds.
ScripPics
This site provides lectionary-based photographs including many digitally edited images and collages.
Image Bank
The Image Bank is a not-for-profit initiative started to support the widest possible use of digital images in contemporary worship, lectures and events. The images in the bank are developed and designed for use in contemporary and alternative worship, youth events and talks and in the emerging church. Registration is required.
Textweek
This Web site lists links to a wide variety of contemporary and historical resources for study and liturgy for each lectionary week and pericope, as well as a Scripture Index to locate links to study resources relating to specific passages. The site also offers artwork indexed by biblical theme in the Art Concordance and a Movie Concordance which lists of movies indexed by spiritual theme.
FreeFoto
FreeFoto provides a selection of religious art — scenics, crosses and some illustrated scripture.
Background information on famous paintings and biblical themes
Throughout the history of art great masters have turned to the Bible for inspiration. This Web site shows pictures of hundreds of famous paintings linked to their corresponding Bible passages. Information on the paintings themselves is also provided. Subscribe to the site to see a new picture daily.
Get artwork from the Presbyterian Center
The Presbyterian offices in Louisville house a wide variety of religious art, including many works that were created for the Presbyterian Planning Calendars. A number of those works are available here to download and use free of charge for bulletin covers and projection images in worship. (Please credit artists as indicated in each collection.) We hope this artwork will deepen your understanding of scripture and enliven your worship. Learn more
