Tinntinabulumn

New to our All Saints Sunday worship this year will be a tintinabulum. Use of the tinntinabulum has increased among some liturgical congregations in recent years as part of the All Saints observance. In the Middle Ages the tinntinabulum served the practical function of alerting the people of Rome to the approach of the Pope during papal processions. In modern usage it relates to honoring saints of the church, and most particularly, for Reformed congregations utilizing this symbol, it honors all faithful Christians who have died and rest from their labors and represents the priesthood of all believers and brings to mind the whole cycle of God's redeeming work represented in observance of the church year. The newly-constructed tinntinabulum for Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is built on a Tau cross. Ribbons of various colors, representative of the church year, are hung from the cross-piece. Included in the color array are black ribbons, representing each church member who has died since last All Saints. Bells are tied to some of the ribbons as an audible symbol of God's presence. Further the bells create a subtle sound of joy for God's grace in the lives of God's saints living and deceased.