Flower guilds similar to the one at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, are very popular. The 25 members of the church's guild make floral decorations for Easter and Christmas services. Ferns, tulips, orchids, carnations, and other flowers adorn the sanctuary, narthex, font, and pulpit. The guild members even use the unique architecture of their church to create a waterfall of flowers. The women of St. Paul Church are so excited about their flower guild that they recently hired the former director of the Washington National Cathedral to do a workshop for them on designs for sanctuary flowers.
Many people forget to take home the poinsettias or lilies they donate to the church.
If you find that holiday greenery is routinely left behind, begin a program to deliver the unclaimed plants to hospitals, homeless shelters, or shut-ins. A Garden Setting Church gardens are regaining popularity today. In addition to providing altar flowers, the gardens offer lovely, quiet spaces for church members and the community to enjoy. Abiding Peace Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri, started a creation-awareness campaign about eight years ago. Since that time, church members have developed flower, vegetable, and berry gardens around the church.