Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church Visual Mission Statement

In the process of crafting their new vision statement, “Trusting that All Belong to God. Living Like We Belong to One Another,” leadership at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church discerned that it would be important to have a visual to further illustrate the depth in meaning of this guiding statement. The hope and intention for this illustration was that it would help the congregation more readily understand, remember, identify with, and claim this vision. The illustration was used in banners which are hung in one of their worship spaces, and the typography was adapted by their communications team for various other applications.

The illustration includes the following imagery described by the leadership of Preston Hollow:

In-Breaking Light- The light represents the way God’s light and love constantly break into our world, reflecting our belief that a light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. (John 1:5).

God’s Hands- It was an intentional artistic and theological choice to make God’s hands a color other than that of human skin tones. We believe God is bigger than one gender, race or ethnicity. We chose to reflect God’s hands in a color of creation- the color of deep water, starry nights, and the lilies of the field.

Baptismal Waters- In the palm of God’s hands, you will see water. This represents many things- the waters parted at the Red Sea, the waters of creation, or the waters of the Jordan where Jesus was baptized. “Do not fear, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

Dallas Skyline- Above and below the water, you will see the Dallas skyline. We believe that we are called to walk alongside our neighbors, which requires active engagement in our city. Only then will we be able to faithfully, effectively and authentically “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

Glimpses of Creation- You will see glimpses of creation- flowers, leaves, water and light. The leaves were modeled after pecan and oak trees as a reference to our pecan grove and our Texas foliage.

Hands- Central to the image is a set of four hands holding one another. This is a visual reminder that we are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27)

Reflection- The mirroring effect reminds us of our call to mirror Jesus’ life on earth, while painting an image of “on earth as it is in heaven.”