Stacey Schoeningh and Bob Holloway, members of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sonoma, CA, recently shared their wonderful Easter origami dove project with us!
They and their fellow congregants worked together to fold around 2,000 doves of different sizes over a period of 10 days, using a pattern they found on YouTube. Once the doves were folded, they were hot-glued onto the fishing line and spaced randomly before being laid out on the fellowship hall floor. A map tack was then tied to the top end of each line, with a dab of hot glue added for good measure.
To hoist the doves into the sanctuary, the church rented a high lift (“cherry-picker”) and hoisted about 8 lines at a time, up to 35 feet to the wooden ceiling of the sanctuary. The lines were tacked into place in a random order, and the process of hoisting, lowering, reloading, and raising was repeated until all lines were attached to the ceiling (which took about 6 hours).
In addition to the origami doves, Stacey and Bob also arranged six beautiful flower arrangements consisting mainly of Cala lilies and fern branches (left over from Palm Sunday) at the altar, alongside three garden stones. They also placed 35 potted Easter lilies (in 8″ pots) around the altar, in the narthex, and along the steps leading up to the church front entrance patio, alongside an 8′ wooden cross propped up slightly on the ground.
To honor and remember loved ones, congregation members were invited to purchase a potted Easter Lily, with the names of those being honored listed in the Easter program. All the proceeds from the sale covered the cost of the lilies, and what a beautiful way to celebrate Easter together as a community!
Outcome:
Community Engagement Through Design:
This project beautifully illustrates how Easter stage design can become a community-building opportunity. By inviting congregation members to participate in folding doves, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church created a shared experience that extended beyond the worship service itself. The ten-day folding period became a time of fellowship, conversation, and anticipation for the Easter celebration.
Scaling the Concept:
While this church created 2,000 doves for a large sanctuary space, the concept can be adapted for any church size. A smaller congregation might create 100 doves for a more intimate space. The key is the visual impact of multiple elements creating movement and drawing the eye upward, symbolizing the ascension and hope of Easter.
Related Easter Stage Designs
- Cross of Easter Lilies – Floral cross design featuring Easter lilies
- Simple and Elegant Easter Decor – Minimalist Easter design inspiration
- Easter Boxes – Geometric paper-based design
- 7 Budget-Friendly Easter Ideas – Affordable decoration concepts
- Easter Alive – Living element designs for Easter
Pro Tips for Origami and Paper-Based Easter Designs
Start Early: Paper folding projects take time. Begin at least two weeks before Easter to allow your congregation to participate without feeling rushed. Set up folding stations in common areas where people can contribute a few minutes at a time.
Test Your Materials: Not all paper is created equal. Test your origami paper or cardstock to ensure it holds its shape and doesn’t sag when hung. Consider the weight of your paper when planning how to suspend your elements.
Create a Template: For consistent results, create a template or jig that helps volunteers fold doves (or other shapes) to a uniform size. This ensures your final installation looks cohesive and professional.
Safety First: When suspending elements from ceilings, use appropriate hardware rated for the weight of your installation. Always have professionals or experienced volunteers handle ceiling work and ladder safety.
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Related: Stage Origami – Folded Coroplast panels creating geometric origami-inspired stage design with steel stud framing.
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