The Ship

The ship is an ancient Christian symbol and many Lutheran churches display a model ship near the pews and Baptismal font illustrating that the church is a ship that sails toward God. It represents the  new ark into which we are placed by God as he rescues his people from sin and death through Baptism. The pews are located in the nave of the church and the word nave comes from navis, which means ship. Often the ceiling of the nave resembles an overturned boat-a reminder that we are sheltered by God and kept safe in this baptismal ark.