Fabric Art - Banners

Fabric provides an excellent medium for abstract and concrete storytelling. In the same `way that Cathedral windows were commissioned to show the Gospel, cotton banners provide a an entry into the good news that is not exclusively word-based.  The visual cues are meant to evoke worship as we are drawn into the greatness of the God who created color and light, story and meaning. 
Most of these banners were wrought by Jane Wright and Lucile Playfair with design help from Sarah Harrington, and lots of cutting by congregation members during coffee hour. The banners are hung about 14 feet up the wall, which also requires the help of those who are vertically gifted:-)  We have a mix of banners with words and no words being careful to make meanings of the banners accessible to everyone. Most of them are made with cotton, often batik so as to give texture. They hang in pairs on either side of the organ pipes and range from 6-8 feet long. When not hanging in the sanctuary we hang the whole liturgical year in the community room, providing a visual connection between gathered worship and daily life.

Advent - Similar images, one of Mary holding the baby Jesus and the other an angel worshiping are placed on a deep blue calico-like cotton.

Epiphany is the season in which we rejoice that the light of the gospel is for all people. Jesus birth, and those that saw the star and followed it so they might worship provide all people with an invitation to :Arise, shine, for your light has come." The background fabric is batik. Translucent ribbon and stars made of shiny fabric with silhouettes of the manger and magic on solid blue.

Epiphany is the season in which we rejoice that the light of the gospel is for all people. Jesus birth, and those that saw the star and followed it so they might worship provide all people with an invitation to :Arise, shine, for your light has come." The background fabric is batik. Translucent ribbon and stars made of shiny fabric with silhouettes of the manger and magic on solid blue.

Lent - Two matching banners are hung for Lent, each with emblems of the journey which will lead us to the final week.

Holy Week - The final week of Lent is set apart as Holy Week. These banners have symbols of the last few days of Jesus' time on earth incarnate. Especially jarring is the asymmetrical rooster representing Peter's denial of being one of Jesus' followers.

Holy Week The final week of Lent isset apart as Holy Week. These banners have symbols of the last few days of Jesus' time on earth incarnate. Especially jarring is the asymmetrical rooster representing Peter's denial of being one of Jesus' followers.

Ordinary Time (Spring) This is the longest of the church seasons and we celebrate with different banners. The spring banner shows sheep and lambs in green fields. The banners represent growth and harmoney, hence the messages of 'Freed my Lambs' and Feed my Sheep.'

Ordinary Time (Summer) banners invite us to the feast of bread and fish provided for the 5000 on a hill in Galilee. Even so the path to the feast coming from North and South, East, and West, is the shape of the cross.

The Summer Ordinary Time banners invite us to the feast of bread and fish provided for the 5000 on a hill in Galilee. Even so the path to the feast coming from North and South, East, and West, is the shape of the cross.

Ordinary Time (Fall) These banners represent the beauty of our particular area in Autumn. It is is time to thank God for the beauty and goodness we have.

Easter Although the liturgical colors for Easter are white and gold, those colors blend into the whites of our sanctuary walls. We chose a fabric that includes many of colors of creation as a way of celebrating Jesus' power over death and His redemption of all creation. Alleluia, He is Risen

Funeral Banners - These banners are our newst addition to our collection. They were made at the time of Colena Clark's death. Many members of the congregation cut out stones, birds and leaves so that the banner would be finished in time for her funeral service; which they were, with an hour or two to spare. They were made in Colena's honor because she was such a loving, loyal, hardworking member. We trust that she indeed heard the heavenly voice welcoming her with. "Well done, good and faithful servant."