On Sunday, June 9th Rev. Maryjane blessed our new Mission Banners during both Sunday services. The idea to create mission banners arose a couple of years ago during a focus group when our laity observed that we do not often visibly engage with our mission. For example, the walls of our Genesis building do not display the mission anywhere. So the folks in the focus group supported an initiative to create quilted banners that could be put up in the sanctuary during services, and perhaps even carried in during the children’s procession.
Rev. Maryjane: “Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to build houses of prayer and praise, and to set apart places for the ministry of his holy Word and Sacraments. With gratitude for the newly created mission banners of St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, we are now gathered to dedicate and consecrate them in God’s Name.”
All: “Almighty God, we thank you for making us in your image, to share in the ordering of your world. Receive the work of our hands in this place, now to be set apart for your worship, the building up of the living, and the remembrance of the dead, to the praise and glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing of the Mission Banners (June 9, 2019)
We are grateful for the time, talent and creativity that our own Barb Kilbourn put into quilting the beautiful banners. They are a collaboration with help and support from volunteers, parishioners and our Endowment.
Over several weeks during Lent, a team of volunteers gathered for soup with Barb. During these meetings, we agreed on a design and colors, and worked to cut materials so they were ready for parishioners to lay into place.
Saint Clarians of all ages traced their hands, and volunteers transposed them onto bright colored fabric. After Barb spent hours quilting them together, Steve Lozano worked to hang them on the three sanctuary wall panels. They are beautiful reminders of our church’s mission: Worship with Joy, Grow in Faith, and Act for Justice (read more about St. Clare’s mission here).