World Communion Sunday

This stole is sold here.

Do you celebrate World Communion Sunday with your congregation? Many denominations celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of October to promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. Of course anytime we observe Communion we show our participation in the body of Christ. This makes me think of the scripture from 1 Corinthians 10:16-17...Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 

Marietta gets supplies organized for a day of dying silk.

With this in mind we've added a new stole to our Haiti collection using silk that is hand dyed by a group of women that run a small business to be able to further their education in LaCroix, Haiti. 


Whenever I have the opportunity of partaking in Communion outside my home congregation I am struck by the symbols of bread and wine and the gift of their universality. This hit me a little further away from home this summer when I was able to work in Haiti for a week. I thought you might enjoy the below photo of the LaCroix New Testament Mission choir helping us prepare our hearts for Communion with song as they sing around the table where the elements are prepared, covered and waiting. 

....and yes, that's a bottle of Purell hand sanitizer on the Communion table!

It's Back to (Sunday) School Time!

Visiting my childhood church with Mr. Carrot Top Studio

This week many congregations are beginning new Sunday School classes. It's an exciting time for all that are involved. Those that feel the call to teach are a blessing.This summer my family worshiped in the church that I grew up in. Afterward we walked the church hallways and many memories washed over me. They included sitting around tables exploring lessons, laughing, a feeling of comfort, learning how to use my first Bible, and interestingly a lot of mini-dramas acting out Bible stories --maybe my inner actress is wanting to still emerge!

An encouraging  read for parents (and clergy)!

I know that church and our faith aren't supposed to shut down in the more laid back days of summer, but I also recognize the reality of the renewal of the change of seasons. For us in the United States this means many adults and children swarm "back" to church at this time of year. There is much energy! And hopefully this also means children in worship. As a young parent I learned a lot by reading Parenting in the Pew and was greatly encouraged by those around me that were worshiping with older children. As an artist/educator I believe in the importance of including the visual in worship. Children today have shorter attention spans than generations past because everything moves much faster for them. I'm not saying worship needs to move 'quickly' but I do think including visuals and using colors and symbols and changing these throughout the seasons will help keep children engaged. Worship is a verb isn't it? It should be active.

Confirmation stole blanks-available in white and red.

Are you now brainstorming ways to include the visual? Carrot Top Studio liked this idea....one of our clients let us know that she'll be using our confirmation stole blanks to commission the church's teachers this coming Sunday. Lovely and symbolic, indeed.