Ordinary Time - Waters of Creation

Ordinary time is an in-between time - a time to grow. All plants, animals and humans need water to survive. Oceans, lakes, rivers, pools, springs & wells are all mentioned in the Bible. Jan selected scriptures (NRSV) referring to water and has included them in the flowing lines of this composition. In them we remember how Jesus was baptized in water, turned water into wine, and walked on the water. Moses struck a rock to give water to the congregation and the livestock. Water is symbolic of being born anew in baptism. We drink the Living Water and are refreshed and sustained by the living God. It is an appropriate image to wear on a liturgical stole while leading people in worship and encouraging them to receive the water of life in their spiritual journey.

The white & silver lines through the centre depict the movement of the Spirit over the waters.

Christmas / Easter / Trinity Sunday / Weddings / Funerals/ All Saints / Christ’s Baptism

For Christmas and Easter we use white as the light from the star and as the light from the angel in the empty tomb. This white & gold stole is a festival of dancing stars, celebrating the gift of Jesus, the child born into the world at Christmas, and the risen Christ, triumphant over death at Easter. God’s abundant and extravagant love is offered to a hurting world. Light reflects on sequins, braid, netting and metallic stars & threads creating a joyful interplay with the stamped and printed words “... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Lent & Advent (for some denominations)

To create a purple stole which is relevant during both Advent and Lent Jan has chosen to highlight the themes that both seasons share. Both are seasons of preparation, hence the stamped words “Prepare the way of the Lord” on the background fabric. Both are seasons in which we move along a path of darkness that leads into light. There are various textured pathways depicted using fabrics, ribbon, braid, netting & threads.

Pentecost - Spirit Fire
( Pentecost, Good Friday, Midweek services on Saints days)

The red stole of Pentecost contains fragments of the printed story from Acts Chapter 2. We are told in Acts about when the Holy Spirit came upon the gathered disciples that tongues of fire hovered above their heads. Fire is an image used in the Hebrew Scriptures to represent God. The words are incorporated into the wind and flame-like movement of the design. The reds and oranges of the Pentecost stoles are carefully chosen fabrics, threads, sparkles and netting to suggest the energy of wind and the heat of fire.

Advent (for some denominations)

Many denominations use blue for the season of Advent to differentiate from the purple of Lent. Jan’s blue stoles mimic the blue of the predawn sky which variegates from medium to dark blue and reminds us of the hope at the start of a new day. The gold of the metallic stars twinkle excitedly while awaiting the coming of the Christ child.

Stamped in the background are the words HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE. Printed scriptures will be some of the following;

1) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

2) A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

3) Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. (Isaiah 40:4)

When ordering an Advent stole please indicate if you need a blue or a purple stole for use in your denomination.