The History of Our Kneelers
Hello, I am Diane Visser and I'd like to tell you about all of the things
involved in developing the project, before the first stitch could be taken.
Once we had decided that the cushions should be done in needlepoint, we started
searching for designs. Glyta Payne, owner of the local needlework shop, had been
given a brochure on the kneelers stitched for the First United Methodist Church
in Athens, Georgia. Paul & Mary Brown had brought it back from a vacation and
shared it with Glyta.
Nancy Hamilton and I liked the design that the Georgia church had used and felt
it would work well in our sanctuary. I called several people involved with the
project in Georgia and found that the design was specifically done for that
church and no longer existed on paper. However, the designer, Josephine Ruth
Paine, gave me verbal permission to copy the design any way we could.
Attempts to enlarge the photograph did not improve the resolution of the
picture, so finally I used strong light and magnification to try to read the
photograph well enough to determine how the original was done and then to chart
the design for our use. Drawing on things I've learned as a member of the
Embroiderer's Guild of America, I was able to get a good idea of how the
stitching was done, what stitches were used and the size of the piece. Then I
began working it out in pencil on graph paper. Because the bottom half of the
design is a mirror image of the top half, and the right half is a mirror image
of the left half, I really only had to chart 1/4 of the total design.
Working out the design on graph paper, practice stitching, experimenting and
measuring multiple times got us closer to the final charting. In determining the
length and shape of the platform step where the cushions would be used, we saw
it was necessary to shorten the design length somewhat and then have some
cushions with 3 circles on the top and some with 2 circles. In this process, we
were also able to decide which canvas and yarn we would use. We would use
similar colors to the original design and there would be 15 colors in the
bordering of the circles.
Next came charting out each stitch onto graph paper. I found that I could use a
Lotus 1-2-3 computer spreadsheet program to make this easier and more legible. I
adjusted the width of the columns and the height of the rows so that it created
a grid of square boxes. Then I began filling the boxes with letters and symbols
for each stitch. The letter or symbol used indicates what color that stitch is
to be.
As most stitches are over two or even three canvas threads, and more than one
type of stitch is used, it was necessary to show that instruction on the chart.
I placed an oval over two or three boxes to show stitch placement and length. In
some places stitches line up next to each other in a row and in other places a
brick wall pattern is created. Parts of the design are stitched in a vertical
stitch placement and parts are horizontal. The placement of the ovals indicated
to the stitcher what pattern was being used at that place in the design.
Nancy Hamilton, Helen McCarver and I spent hours selecting the proper color
shades. We would work out a group at Glyta's shop, then take yarn samples to the
sanctuary and see how they worked with the carpet colors, the stained glass
window colors, the changes in the light and of course, how they worked with
other. To determine how much yarn of each color we would need, more sample
stitching was required. I then began stitching the first cushion top, measuring
yarn usage and coverage as 1 went along. Then we used an educated guess &
calculation, thankful that Glyta agreed to take back any unused skeins we had at
the end of the project.
A full set of written general instructions for the stitchers was developed and
in the summer of 1995, recruiting of volunteer stitchers began. A stitched
sample was requested of each stitcher to get an idea of their ability and need
for instruction. Glyta Payne critiqued the first group of samples we collected.
Many of our stitchers had not done needlepoint before and some had never
stitched at all! We agreed to gather each Thursday night at the church and each
stitcher could then be given more instructions, have questions answered, obtain
more supplies and have their work critiqued. Over the years, a close fellowship
has developed among the members of the group.
Our first recruit, Helen McCarver, was a fast stitcher and worked ahead of the
others; thus she became the "guinea pig" for everything about the design. Many
times we would decide that something wasn't right, she'd rip it out (or unstitch
it as we called it!). We'd change the design or color or whatever and she'd redo
it. Through it all she was very patient and had a good eye for what didn't look
right.
As we got further into the stitching, we needed to find designs for Christian
symbols to fill the circles. Nancy Hamilton and I found some designs on the
market but much of what we found was designed for small Christmas ornaments.
Helen McCarver took these designs and enlarged them or completely recharted them
for our use, revealing a talent she didn't even know she had. Once again Helen
and I spent many hours working out color selection.
Then we discovered that Jeannie Haight had a talent for alphabet design and
letter placement and she has charted all the wording we've used on the sides of
the cushions.
Each cushion's front side, facing the congregation, is stitched in solid navy
blue with the United Methodist symbol repeated along the side. One end has the
name of the stitcher who completed the top of the cushion and the other end has
the year it was completed, the United Methodist symbol and BUMC for Bozeman
United Methodist Church. The long back side has the wording requested by the
donor who funded the cushion. Most are in memory of someone or in honor of
someone. One cushion was worked on by each stitcher in the group and done in
loving memory of Helen McCarver who died unexpectedly during the project.
Once the stitching was completed, each cushion's pieces were blocked square
again before we attached the sides to the top. This attachment was done with a
special stitch that produces a braided look and proved to be very hard on our
hands and wrists to stitch through that many layers with the thick yarn
required.
Upholstery was done by C & S Upholstery to create a box cushion filled firmly
with a dense foam pad wrapped with a polyester batting. The bottom of each
cushion is an upholstery velvet and the whole thing is protected by a Scotch
Guard treatment.
Photo as seen in the Belgrade Independent Press Newspaper
Details on individual kneeler cushions:
In honor of our parents, Harold & Mary Zimmer--Don & Nellie
Goings
Stitched by Helen McCarver
Gifted by Ralph & Gloria Zimmer
Dogwood Blossoms: By tradition, the spring-blooming dogwood has
come to represent the
passion and death of Christ on the cross. The four petals represent the cross
and the pink or red
edging symbolizes the blood on his hands and feet. The stamen represent the
crown of thorns.
Crown of Thorns: In Matthew 27:29 Pilate's soldiers plaited a
crown of thorns, placed it on
Jesus' head and jeered at Him: "Hail King of the Jews!". The crown of thorns
reminds us of the
mockery, humiliation and suffering that He endured for our sake.
Draped Cross: The empty cross symbolizes resurrection. The white
drape indicates purity and the
rebirth of Easter.
In memory of Gus & Irene Engstrom
Stitched by Helen McCarver
Gifted by George & Lee Engstrom
Triquetra: The three equal arcs represent eternity in their
continuous moving form and
indivisibility in their interweaving. The center forms a triangle-another symbol
of the Trinity.
Lamb with Banner: In John 1:29, John says "Look, there is the Lamb
of God: it is he who takes
away the sin of the world". Because the lamb is standing, it represents the
triumphant and risen
Jesus Christ. The white pennant represents the body of Christ, which is attached
to the cruciform
staff, representing the cross on which the Lamb of God died and through which
the risen Christ
saves the world.
Chi-Rho within medallion: The Chi Rho is a monogram for Jesus
Christ. The X and P are the first
two letters of the Greek work "Christos".
In memory of our parents Arthur W. and Laura Mae
Grant--Marshall and Mice Erickson
Stitched by Lucile Erickson
Gifted by Marshall & Lucile Erickson
IHS Cross: IHS has many explanations attached to it. They are the
first three letters of the Greek
word for Jesus (IHSOUS). The first letter of the words in the Latin phrase,
"Jesus Hominum
Salvator", meaning "Jesus, Savior of men" would form the acronym IHS. The Latin
phrase. "In
hic salus" meaning "In this cross is salvation" would also form IHS. An English
phrase has also
been attached to the IHS--"I have suffered".
Easter Lily: A seemingly dead brown bulb is planted in the soil.
From this bulb comes a new bulb, and
in the spring a stem, leaves & flowers, all rising above the soil. Thus the lily
has come to
represent resurrection. The white color of the Easter lily symbolizes the
purity, joy and light of resurrection.
From Matthew 6:28 in the Sermon on the Mount, it says "Consider how the lilies
grow in
the fields: they do not work, they do not spin, and yet, I tell you, even
Solomon in all his splendor
was not attired like one of these." The lily then, also reminds us of the care
of God.
In memory of our parents Herold and Donna Murdock--Larry and Elsie Yanker
Stitched by Marilyn Murdock
Gifted by Don & Marilyn Murdock
Wheat: When shown by itself, wheat represents harvest, feasting &
plenty, the goodness of God's creation.
Cross and Crown: James 1: 12 says "God will bless you, if you
don't give up when your faith is being tested.
He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves
him". In the Greek
text, the phrase "a glorious life" was translated "the crown of life". In
ancient times an athlete
who had won a contest was rewarded with a crown of flowers or leaves as a sign
of victory.
The Cross, in combination with the Crown, represents death and the heavenly
reward for a faithful life.
Another interpretation of the combination, especially when the cross is tilted
as this is,
would be that Christ our King was crucified and conquered death and the cross
for us.
Chalice: The chalice signifies the whole of His suffering for us
and the redeeming benefits of his
passion as well. When the chalice is shown alone, it often represents worship or
faith. Shown
with a cross it is a reminder of the agony of Christ in Gethsemane as in Matthew
26:39 when
Jesus says "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Yet not as I
will, but as thou wilt."
In memory of Paul and Marie Davidson
Stitched by Helen B. Arts
Gifted by George & Lee Engstrom
Christmas Rose: Tradition has brought the Christmas rose to stand
for the incarnation of Christ as it
blooms just at Christmas time and withstands the ravages of winter. The five
petals represent the
five wounds of Christ--hands, feet and side.
Wreath and Light (Candle): The wreath, a continuous circle
representing eternity, is a natural symbol of life and the
visible goodness of creation. The light reminds us that God is the light of the
world, giving hope and courage.
Star: The wise men followed a star, hoping to find the baby
Jesus. Tradition has attributed
hope to the star. The eight pointed star has come to stand for regeneration or
baptism. Some
traditions say that the eight pointed star represents the eight souls who were
saved from the flood.
In honor & memory of our parents, Sam & Eva Due Rich--John & Willie Mae
Hamilton
Stitched by Nancy Hamilton
Gifted by Don & Nancy Hamilton
Butterfly: In it's early stage of growth, the butterfly grows in a
smooth, hard shell. The shell or
chrysalis appears dead. Later the butterfly breaks out of the chrysalis and when
it's wings dry, it
flies away--free from its prison. The butterfly is a symbol of resurrection or
of the transformation
of a life given to Christ.
Crown: Revelation 2:10 says "Only be faithful till death, and I
will give you the crown of life."
I Peter 5:4 says "Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given
a crown that will
never lose its glory". The crown represents the reward of a faithful Christian
life, as well as the
authority, royalty, power & dominion of Christ the King. It is also to remind us
that our final
loyalty is to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our king. We are his subjects. We
must be obedient to him.
In memory of Ray & Edna McGlaughlin, Byron McCarver & Neta
McCarver Bennett
Stitched by Helen McCarver
Gifted by Orville & Helen McCarver
Faith, Hope and Love: The cross is a symbol of faith, the heart a
symbol of love, the anchor a
symbol of hope. Hebrews 6:18-19 says "Here, then, are two irrevocable acts in
which God could
not possibly play us false, to give powerful encouragement to us, who have
claimed his protection
by grasping the hope set before us. That hope we hold. It is like an anchor for
our lives, an
anchor safe and sure."
Baptismal Cross: The Cross Potent is formed by joining four Old
Testament crosses that look like
"T"'s and are known as Tau crosses. The Tau cross is said to be the cross that
Moses used to lift
up the bronze serpent in the desert. The Tau cross is also the Greek letter "T"
and was used by
the early Christians as an identifying symbol.
The dove represents the Holy Spirit. Because this dove is descending, it shows
God
coming to us. The shell holds water for purifying & cleansing, Ancient art often
represents John
the Baptist as using a shell in the baptism of Jesus. The font holds baptismal
water. The dove
descending above it shows the Holy Spirit's presence in baptism. The three fish
in a continuous
circle represent the Trinity and show we are baptized in the name of the Triune
God.
In honor of Ray and Verniece Haight and Rudolph & Agnes
Linscheid
Stitched by Jeannie Haight
Gifted by Bob & Jeannie Haight
Alpha and Omega: Revelation 22:13 says "I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end." Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of
the Greek alphabet.
When used with other symbols referring to Christ, they refer to the eternalness
of Christ.
Chalice and Host: This symbol shows the elements of communion. The
wheat and grapes are the
source of the bread and wine with which we remember Christ's body & blood given
for us. The
Host or bread represents His body, broken for us; the Chalice or cup for holding
the wine which
represents His blood, spilled for us. On the host are depicted the letters "IHS"
which are the first
three letters of the Greek work for "Jesus". All of the elements depicted
together represent the
self-giving sacrifice of Christ and the redeeming benefits of His passion as
well.
In memory of Joseph M. Pinczes and Fred & Helen Harvey
Stitched by Wally Pinczes
Gifted by Wally Pinczes
Descending Dove: In Matthew 3:16 the "Spirit of God descending like a
dove" is part of Jesus's
baptism and the descending dove has come to symbolize God coming to us in the
form of the Holy Spirit.
Chi Rho: The X and P are the first two letters of the Greek work "Christos".
The Chi Rho has
become a monogram signifying Jesus Christ. Constantine the Great put the Chi Rho
on the
banners of his army as he marched against the Roman Emperor Maxentius. In a
vision,
Constantine had seen the Chi Rho shining in the night sky along with "in this
sign thou shalt
conquer". He went on to become the sole ruler of the Western Empire and stopped
the
persecution of the Christians.
In memory of my parents Florence & Walter A. Boettger
Stitched by Helen B. Arts
Gifted by Helen B. Arts
Cross and Flame: This is the United Methodist symbol. The flame
represents the tongues of fire
at Pentecost; thus the Holy Spirit, and the cross is the symbol of faith.
Ship: Tradition has brought the ship to represent the Church. In
the "Epistle of Clement to
James" attributed to Clement of Rome, he says "For the whole business of the
Church is like unto
a great ship, bearing through a violent storm men who are of many places, and
who desire to
inhabit the city of the good Kingdom."
In memory of our mothers, Margaret Bradford & Vivian Chandler
Stitched by Diane Visser
Gifted by Bob & Louise Bradford
Ichthus: "Fish" is an acronym of the first letter of each word in
the Greek phrase for "Jesus Christ,
God's Son, Savior". The early Christians used the fish as a mark of identity and
a way to
communicate. Within the fish is the "Chi Rho". This is composed of the first
two letters of the Greek
word "Christos" or Christ.
Trinity Symbol:
Triquetra - Three equal arcs represent eternity in their
continuous moving form and
indivisibility in their interweaving. The center forms a triangle--another
symbol of the Trinity.
Hand - Joshua 4:24 says "Thus all people on earth will know how
strong is the hand of the
Lord; and thus they will stand in awe of the Lord your God forever". The hand
represents the
Father; God's creative power which surrounds the universe and which called it
into being.
Fish - Early Christians used the fish as the symbol of Jesus
Christ because the word "fish"
is an acronym of the first letters of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ, God's
Son, Savior".
Dove - Matthew 3: 16 refers to the Spirit of God descending like a
dove during Jesus'
baptism and thus the dove represents the Holy Spirit.
In memory and honor of our parents, Leon and Judith Tank--Cecil and Susie
Meiby
Stitched by Jeannie Haight
Gifted by Mike and Cecilia Tank
Open Bible: The open Bible signifies the opening of God's living
Word for all the people of the world.
Cross and Shepherd's Staff: The cross embodies the whole meaning
of Christ's saving death and resurrection, life &
ministry, incarnation and coming in glory. Because the cross is shown empty, it
symbolizes resurrection,
The staff is a symbol of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
In memory of my mother Eva Tanner
Stitched by Virginia Manseau
Gifted by Frank and Virginia Manseau
Spanish Cross:
The unselfish manner in which Jesus died transformed the cross from a symbol of
shame
into a supreme symbol of God's love.
The Spanish cross, as well as many others, is budded--the ends of the crossing
pieces are
splayed into three parts. The three parts stand for the Trinity.
Lamp:
Psalm 119:105 says "Thy word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light on my path"
Thus the lamp symbolizes the Bible, Christian knowledge or learning.
To honor the memory of our fellow stitcher, Helen Jean McCarver
Stitched by Diane, Helen, Jeannie, Lee, Lucile, Marilyn, Nancy, Virginia, Wally
Gifted by Joyce Jackson-Hawkes and Gene Hawkes
Celtic Cross:
The circle at the center of this cross emphasizes the eternal effects of the
redemption
secured by the death of Christ on the cross.
This cross is frequently seen in cemeteries on headstones. In that context, it
helps us
remember that the dead are still God's children, and, although they are not with
us any longer,
they are with God.
Rainbow and Dove:
In Genesis 9:13 God says "The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign
to you
and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this
promise forever" .The
promise was that the earth and those living on it would never again be destroyed
by a flood. God
chose this symbol Himself. The rainbow has come to remind us that God does
care.
The dove with an olive branch in its beak is the symbol of peace. In Genesis 8:
11 when
the dove that Noah sent out returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her
beak, Noah knew that
the waters were receding.