Tying Together 

As we come to a new year at OSLC, we find reason for hope in “the simple tasks that parishioners are already doing on behalf of their neighbors” (Sundays and Seasons, quoted below). 
Quilting has become an evocative symbol of our life together at Our Savior and “Tying Together” will be OSLC’s signature theme this year.  The steady work of the Lutheran World Relief Quilters is a wonder to behold, offering congregational and community members alike a chance to work together to create a thing of beauty and warmth out of discarded fabrics to meet the need of displaced people the world over.  This month, two special quilting events are scheduled – on January 19th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., students and staff at Dartmouth will be invited to join in relief quilt making at Collis, through the efforts of our LWR Quilting members.  And on Thursday of that same week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. a Quilting Marathon is scheduled at Our Savior.
On December 17th, the Quilters led us in our Advent Vespers, which included the designing of a quilt together on the chancel floor.  Susan Bloomfield’s introduction to “the task at hand” follows.  It speaks simply and well of the hopeful loving “meantime” work to which Christians are called:
This evening Quilters for Lutheran World Relief invite you to participate in designing a quilt for Advent.  Joining together we can create a quilt top, a symbol of the more than 150 quilts we hope to send this year to people throughout the world.  An Advent quilt seems to be an appropriate symbol, as together we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled.  While we watch and wait, our hands prepare to comfort others who also wait for food, shelter, and justice.  Quoting from Sundays and Seasons, a worship guide, “This is the season to hear most clearly the cry of the poor…..Amid the crush of anxious Christmas commercialism, the simple tasks parishioners are already doing in behalf of their neighbors in need is a cause for celebration, a sign that God’s intentions for humanity and the world are being realized right here, right now.”
The color of our Advent quilt is blue.  Deep blue reflects the changing sky during this season and is the color of hope.
As you entered the sanctuary, you were given one or more squares of blue cloth.  In front of the altar small slips of paper mark the places where you will place your squares.  We invite each of you to carefully approach the front of the sanctuary when you wish, take a slip of paper, and in its place lay a blue square of cloth. 
Please approach on the left side, place your square, go to the lectern to read your verse and carefully exit on the right side.
Your slip of paper notes a Bible quotation or a verse from a hymn.  We invite you to read aloud your verse, that we may join our voices to celebrate our work in behalf of people in need.
 

And so it proceeded.  On the floor a lovely patchwork blue quilt took shape.  Around us the variety of our voices became a “verse quilt” embracing us.  It was a holy moment that tied together so many things: our prayer, the Word, care for the poor, our life together, our hope and love. 
May the blessings of these continuing creative ministries be graciously received during 2009.
                                                                                                                                                            Pastor Susan

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