The Paraments

Ordinary Time,  Advent,  Christmas and Epiphany,  Lent,  Celebration of the Resurrection,  Pentecost

The paraments are banners which hang from the pulpit and on each adjacent side. Untold hours of planning, designing, and stitching by many Mt. Vernon women went into the creation of these beautiful works of art. The colors and themes represent the liturgical calendar which the church follows. Most of the church year is considered Ordinary Time, when no prominent festival or theme is celebrated. The liturgical term "ordinary" means that which is standard, normative, usual, or typical. Week after week, Sunday "ordinarily" celebrates the resurrection and unfolding of the new creation. This is in accord with the Reformed tradition, for which the Lord's Day has always had a dominant role whether or not annual festivals were maintained. Twice each year, however, Ordinary Time is heightened by the extra-ordinary time of the Christmas and Easter cycles. They are extra-ordinary in that they intensify the foundational doctrines of incarnation and resurrection. In the past because Ordinary Time was counted as so many Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost, Epiphany and Pentecost were misunderstood as seasons when, in fact, they are single days.

Ordinary Time

Hung following Epiphany (january 6) until Lent (a period of 4-9 weeks) and following Pentecost until Advent (a period of 23-28 weeks) Color: green, signifying spiritual growth A creation in crewel.

These works feature the hand of God, a common image for God's creative power, protection, and guidance. A stylized globe reminds us of God's creation and care for the world; and the leaves and grape vines, God's good and bountiful provision. The open Bible becomes the living Word (the green plant) when God superintends the reading of Scripture. The divine gesture in a triune or Latin benediction blesses the ship, an ancient image for the church.

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Advent

Hung the four Sundays preceding Christmas Color: purple, representing repentance, royalty, and suffering A creation in crewel.

Each parament features the monogram for Christ, the Greek letters chi (X, sometimes turned sideways) and rho (P) which spell the beginning of Christos. The sun of righteousness speaks of the coming of the "light of the world" as promised in the Old Testament, represented by the tau cross. The infant Christ with the nimbus and the manager reminds us of Christ's humble birth in a stable. The open Bible recalls the scripture that tells of his coming. The hands of God reach down giving us this wonderful gift, Emmanuel, God with us.

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Christmas and Epiphany

Hung Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the twelve days following, and Epiphany (January 6) Color: white, signifying purity A creation in cross stitch

All three paraments feature the star which led the Magi to the baby Jesus. According to the gospel of Matthew, from which this story comes, the very first people to acknowledge Jesus' kingship were these foreign gentiles. Their three gifts are illustrated by the chests. Three crowns follow the tradition that these astrologers from the East were three kings. The center parament includes a tau cross superimposed on a globe, signifying our mission to spread the news of the gospel to the whole world.

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Lent

Hung the forty days (fast days) and six Sundays (feast days) from Ash Wednesday until Easter Color: purple, representing repentance, royalty, and suffering A creation in crewel.

Images from the passion story remind us of Christ's sacrifice: the crown of thorns, the three nails, the mocking but ironic inscription above the cross (INRI from the Latin: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), the crucifixion with blood streaming from the sword-pierced side of Christ (represented by the Chi Rho monogram), and the lamb of God. The Latin word PAX, meaning peace, speaks to our reconciliation with God through the death of Christ.

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Celebration of the Resurrection

Hung on Easter and the following 49 days until Pentecost, also during funeral and memorial servIces Color: white, symbolizing purity A creation in crewel.

Each parament includes a cross. The Jerusalem cross composed of four smaller crosses indicates the mission to spread the good news of Christ's resurrection into all the corners of the world. A cross emerging with rays of sunlight under a crown depicts Christ bursting forth in glory, light and victory as king of kings. And the monogrammed cross signifies vanquishing death (I and C are the first and last letters of the Greek word for Jesus; X and C are the first and last letters of the Greek word for Christ; NIKA is Greek for conqueror). Images of the stone rolled away from the empty tomb, a plant growing from a seed, and the Iife cycle of a butterfly all speak of resurrection.

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Pentecost

Hung on the fiftieth day after Easter, also to celebrate ordination Color: red, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit A creation in latch hook.

At Pentecost (the flame) the Christian church (the cross) emerged from Judaism (the star of David). The dove represents the Holy Spirit which was given to the church and continues to inspire us. The triune God is symbolized in the dove's threepointed nimbus and in the three symbols of dove (Spirit), Chi Rho monogram (Christ), and blessing hand of God (Creator).