Monthly Message (October 2006) - "Let your light shine"

Dear Friends,

We often have to turn around, change direction, to see the abundant life that God would have us live.” – with these words the whole congregation turned to face the back of the Church during the Harvest Service. And on the back wall of the Church we unveiled the patchwork wall hanging that many people have taken part in creating over the last year and a half.

“It is truly beautiful!” many people said, as they drew near with excited faces to gaze at the colours, the stitching, and the tiny pictures.  Then they stood back to see the over-all image with its message: “Let your light shine.”

This piece of communal art was inspired by a similar wall hanging created by a URC congregation in Newbury. Some of our members went to see their work and suggested that it offered us a creative idea for the Connect 2005 Art&Soul Festival, which we were sharing with our partner churches in Churches Together in the Westbury Area.

So, in the spring of 2005, our wall hanging was designed, and in June, during the Connect 2005 Art Trail, people visiting Trinity-Henleaze URC were invited to embroider a cloth square to contribute. Each square is an individual design but united by the inclusion of a cross.

Squares were given to church members, to people from different churches (including Newbury URC), to friends, neighbours and relatives, children and adults, some were sent to friends abroad .... Each one being carefully recorded.

Over the early months of 2007 a small group met regularly to patiently stitch the squares together, attaching them to their backing ...... and then fitting the whole piece into its specially constructed wooden frame.

The whole work is very beautiful and it now hangs on the wall in the church.

I hope that this lovely piece of art will speak to us and encourage us as we enjoy it in the years to come. As I reflect on it and the story of its making there are immediate thoughts that come to mind ......

First ...... that God, whose life and creativity fills our world with wonders and marvels, has shared the gifts of imagination, creative talent and the ability to make beautiful things, with human beings – with us. We, and all people, have it within us to share our talents and be part of making the world a beautiful place.

Then, ...... this picture shows us many small unique parts joined together to make the whole. Individuality is a precious treasure in our lives and in society. Being ourselves with freedom to move, believe, interpret and live in the world is one of the most prized and argued over human freedoms of our age. The patchwork is made up of individuality, essentially drawn together into a complete picture by cooperation and sharing. Balancing individuality and community is, again, the tight-rope that we all walk in the society we create in the world. If the balance tips in either direction there are people who suffer – but when individuality and community are cherished together the picture is of freedom, vibrancy and life.

And finally the message – “Let your light shine” swirls across the back wall of the church between the exits! A reminder, that Christian faith is to be carried out to be lived in the world. It’s a challenge to the church and each one of us not to hide the light of God’s love inside, but to let it shine out where it can make a difference.

I’m sure that many thoughts will be shared and mulled over as we see and reflect on this picture over the years.

Many thanks to all who have made this beautiful thing possible.

Yours,

Tracey.