Patchwork Pilgrimage Quilt Show
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire
by night left its place in front of the people.
-Exodus 13:21-22
As part of my Sabbatical Report, I am putting on a Patchwork Pilgrimage Quilt Show this Sunday in the First Pres Center. I will also be sharing more about the quilts at the Best Years potluck lunch on Monday. Quilts have been part of my family for generations. Some of the quilts were made by me. Some were made by my aunts and grandmothers. Some were made by my church “grandmas”. I love fabric. I love color and the way you can take one piece of seemingly drab fabric and make it joyful and spectacular when pieced together in a pleasant way. I appreciate the care and attention to detail quilting requires. Quilting takes creativity, a lot of calculating, and the ability to adjust your expectations… much like ministry!
I love the way fabric art brings history and life together. Quilting shares the story of a person’s life and faith while creating something useful. The purpose of this quilt show is to share some of what I learned this summer with you. I hope you enjoy looking at quilts I have made over the years and reading the explanation of who that quilt was for, what it means to me, and how it shares my life, my faith, and my hobby with others.
My favorite souvenir from Pennsylvania Amish country is a tiny wooden magnet that says my quilting motto, “Finished is better than perfect.” I first learned this phrase from my Aunt Patty Jo, who taught me almost everything I know about quilting. Her rendition of this is: “Done is better than perfect.” Sometimes you can overthink perfectionism and it doesn’t get you anywhere… just get it done and move on.
This week as we read the book of Exodus, we see how the Israelites were guided by God in the way they should go by a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were not to stay in any one place for too long… when God moved, they moved. Don’t stay stuck… just get it done and move on. What a powerful reminder that God knows the path we should take and continues to lead his people!
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You call us to be your people, but we have allowed ourselves to serve other powers. We have ignored your call to stand for justice, choosing instead the path of least resistance or greatest return on investment. We find ourselves stuck in patterns and relationships that we no longer know how to change. Turn to us again, liberating God! Forgive us our sins and free us from our bondage. Restore us to the life you created us to live, through the power of Jesus Christ.
