Background: Each year fabrics from previous years’ stoles are incorporated into the designs, linking each group of ordinands to those who came before them and those who will come after.
In celebration of the 2018 New England Annual Conference theme, “Vital Conversations: Culture,” the ordination stoles feature 2 separated vertical planes joined by a line constructed of fabric from races, ethnicities, and cultures in every part of the earth including some from the Indian fabric collection of Prema Devadhar. Fabric from earlier years’ ordination stoles are included, signifying the order of elders in which ordinands are now full members.
Transformed by the Holy Spirit, united in trust, we will proclaim Christ boldly to the world.
Taesebo Cho "The Lord is my shepherd". - Psalm 23.
Rebecca Cho 2 Cor 2:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Stole Design: In the 2016 stoles, scripture that inspires our ordinands’ leadership falls as seeds. Gold seeds of grace remind us of the fertile Holy Spirit. At the bottom, fabrics from Syria, Africa, Asia, American calico, and remnants of past year’s stoles rise up as fruits of the spirit.
Scripture Focus: Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.
Stole Design: The conference logo was a beautiful origami dove. After trying to replicate it in folded fabric, I used the shape of the logo on the front of the stoles and printed the logo on individual nameplates inside the stoles. From the dove on the front of the stoles flowed verses that inspired the leadership of each ordinand, handwritten in gold. Fabric insets came from the first annual ordinands trip the Holy Land. Gathered in Jerusalem’s markets, this very fine textiles come from Syrian, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine.
Narrative Focus: John Wesley’s testimony as his call was formed by God.
Stole Design: The 2013 conference theme emphasized one of our five critical issues as a conference, “Spiritual Life: We are a people who year for God and seek healing and spiritual life through Jesus Christ in order to be united in trust and mission.” The logo demonstrated the way faith is formed both by crisis (fire colors) and by organic development (a shell like spiral). This year’s stoles feature a print on silk of the Conference logo with portions the leadership verses (underlined) of ordinands hand written in outreaching lines.
Stole Design: This year’s ordination service recognized how the Spirit uniquely equips us to navigate the signs and wonders of our diverse calls to ministry. White sails on the stoles’ red backgrounds can also be seen as wings, hand embroidered with metallic thread in rainbow hues. Under the sails are “boats” created by each ordinand’s inspiring verse. The red background is hand-dyed cotton in the shibori block resist technique.
Theme: “Living Side by Side: The Broken and the Whole.
Stole Design: Fragments of fabrics that have served in ministry are gathered here and put to new service by your side: UMVIM mission tee shirts, linens from camps, church kitchens and altars, Pakistani Sari remnants, Stole scrapes from prior years, and Prayer flags. May their presence remind you of your many partners in ministry!
Stole Design: Water colored streams join fabrics from around the world to remind ordinands of the common bond of baptism and common hope of Christ’s presence wherever we find ourselves in the world.
Stole Design: Vertical stripes of fabrics from the USA, Asia, and Central America suggest the spines of books, repositories of wisdom, history and narrative. The Pentecost red background fabric is hand-dyed using block resist, an ancient Japanese technique.
Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Immediately he regained his sight and followed [Jesus] on the way.
Stole Design: The 2008 stoles incorporate the fisherman’s net-making technique, called sprang, and a verbal net drawn using the ordinands’ leadership verses.
Stole Design: Fabric pieces form around the world swirl and push at the frame that holds them. This year’s logo, a cross whose lines are animated in movement that bend the frame around it, was designed by Chris McInerney, graduate of RISD and of the United Methodist related Kents Hill School. Chris’ simple and elegant design appears on the ordination stoles.
Scripture Focus: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.
Stole Design: Strict new Massachusetts fire laws guiding use of fabrics in the public spaces led to the donation of cutting edge textile samples from by TexTech, of Winthrop Maine. These were used in the stage backdrop, a large and lyrical open heart. Remnants were used to design the hearts on this year’s stoles, symbols of the whole-hearted openness to God that is essential for Christian life and ministry.
Sending verse: May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Stole Design NEAC 2015 celebrated the work of our hands as we are molded and held in God’s hands. On the stoles, a fiery African cotton print depicts dancing figures who lift their hands in celebration. Near the heart on each stole a yellow hand print is reminiscent of a child’s first artwork. This year the stoles end in irregular shapes which symbolize our ongoing formation and work.