From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“ In Him was life. ”
- John 1:4
The winter quilt...
Dear friends in Christ,
Joan and I just changed to our winter quilt. With the shapes of the north woods moose, bear and wolves, evergreen trees, cabins and snowflakes, it is one of my favorites. Quilting as an art form was developed by our American ancestors out of need. When the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower for their trip over, quilts were safely packed in the baggage. Soon they were removed to hang as make shift curtains that provided some privacy and used as shelf beds. Upon reaching the New World, the quilts and clothing were well worn. Patching worn out quilts had never been necessary. Back in England, old quilts were discarded or used as rags. But in the colonies cloth was scarce and new warmer clothing was a necessity. Blankets and quilts were made to last by applying a square patch of old cloth until new cloth arrived from England. They patched and patched until the cloth could no longer take the thread.
England didn't make life any easier. The colonists were restricted to receive goods brought on English ships and purchased exclusively from England. At first the manufacturing of cloth was prohibited. Flax seed, sheep and tools necessary for making cloth were contraband. Smugglers faced harsh jail terms. If caught smuggling a second time, they often lost a hand or even their life! The Pilgrim women would piece together scraps from the cutting table after making a new garment and create a quilt top. This was filled with corn husk or grasses. String tied in knots held the quilt layers together. These quilts were a far cry from the beautiful woven blankets and finely quilted coverlets the women were accustomed to in England. But they were warm and used to cover beds, sometimes the doors and windows to keep out the cold. The patchwork of scraps often reminded them of shared experience with loved ones who once wore the clothing now made into a patch. A scrap of grandmother's wedding dress was lovingly pointed out to grandchildren.
As we begin a new year, would you join me in giving thanks for the patch work of experiences that make up the finishing year. Perhaps your quilt labeled 2009 would include some dark shades and hues to reflect the challenges of illness, managing finances, health issues and even cancers and the death of loved ones. But lay next to these a patch of steel blue for strength and faith gained and bright red and orange to express the vibrant hope that still burns inside each of us. Place yellow squares for sunrises still to come and reflections of laughter with friends and the potential for the joy that God places in each moment. Let us be thankful that though some patches are dark, they are but one experience in this greater quilt of life. May God bless your 2010, the start of a decade, that we may not drift away from all we have learned, that we may share in our heavenly calling, that we may press forward and place our faith in the promises and love that God has made known to us in Jesus Christ our Savior.
In His love,
P. Dave