What started as a one-time project in 2004 evolved into a three-year endeavor that has beautified the church and enhanced its worship. Guided and directed by Ceeanne Brosi, a core group of less than a dozen embroiderers created eight banners -- each depicting a different bare tree strikingly mounted on deep purple fabric -- to hang in the sanctuary during Lent. Crafters drew the trees and then enlarged and copied them onto canvas or other fabrics chosen to look like tree bark. The result was so successful at evoking the mood of the season that St. Barnabas' rector, the Rev. Robert Broesler, asked Brosi to make a second set for Easter.

Sets multiplied in number
Brosi's flair for design made her an ideal choice to lead this effort which over its lifetime has involved close to 35 volunteers. At one time she designed sets and costumes for a local theatre group and currently arranges the altar flowers for weekly worship and for weddings, funerals and other events.

In addition to the Lenten banners, Brosi and her team have completed 12 more sets of vestments and coordinated hangings for each church season -- the colors of which match the seasons on the church calendar -- and special hangings for baptisms, weddings, Easter, Christmas and Advent.

The most recent set incorporates crosses hand-woven from wheat for the parish's first Harvest Festival that was celebrated in mid-October last year. Each set consists of two banners, which hang in the front of the sanctuary on either side of the organ sound screen; a chasuble; two stoles; lectern and pulpit hangings altar cloths, and frontal panels to fit in the four inset sides of the square, free-standing altar.

Broesler says these altar frontals are especially effective and appreciated by parishioners and choir members who are seated on all sides of the altar centered in the church's cruciform design.

Some parishioners, impressed by the quality and style of these textiles, describe them as tapestries, rather than simply banners. Like the Lenten hangings, each set's theme reflects the symbols, messages and mood of each church season or occasion.

Pentecost embroidered vestments and hangings feature symbols based upon parables, as well as crosses, loaves and fishes, coins, and the transformation of water into wine. Baptism textiles highlight a shell and water motif. Wreaths and candles decorate Advent's blue backgrounds, while the set for Christmas is white adorned with angels.

Gold and white embellishments, including gold crosses tatted by a parishioner, express the joy of Easter. Artist and parishioner Libby Green created a special tapestry adorned with a risen Jesus Christ for Easter, whose hands and face are hand-painted. 

The parish's altar guild bears the responsibility for changing the hangings in accordance with the seasons or special occasions. All require careful care and storage "but given the degree to which they enhance both the sanctuary's beauty and parishioners' worship experience, our members feel that every stitch has been worth it," said Broesler.

"The fellowship of working together each week to create these magnificent gifts to the church has been spiritually and personally fulfilling for all involved, as well."