Congratulations to my dear friend, Rev. Sue Joiner, on her installation as Pastor of First Congregational UCC Church of Albuquerque yesterday!  She’s passionate about community, ministry, and her favorite Christian church holiday, Pentecost.  To honor these sacred occasions and also the 20th anniversary of her ordination, she commissioned me to create this fabric clergy stole.

Creating this clergy vestment was a surprisingly meaningful and challenging adventure– combining a dear friendship, a chance to illustrate Sue’s calling, gorgeous fabric, and a big learning curve.  The design for this deceptively simple shape kept me guessing and listening close for guidance before it finally arrived.  And then the meditative hand-stitching became another sweet and powerful prayer of blessing for Sue’s joy and service, keeping the flame.

Enjoy these photos of the stole in action at the Installation service taken by Holly Bahn, then several of the creation process I made along the way.