Arts Guild - St. Matthias Anglican Church

Arts Guild -2013/14

2014-03-19T16:58:45-04:00

Do you like to sew, embroider, quilt, or bead, or would you like to learn how? If so, the Arts Guild is the group for you. The Arts Guild maintains St. Matthias' heritage of beautiful fabric arts that decorate its worship space and that are used in worship services, and adds modern items as needs emerge. As well as being useful to St. Matthias, this work gives members opportunities to learn new skills and enhance existing ones.

In the past year, we were especially pleased to showcase our work in the very successful Doors Open event. As well, the materials have been gathered, and working drawings have been completed, for the new burse, veil, and ribbons to go with the white frontal. (The burse and veil are the fabrics which cover the communion plate and cups on the altar, and the ribbons are place markers for the bible lectern.) Trial stitching is underway and production will begin soon! Work has also been initiated on a new superfrontal which is inspired by the all-season stole made in 2012.

Some new projects are under consideration. The pall, which covers the communion cup until it is used, is wearing out, so a new one will be needed, and we look forward to developing a design with our new Incumbent. There is also a possibility of making stoles for the Choir to wear ratherthan their robes on those hot spring and early summer Sundays. As well, mending is always needed. This year we plan to have a special emphasis on mending, and perhaps freshening up, the Parish's clergy vestments.

If you think you might like to try your hand at one of these projects, or have ideas about things to do or ways to do them, please do join us. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Messages left at the office will also reach us.

Arts Guild 2012

2013-02-28T20:59:26-05:00

The Arts Guild maintains St. Matthias' heritage of beautiful fabric arts decorating its worship space and used in worship services, and adds modern items as needs emerge. As well as being useful to St. Matthias, this work gives the members opportunities to learn new skills and enhance existing ones.

During the past year, the Arts Guild has completed a new set of burse, veil, and ribbons (the burse and veil are the fabrics which cover the communion plate and cups on the altar, and the ribbons are place markers for the bible lecturn). This set complements the frontal for the chancel altar which is used during the summer, and is also used on occasion with the green frontal for the main altar. Work has also continued on the “More than we can ask or imagine” banner for the nave. In addition, the repair/replacement of existing items is ongoing. Notable during this past year were the repair of the St. Matthias processional banner, and the replacement of the offertory bag, which is used to carry the congregation’s offerings to the altar for reception and blessing.

In consultation with other guild members, Olive-Jane Mackay and Linda Mackay made a stole for Michel Gagné as a personal gift for his ordination in November. The stole is red, embroidered with gold flames, a symbol of the Pentecost. The group was particularly interested in the Or Nue technique. Or Nue was developed in Belgium and has been used there and in northeastern France since the Middle Ages for church vestments. Double strands of real gold are stitched onto fabric with silk thread, applied so that a pattern of silk threads is visible at certain angles, while at others the gold is dominant. A new skill has been added to the repertoire of the Arts Guild!

In the coming year, a major project will be a new white burse and veil for the main altar to help mark the parish’s 125 years. So far, the design, which is inspired by the embroidery on the white frontal, is complete. We have been able to track down fabric to match that of the frontal, and it is on order. Production will begin as soon as it arrives.

If you think you might like to try your hand at one of the many forms of embroidery or sewn projects, or have ideas about things to do or ways to do them, please do join us. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 7- 8:30 p.m. in either the music room or Harmer room.

Questions? Contact Joan Bouwmeester or Audrey Stewart.

Arts Guild

2010-03-05T13:10:44-05:00

During 2009 the Arts Guild has completed three major projects: a lavishly embroidered stole as an ordination anniversary gift for our Rector, an all-season frontal to complete the dressing of the chancel altar, and fine wool needlepoint upholstery for the Presider's Chair and the binder of readings used during services. Work has begun on two wall hangings for the back of the nave.

The design and making of all these items has given the members opportunities to learn new skills and enhance existing ones, as well as to become more familiar with the church building itself and the services which are held in it. In the upcoming year we are planning a series of more modest projects that we can work on during our monthly meetings.

If you think you might like to try your hand at one of the many forms of embroidery or sewn projects or have ideas about things to do or ways to do them, please join us on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the music room.

Questions? Contact Joan Bouwmeester or Audrey Stewart.