"In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh ..." Joel2:29, Acts 2:19"While they were on their way, Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha made him welcome ... she had a sister Mary." Luke 10:38
"Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus ... there they gave a dinner for him. Martha served ... Mary took a pound of costly perfume ... anointed Jesus feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." John 12:1-3
    | The images and symbols used in these green hangings and vestments are drawn most particularly from three passages in the books of Acts, Luke and John. From them I derived two themes which are intimately connected - the pouring out of God's Spirit, and the out- pouring of generosity, hospitality and friendship by Martha and Mary, The two crosses, one at the neck of the stole, and one on the scapular are overlain with semi-circular shapes suggestive of washing or serving bowls - the tools of service and hospitality used by Martha in her ministry: the undulating colours connected to Mary suggest the fragrance of the perfume she used to anoint Jesus (n her ministry. The image which is most dominant and appears in every piece of the work is the undulating gesture of the outpouring of God's Spirit on all creation. This can be seen in multicoloured silks as it flows, in a large sweeping gesture from the right side of the hanging, through the tree of life until it intertwines with Mary's hair. It is also reflected (n the over-printed seaweed images in the patterned silks.
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Surrounded by these shapes, Mary and Martha sit together between the tree of life and the teacups. Their faces suggest two distinct personal(ties but their proximity also implies that the qualities of each and the tensions between them could exist In every woman. The women's hospitality, welcome. home and friendship with Jesus and others is represented in the triangular roof shapes and the tea cups. The cups also give the impression of a jostled tea party - a domestic version of the tables in the Temple. because Jesus brought a "subversive and alternative wisdom".* He seemed to say, "Consider seeing things this way". Jesus invited and encouraged both Mary and Martha to be free of the social restrictions imposed on the women of their time, He offered them a new way to live a new freedom, as felt by the tiny floating pieces and the kite-like shapes. Through the story of Martha and Mary this work is a reminder of Jesus' invitation to us all.
Elizabeth was a parishioner at St. John's before moving to Toronto in 1994. She is a well-known liturgical designer and creator. Her mother, Jane Fyles, is a parishioner at Christ Church Cathedral, here in Ottawa.
