The Altar Frontal

The frontal squares and their stories:

	Bea Robertson I hope the quilt will express the blessings of nature-the enjoyment we get from trees, plants and all that grows around us, and the joy of natural friendships and community.
	PFLAG Ottawa - (Diana and Dennis Stimson) Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Ottawa (PFLAG Ottawa) has met at St. John's since January 1995. The church and congregation have been very supportive to our group, and we are truly grateful!
	Jeanne and Bayne Pearon Hands entwined, hearts entwined: God has showered his blessings upon us in 50 wonderful years together
	Graham Smith This block simultaneously presents my view of the "big bang" and life in my immediate community.
	Devon Baxter Life has led me on many paths-some bright with joy, some darker. Throughout the good and bad, love (the heart) of family and friends has been my guide, and faith (the cross) has kept me safe and secure.
	Linda Lord I chose the tiny mirrors because for me they represent windows into the spiritual life and the reflection of the diversity of our St. John's community. Orange is a colour I identify with for some reason, and the undefined, cell-like shapes remind me of my beginnings, my being and my ultimate end.
	Jan Calder This block is an outline of St. John's Church overlaid on an image of my family's hands, symbolizing the importance of St. John's in our family life. It was a wonderful way to come together every week as a family. I would like to see St. John's community represented as a diverse, caring and thoughtful unit. [Note: Jan's square was used as the logo for our "Hearts and Hands Campaign".
	Catherine Malone      Inner Flame Shortly after I became a mother I became increasingly aware of the gift and trust I had been given. Here was a new person on this earth, and as a parent it was my job to help this new one discover the inner spark they had been given and to nourish that tiny flame and help it to grow and flower into the glorious person that God intended. To me, this inner spark is the Holy Spirit given to each of us on this earth, to be fed and watered, encouraged and helped to bloom. I also came to realize that this job was not only for other people, but that I had a responsibility for developing myself in the same way-to be my own parent, in a sense. These concepts have stayed with me and wear well, for me at least.
	Isobel and Robert Cameron, Margot and Brian Cameron The block illustrates the role St. John's has played in our lives in Ottawa. The dove conveys the spirit present at the baptism of Robert, Nicola and Anna. Margot and Brian (1974) and Lesley and Richard (1994) were married in the church. Isobel and Robert renewed their marriage vows on their 50th wedding anniversary at the Eucharist (1998). The atmosphere and music at St. John's breathe love and life in today's tortured world.
	The Nussey-Ross Family The meaning of our block is fairly self-evident: it's a photo of us taken by a friend for Christmas 2003, and one of our favourite family photos. This is a time in our life as a family that we want always to remember.
	Anonymous
	Vicki and Glen Robinson and family Clockwise from the top right or dark blue corner, the symbols have the following meanings: music and bell, St. John's tower bell; hearts, our love for each other and God's love for us; knee patch with names and boy, raising our sons; diverse bears, our St. John's family; tulips and maple leaf, Canada and Ottawa, our home; snowmen, our winter activities; airplanes and licence plates, our enjoyment of travel; the heavens, God's universe; hearth and mug, home and friends; voice and cars, two social interests; button and boot, our heritage of the Royal Navy and Alberta farming; seashore, where we relax; sailboats, summer activities; gold thread, our countless blessings; and lace, our faith journey, the rough and the smooth.
	Tracy Baxter My block represents the journey I made starting at my former church. It is a path through deep dark forest to a place of light. The path is scary to walk, and one would be tempted to run to get quickly to the place of light where one might feel safe. But this journey was not to be taken quickly; this journey was one of patience and waiting, represented by the yield sign. There are times in our lives when we will be scared and feel that God is not with us and we will want to run to a secure place, but not all scary journeys can be taken quickly and although God may seem far away he has a purpose in asking us to walk slowly-to learn the meaning of waiting
	[Rev] Sharon Schollar "Set up waymarks for yourself, make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went." (Jeremiah 31:21) This verse, from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, was the principal inspiration for my quilt block. The various elements of the square-in the pockets of, or sewn onto, the blue jean backdrop-represent diverse stages of my life. They are "waymarks" or "guideposts" on the road by which I have traveled-and which I have "set up" on St John's memory quilt.
	Kathleen Arsenault I have tried to represent the four ministries that I'm involved in: (1) the musical background represents the choir; (2) the compass represents Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA), which try to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society and no longer offend; (3) the rainbow ribbon represents the work of the Task Force on Gays and Lesbians for the Diocese of Ottawa; and (4) the clothes and other items are for the Community Shop that serves our neighbouring community. The hearts are symbols of the love that I feel as part of these ministries and that I try to share with those I encounter. At the centre is the cross that says, "God loves you."
	Karen Mattioli My journey of faith at St. John's has been one of great thanksgiving and of walking with Jesus our cornerstone. In 1969 Cam and I were married at St. John's. In 1970 our daughter Tanya was baptized there, later to be married there as well. In 1988, our son Simon came to us and was received in a celebration of baptism into our community. Our life of prayer, worship and commitment continued with the funerals of three members of my family. I give thanks to our God for his resurrection life that continues to lead us by his holy light of love and service to God and neighbour. Amen.
	Pat Love The circle has always given me a deep sense of completeness and the rightness of things. It stands also for Circles of Support and Accountability and restorative justice in general. The road is reminiscent of the LoveWalk in 2001 to Peterborough and my spiritual journey. The cross represents for me the deep renewal of my inner life which has occurred and continues to occur in my experience in this parish. The five little girls are my daughters Jennifer, Karen, Susan, Marthe and Cathy.
	Joanne Sampson This block is in memory of my friends, family and those who requested that I be present at their time of death, which I was honoured to do. It is also dedicated to all those brave souls I have tended to so lovingly and from whom I have received so much in return in my 14 years in palliative care. In this Bird of Love there are many colours, reflecting the moods of those dear to me. I thank them for the teaching and for the mysteries they shared with me on this mystifying encounter along their road to Home. Till we meet again, love always.
	Melissa and Chris McKelvey I met a stranger yest're'en; I put food in the eating place, Drink in the drinking place, Music in the listening place; And, in the sacred name of the Triune, He blessed myself and my house, My cattle and my dear ones. And the lark said in her song,      Often, often, often, Goes the Christ in the stranger's guise;      Often, often, often, Goes the Christ in the stranger's guise. The Celtic sense of hospitality is reflected in this old rune. Hospitality was the required civic standard in even pre-Christian Celtic lands. Christianity found the same sense of honour to the stranger in the story of Abraham's mysterious visitors (Genesis 18) and in Matthew 26:35-36 and 40: "... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me... The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" This hospitality is the theme of many stories of Celtic saints, especially Brigid and Aidan, who gave away not only their own goods but also their masters' to those in need. St. Francis taught the same hospitality to his brothers, giving away everything to those in need. In greeting the stranger, one may be entertaining angels. To welcome the stranger is to welcome the Christ.
	Anonymous
	David Woods This block is entitled simply "Papillon!"
	Gillian Wallace for Barbara and Robin Dorrell I made this square because Robin and Barbara were in Spain during the time of the quilt block construction. I wanted them to be represented in the St. John's family, as they're important members of the family for us! The square represents their love of gardening, and the pond symbolizes the lake at their cottage where we, and many friends, have spent happy days (I should have included some synchronized swimmers!). Iain insisted that I add a trowel; the red handle is made from the tie he wore in the first choir he ever joined, which nicely symbolizes Barbara's love of singing too.
	Lannie Mitchell and John Gallienne Sing Joyfully represents our involvement in the music at St. John's, and reminds us that we have so much for which to be thankful.
	Gillian and Iain Wallace This square represents our love of entertaining and friendship evangelization, including the hosting of the St. John's Students Plus young adults group each month. It also shows our passion for colour, texture, and travel: the yellow silk wine glass fabric came from Thailand.
	Pat Davies This block is a fish (in Greek, "ichthys"), which came from my trial designs and was copied from the fish from the frontal, to be used on the new chasuble.
	Rosemary Watkins The piece of embroidery was done in late 1951. After getting my B.A. at the University of Manitoba, I had tried two jobs: one in a bank, which I left in September to go to the second: teaching in a two-room school in rural Manitoba. I found that teaching was not for me. While being wisely counselled by a specialist for about six weeks, I created this embroidery. I was helped to discover the way I could earn my living (my "life economy"). Although I spent 20 years in library work, I started and ended working as a secretary for the federal government, in Winnipeg and later in Ottawa. I was the first grandchild of an English Victorian gardener. Born on his birthday, I was named after a popular song about "Rosemary Ann and her watering can". The flowers symbolize my lifelong love of flowers and gardens as well as my Altar Guild work. Creating something good with your hands helps heal you. We are related to every other human being and dependent on many others for even the most simple things we need for living, such as a slice of bread. We are all children of God, and need to show our love not only to Him or Her, but also to every other living being.
	Heather and John Mallett The circle represents the eternity of God and the ring of community that surrounds each of us in this parish. The four figures represent John, our two daughters, and me. We first came to St. John's in 1973; our daughters were eight and 10 years old and sang in the junior choir, the only choir at the 9:15 a.m. service. There were about 150 children enrolled in Sunday School; St. John's was allowing children to participate in the Eucharist before they were confirmed. St. John's was, and is, a dynamic place to worship. The opportunities for service and growth are endless (the circle again); the circle also, and significantly, represents our participation in Circles of Support and Accountability.