Anonymous (Partners in Life, Partners in Ministry)

Purple Stole:
Then Our Light Shall Break Forth Like The Dawn   Isaiah 58:8  (painted on both panels)

Blue Stole:
Partners In Life, Partners in Ministry

Story:
As ministers of Word and Sacrament We reach out to all people of God, Preaching, Baptising, Serving, Teaching, Listening, Caring, Giving, Receiving.  From our hands you have received Bread and Cup, From our hearts you have received the outpouring of our love.  Some day, we will not only be counted, we will be named.  Some day, we will wear these stoles and you will recognize us.  Perhaps you will know then that God calls us all to be ministers, doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

This stole was one of the original 80 stoles that were on display on Sept. 16, 1995 when I set aside my ordination before Heartland Presbytery (see stole #1 for details).  It was donated by two gay ministers who are life partners.  To protect their anonymity, and thereby their jobs, they maintain separate residences.  These two stoles were created separately and then sewn together at the top so that, in their words, "within the confines of this project, at least, we will always be together."

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006