A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY

A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY
Cross of Grace received an unexpected letter from Pr. Robert G. Schaefer, Director of Worship with the ELCA. Here is some of what he said. "Here are some tools for your hands to use in God's work! The Churchwide Assembly began, ended, and was centered in word and sacrament, prayer and song. Enclosed is the gift of a set of communion vessels that was used at the liturgy of Holy Communion celebrated at the center of each day's work at the assembly. This gift comes with our prayer that the means of grace, the weekly gathering of the assembly around word and sacrament, will stand at the center of the life of your congregation, just as the eucharistic liturgy stood at the center each day of the assembly's life. The global origin of the tools we are sending you serves as a reminder of the universal nature of God's work. Each communion vessel is hand-made of natural and recycled material by local artisans of fair-trade companies."

Cup
The hand-blown glass cup was made by Palestinian artisans at the Hebron Glass and ceramics Factory.

Pitcher
The hand-blown recycled glass pitcher was made in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at Jahanara Cottage Industries. Artisans sort, wash, melt, and reform the glass. Locally harvested palm leaf fibers are washed, dried in the sun and woven over the glass.

Basket
Spiraling patterns in earth tones of dark brown, adobe, and wheat adorn this hand-woven basket from Uganda. Natural and dyed raffia palm leaves are woven around banana fiber.

Basket Liner
The colorful basket liner was woven by women in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala.

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All of these items are centered around local and/or villages industries to assist in helping people, especially women, become economically independent.

We praise God for their work and for these lovely gifts that will be used when Cross of Grace Lutheran Church begins worship.