The Kneelers
of the
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Early in 1986 the dream of needlepoint kneeling cushions commenced.  A theme was selected and Pastor Milas Y. Sease, III, began the process of selecting symbols to carry out the theme of the Christian Year.  Artist Mae E. Denny transformed the ideas to paper.

 In the Spring of 1991, Devine Designs, Ltd. designers of ecclesiastical needlepoint, was contacted in to transfer the designs to needlepoint canvas.  By the Spring of 1992 twelve novice needle-pointers started classes under the guidance of Melissa H. Gardner, and the task of actually doing the needlepoint began in earnest.

 The cushions of Resurrection Lutheran Church are unique in several respects.  The designs carry over from cushion to cushion outlining the Christian Year utilizing Christian symbols.  Also unique to the kneelers is the flow of the patterns over the front edges of the cushions so that some of the design can be seen as you approach the altar.  The narrative begins at the center front and continues to the left around the altar rail.

The story begins...

Cushion 1

    The legend of the Phoenix tells of a bird that lives for five hundred years, builds a nest for a funeral pyre and burns itself to death.  Then it rises from its own ashes to begin a new life.  In his letter to the Corinthians in 98 A.D., Clement of Rome took this legend to illustrate the Creator of the universe, bringing about the resurrection of the faithful.  The Phoenix came to signify not only the resurrection of Christ, but also the hope of immortality.

Cushion 2

    The Liturgical Year begins with the Season of Advent, a season of preparation and anticipation.  The ark and rainbow remind us of the covenant the Lord God Yahweh made with Noah after the great flood, to save and preserve the earth and its inhabitants.  The promise is reinforced with the dove bearing the olive branch, a symbol of deliverance and forgiveness.  All of these signs together symbolize the hope and fulfillment anticipated in the sending of God's Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

    The Messianic Rose derives its meaning from the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, where the prophet writes that the desert shall bloom as a rose at the coming of the glory of God.  The rose also symbolizes love and reminds us during Advent of the words, "For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16).  When the rose is combined with the candlestick it points to the fulfillment of prophecy - Christ, the Light of the World.

Cushion 3

    Rich shades of blue signify the Advent season with its message of hope.  The four-point, cross-form star, (coming form the oracle in Numbers 24:17,” a star shall come forth out of Jacob,”) represents the coming of the servant-Messiah, Jesus our Lord.  Coupled with the lamp, often representing wisdom and knowledge, this symbol reminds us of the Biblical exhortation, “Arise, shine: for your light has come…” The Christ would be wisdom from on high through whom all things were made.

       In Zechariah 3:8, we read, “Behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.”  In the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, the branch is spoken of as growing from the roots of Jesse, the father of David.  The Jesse Tree reminds us of Lord’s earthly heritage.  The Messiah would come from the lineage of David.

       The scroll with the Alpha and Omega monogram uses the first and the last letters, the beginning and the end, of the Greek alphabet.  Advent prepares us for the beginning and the end of the Christian epoch.  In Revelation 22:13, Christ speaks, I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  This verse makes the monogram a title for Christ and a fitting symbol of his first and second comings.

Cushion 4

    The Chi Rho is a sacred monogram formed from the first two letters of the Greek work for Christ (XPICTO).  This abbreviation for the name of Christ is appropriately nestled in a cluster of stars representing God’s promise.  The large star reminds us of God’s promised Messiah.  A manger with a nimbus (a circular form about the head) indicating the presence of the Christ child symbolizes the Nativity of our Lord, and the manger is a sign of the humble setting of our Lord’s birth.

       The Holy Family, a symbol for the Nativity, reminds us that God came and lived among us to fulfill the divine promises.  God sent his Son, born in Bethlehem, to give his life so that people would not perish.

Cushion 5

        The Heraldic Angels, symbol of the Nativity, reminds us of the angelic message to the shepherds, “Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

       The Christmas Rose is a winter blooming flower.  The Rose’s white color stands for purity of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child.

       The symbols for the Epiphany Season begin with a Shell and drops the water representing the Baptism of Our Lord.  When John had baptized Jesus, a voice from heaven announced, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  This proclamation of Christ’s divinity becomes the Epiphany message.  The shell and water also symbolize the Baptism of all God’s people in Jesus’ name.

Cushion 6B and 6A

        The five-pointed star, the star of Bethlehem, is a traditional symbol for the Epiphany season.  This star led the magi to the Christ Child in Bethlehem.  Epiphany means manifestation, the revelation of God’s glory through Jesus Christ, “The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.”(John 1:9).  An orb, representing the world, is surmounted by a cross, symbolizing the triumph of the Savior over the sin of the world.  The Cross and Orb signify the Epiphany message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread into all the world.

      The three crowns represent the Magi who came from the East searching for the one who was born King of the Jews.  They represent distant nations coming to pay homage as Isaiah writes, “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:3)

       The book represents the Word of God and the Gospel.  The lamp represents knowledge.  The two symbols together remind the church that our mission is to take “the light of the world,” the Gospel of God’s love in Jesus Christ, to all people in all places.

       The sun rising behind the mountains reminds us of the Transfiguration of our Lord, the manifestation of God’s glory and the confirmation of Jesus’ divinity.

Cushion 7

        The center back cushion is a break in the church year to compliment the center front resurrection cushion.  Although not a mythical bird like the Phoenix, the Peacock achieved status as a resurrection symbol legend also.  Two beliefs concerning the Peacock led to its symbolic use.  One Legend stated that the flesh of the peacock did not decay after death, and another said that the Peacock shed its feathers each year only to grow new and more beautiful ones.  The ideas of incorruptibility and renewal make the peacock a fitting symbol of the resurrection and immortality.

Cushion 8A and 8B

        The season of Lent has many symbols that reflect the redemptive work of Jesus for all people.  The reclining Lamb with the cross symbolizes the role of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God.  Isaiah’s description of God’s servant who is “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,” (Isaiah 53:7) uses the Lamb to represent the sacrificial and suffering role of Christ who dies on a cross for our sins.

         The City on a Hill nestled in Palms reminds us of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  The Palm is a symbol of victory.  The Jews use palm and willow branches in observing the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles.

       The Cross with the Winding Sheet symbolizes the death and burial of Jesus our Lord.  Specifically, the symbol represents the period beginning with the disciples removing the body of Jesus until the resurrection.  The nameplate – INRI – “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews” is the title that Pilate put on the cross and it is written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek, signifying the universal mission of Christ.

       The nails and the thorns, symbolizing the Passion of Jesus, represents the suffering and crucifixion of our Lord and are a stark contrast to the green palm branches of triumph and victory.

       The Pelican also has its origin in legend.  In time of famine the pelican, as the legend recounts, tears open her breast so that her young may feed on her blood in order to live.  Thus, it was said, the pelican brought life to her young by death.  This symbol offers a striking parallel to the atonement of our Savior who gave His life for us on the cross.

Cushion 9

        The Wheat and Grapes, Bread and Cup, are familiar symbols of the Last Supper.  The Grapes, like the cup of communion, represent the Blood of Christ, following his words at the Last Supper, “This is my blood.”  The Wheat and the Bread remind us of Jesus’ words, “This is my body.”  The Cup also reminds us of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane asking.  “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” (Matthew 26:39)  This cup is the cup of suffering.  Jesus knew that the supreme sacrifice on the cross could not be far away.

       The Standing Lamb with the rayed halo and banner represents the victorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The Lamb of God, our Savior, has won the victory over death.  Christ is Risen.  He is risen indeed!

       The Easter Cross, a resurrected Christ figure surrounded by a sunburst nimbus, symbolizes the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The Sunburst itself represents the glory of God in the resurrection.  Out of the darkness of seeming death, the resurrected Christ burst forth in glory, light and victory.

       The Easter Cross is surrounded by Easter Lilies, flowers that sprout as a beautiful bloom from a seemingly dead bulb buried in the ground.  This resurrection symbol reminds us of life that emerges out of death.

Cushion 10

        Still depicting the Easter Season, the symbol of the Butterfly and the Empty Cross also represent the resurrection.  The Caterpillar goes into its cocoon and seemingly dies only to emerge as the Butterfly, reminding us of the risen Jesus who came out of his grave into the glory of his resurrection – a resurrection that we will all share.

       The Fiery Chariot represents two events:  the prophet Elijah’s ascent to heaven and the ascension of our Lord Jesus.

       The Day of Pentecost bursts forth while the Spirit of God descending upon the disciples like a dove and flames like tongues of fire resting over their heads.  The dove indicates the power of God at work in his people.  Fire is an ancient symbol of divine appearance.  The Holy Spirit has filled the followers of Christ with the power of God.  The symbols for the Season of Easter are completed.

Cushion 11

        The Sundays of the church year following Pentecost are often as the Time of the Church and depict the life of followers of Jesus in the community of faith.  The Holy Trinity is represented by an equilateral triangle.  This Triangle of equal sides honors the essential doctrine of the Christian faith that the full nature of God is revealed in three “persons” or forms:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

       The Tree of Life erupting from the triangle reminds us that we have witnessed the very presence of the Triune God in the person of Jesus our Lord who says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”  The tree reminds us “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  In daily existence we are nurtured by The Vine who gives us life.  The plant also represents God-given life and the growth of Christian faith.

       The Ship sailing the seas represents the Church, the Community of Believers.  The Cross on the sail reminds us that Christ is the captain of the ship.  Even though we live a troubled stormy life, Jesus is always with us to calm the storms.

       Jesus’ concern for our physical well-being is depicted by the Two Fishes and Five Loaves.  This symbol signifies not only the satisfaction of physical hunger now, but also the promise of the feast to come in paradise.

Cushion 12

    All Saints Day is depicted by a Crown and a Bundle of Wheat.  God's own harvest of the good wheat, the faithful, is held within the cross of their reward.  Thus this commemorates all of God's servants.  In Revelation 2:10, John says, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."  This crown denotes our status as heirs of heaven.

    The Cross and Crown denote Christ the King Sunday.  The Crown represents the kingly rule of Jesus the Christ through all time and in all places.  The Cross reminds us that Jesus assumed this kingly role as he died on the cross for all of God’s people.  The servant Messiah was the King who would bring all people under the reign of God.  With the symbol for Christ the King, we come full circle bringing God’s people from anticipation for the arrival of God’s Anointed One to realization of the eternal reign of Christ our King.