Tapestry and symbols

Tapestry

The tapestry at the back of the sanctuary was commissioned by Parkwood Church and dedicated on May 9, 1976. It was designed by Ray Burrell, one of the founding members of the congregation and one of the initial slate of elders, and woven by a Mrs. Craig.

The Symbols, clockwise, from the left...

            The Alpha and the Omega: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." - description of God, from Revelation 22: 13

            Palm branches: in John 12 just prior to his arrest and crucifiction Jesus was followed by a great crowd. In verse 13, "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting "Hosanna!", "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" and "Blessed is the king of Israel!""

            The cross, on which Jesus was crucified that our sins might be forgiven.

            The Chi-Rho: a symbol composed of the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek and looks like an X with a P through it.

            The loaves and fishes: from the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14, vss. 13-18.

            The lamp: a reference to Psalm 119: 105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

            The burning bush: long a symbol of the Presbyterian Church; in Exodus: 3, when Moses met God on the mountain and received the Ten Commandments, God "appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush" - a bush that "was on fire (but) did not burn up".



All scripture references from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.