Epiphany’s Banners Speak Our Faith

This article originally appeared in the January 2010 issue of The Epigram.

Beautiful Banners

By Mary Kaye Jacobs

From week to week and season to season beautiful banners bless the rear walls of Epiphany’s Worship Center. They interpret the Gospel readings, remind us of the liturgical season, and sometimes illustrate a special event.
These banners are made by hand by Epiphany members, as well as other local fabric artists. Some were gifts to Epiphany, some commissioned for a special occasion then donated to the church.

The oldest were several designed by our founding pastor, Fr. Dick Fowler; one depicting the expectant Mary for Advent, and one of the Wedding at Cana.

Two parishioners who now work as co-chairs of Epiphany’s Arts and Environment Committee have long created and produced and repaired the banners that evoke Biblical themes and events. Margarete Klose and Pat Trimble have worked as a team to enhance our worship experience with this art in the form of fabric banners.

Margarete mostly is self-taught in fabric arts, though she has a degree in fine arts and took many classes at the Art Institute of Chicago when she and her husband lived there. She has traveled the area to exhibits and classes for inspiration and to learn more about fabric art techniques.

Margarete has brought her artistic abilities and training to the creation of the banners, while Pat skillfully executes the designs. They work as a team. Others have helped them over the years with some banners being made by six or seven parishioners and friends of parishioners.

When fire broke out in the Worship Center about 10 years ago or so, one of the beautiful Easter banners was damaged by the smoke. When the results of an expensive trip to the cleaners proved unsatisfactory, Pat and Margarete took the banner to Pat’s backyard, placed it in a child’s swimming pool, soaked it in horse shampoo, and worked out the stains by tramping on the banner barefoot. It worked.

Another banner presented a challenge to achieve the desired colors for skin tones and the dress. Margarete finally achieved the desired effect when a friend mailed her red dress which was just the right color. The skin tones were achieved with powder makeup that was then sealed.

Pat and Margarete wrestle with the large scale of the banners using a pool table with a wider top placed over it. Still it’s a challenge.

Pat’s favorite banner depicts Adam and Eve and was copied from a painting former pastor Fr. Cass saw on a trip to Germany. The colors are bright and the scene of Eden engaging.

Another former parishioner, Juanita Yeager, created several quilted banners, including the Monarch Butterfly hung at Easter. Penny Cisto created one that includes Mother Teresa and Oscar Romero. Bob Lockhart designed a special one for a funeral. Joanne Weis is another fabric artist who has contributed her skills to our banners. These artists have worked for many years, unseen by most of us who enjoy the results of their artistic efforts and commitment to Epiphany.

There are approximately 30 banners dating from the 1970s to 2008 and you can see them on Epiphany’s website by clicking on Media, then Photo Album and then both the “Blessings from Margarete and Pat” and the “Banners” album titles.