Vienna Presbyterian Church

The first panel portrays the 1874 Chapel set against hills to remind us of Virginia's beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and the Bible verse, "I, lift up my eyes to the hills-from where will my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  The rising sun behind the hills denotes the renewal of God's daily presence in our lives.  Fall maple leaves at the bottom of the panel signify the beautiful seasonal changes we enjoy here in Virginia.  Finally, the banner words, "Go Into the World," against the backdrop of the Chapel, provide an appropriate scripture reminder of the nine VPC charter members who, in 1874, obeyed Christ's commission.

Panel two displays organ pipes, which represent both the integral part music plays in our worship as well as the beautiful Schantz pipe organ that provides so much of that music.  The musical notes flowing across the panel are from the opening phrase of Amazing Grace, one of the most beloved hymns we sing.  The chalice, grapes and spikes of wheat symbolize communion, which we hold as Christ commanded, "In Remembrance of Me."

The third panel, placed in the middle to unify the overall quilt, includes a representation of our new sanctuary through a fabric rendition of the cross that hangs there.  Above the cross is a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit always present in our worship.  Below it, stretching upward toward a depiction of the Earth, are the hands of discipleship reaching out to people around the world.  The words "Alpha" and "Omega" stand for Christ, our Beginning and End.

In panel four, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove as John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River.  The vine encircling them represents "the root of Jesse."  Anchoring the panel.-and our belief-is the Holy Bible.  The Bible verse, from Michah 6:8, provides a compelling statement of our commitment as believers:  "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  The Rose of Sharon is a lovely old quilt design based upon the book, Song of Solomon.  When formed into a wreath, it signifies the never-ending circle of God's love for us.

The fifth and final panel holds the Nativity Star as the symbol of Christ's coming to dwell among us, while the butterfly, long known as a symbol of the resurrection, also represents our savior's ministry on earth.  The dogwood blossoms remind us of spring, the time of renewal and rebirth.  The old sanctuary tower stands for the second stage of our growth as a Christian community.  The banner, last of the five that flow from one panel to the next, expresses our mission, as Christ's envoys here on earth, to "Love One Another."