Instead of photoshop (thanks to the recs to look at paint shop pro), I’ve decided to spend what remains of my meager expense budget on some liturgical items that I need: mainly a chalice/paten/pyx/pitcher set and a new stole.

So, while I had the opportunity, yesterday I visited the studios of Gospel Colors and picked up a new white stole. I needed one, since my other white stole isn’t quite appropriate for all the occasions for which I’d wear white.

I’ll try to get a picture of the actual stole I got, but I went in thinking I’d get this one. The one I ended up with is more quilted, and its more kenetic (which is in tune with my theology of what God is doing at Christmas and Easter, informed as it is by Moltmann‘s theology of God’s novum decisively moving the world towards the Kingdom of God). But I do like this one a lot, too…

I’ll wear my new one for Christmas. Its also appropriate for Easter, or funerals, or weddings.

I think a lot of Gospel Colors’ work is beautiful. Check out their website. The stole I bought is an interesting complement to my other stoles, which include items from Peru, Guatemala, Bosnia-Herzegovina, one made as an ordination gift by a pastor I interned with, and one bought from a more formal outfit (Slabbinck). Pretty cool having a more-or-less “local” complement to that global list….