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Note #8409 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Worship plates a smash hit
GA04115
July 2, 2004

Worship plates a smash hit

Richmond artists are taking orders for replicas of colorful ware

by Nancy D. Borst

RICHMOND, July 2 - The Sunday worship service at the 216th General Assembly
was a high point for the 8,000 people who attended, and the more than 2,000
volunteers who made it possible.

For the Rev. Michelle Junkin, it was a dream come true.

Junkin, an associate pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church and one of
Richmond-area artists who created the vividly-painted "charger" plates that
were put under the pewter Communion sets in the Richmond coliseum. The other
artists were the Rev. Janet James, an associate pastor of Second Presbyterian
Church, and Janice McMurray, an active Presbyterian lay person.

Junkin, who served as the Assembly's liturgical-space coordinator, said the
idea for the plates grew from former Moderator Susan Andrews' vision of
worship "in the round."

Andrews had said she wanted "lots of colors," Junkin said, so the artists
chose to use the bright colors from the Peruvian mantas sported by volunteers
from the Committee on Local Arrangements and the pastels from this year's
Assembly logo. The only other requirement was that the plates be larger than
the pewter ware so that their colors would be visible during the service.

The plate designs followed the Assembly's theme, "That All May Have Life in
Fullness," and Andrews' sermon theme of "abundant abundance." Each artist
created eight designs and painted 17 plates for the Assembly. Junkin used
scripture for her inspiration, while James's plates featured the church year
and McMurray's plates told the story of creation.

"At some point, someone also asked me to make a Baptismal bowl," said Junkin,
who also designed the 16-inch bowl used in the worship service. The bowl and
the original set of 51 plates sold quickly at the Assembly. All proceeds from
those sales will go into the General Assembly budget.

The artists will create replicas of the plates to order at a price of $125
each plus shipping. Anyone who wants to order a plate - or a Baptismal bowl,
at $225 plus shipping - can do so by sending an email to
art4thechurch@hotmail.com.

Junkin said she was surprised by the enthusiastic response to her work,
including inquiries from church-related retail outlets.

This story and many others may have photos, media, video clips that can be
found at http://www.pcusa.org/ga216/.

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