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Beemerville Presbyterian Church’s Classic Parament Scarves
The Beemerville Presbyterian Church recently discovered a treasure in the church. The Session of the Church had ordered new paraments for the church pulpit. When Richard Green of the Session removed the current paraments to put the new ones in place, he noticed the hand stitching on the traditional pulpit scarves. Curious he investigated further and found a name on the hand made decorations.
Helen Touw Ostertag had created the paraments for the church in 1979! Now living in Myerstown, Pa., Mrs Ostertag is the daughter of Mrs. Hazel Touw, a current member of the congregation. Mrs. Ostertag had attended the Beemerville Church as a child and has twenty three years of perfect attendance Sunday School pins seen in the picture. Fifteen years ago she was superintendent of the Sunday School at the Beemerville Church.
Upon a recent visit, Mrs. Ostertag was asked why she had made the ornamental pulpit scarves. “I made them because of the need, the old ones had become soiled,” she matter-of-factly stated. Mrs. Ostertag had ordered material for the scarves through the church, stitching the scarves themselves on her sewing machine. She hand stitched the designs on the scarves. The hand stitching on the traditional purple, white, burgundy and green scarves is ornate.
“Purple is used for Advent and Lent, and stands for penitence,” says Rev. Dr. Jenkins, pastor of the Beemerville Church. White is the symbolic color of purity and is used for Communion, Easter and Christmas. Red is traditionally used to show the presence of God, and green celebrate God’s earth, and the victory over all evil , according to the Reverend. The pulpit paraments quietly, unobtrusively served God and the Beemerville congregation for 27 years.
When Mr. Green showed the beautiful hand made pulpit scarves to his wife, Pat, they decided something should be done to preserve the paraments specially designed by the beloved Sunday School teacher. Pat Green, a professional framer, donated her time and materials. She artfully arranged the colorful scarves, framed, and hung them on the Beemerville Presbyterian Church wall for all to see.
“The history of the Church should not be stored on a shelf in a closet,” stated Richard Green, “They will be protected and enjoyed for generations to come.”
The Beemerville Presbyterian Church is located on Route 519 in Beemerville. Rev. Dr. Charles Jenkins presides over Church Services Sundays at 9 a.m. All are welcome. Parking is free across the street. For more information please call the Beemerville Church at 973-875-6760 or visit the website: beemervillepresbyterian.com
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