THE HISTORY BEHIND OUR NEW ALTAR RUG

Given to the glory of God and in memory of Warwick Gatewood Bias Beane, by Jamie and Ernie Joyner, the rug is a Classic Heriz, woven in the North-western district of Iran.  All Oriental rugs have designs and almost every design is symbolic.  Symbolisms stem from primitive religions, as does mythology.  A myth creates an imaginary tale and symbols create a material image.  In ancient days the Nomadic people took their symbols of gods and good luck charms with them while traveling.  This led to the spread and exchange of ideas.  Over the years their ideas of gods changed, as did the rugs.  As the Nomadic people were wanderers and spent most of their lives with sand all around them, the rugs in their tents were very important, often woven with the hopes and dreams of the owner.  Heriz rugs have a cross in the center and its symbols spread from the cross to the border.  They convey a masculine feeling of strength.  The origin may have started in a desert in Iran, but the message of Christ at the center with a long view of humanity spreading to its borders fits our church.  For this reason I have chosen a Heriz to give in memory of my father. –Jamie Joyner