It has been in place in the church since Oct. 19. You may have already seen it, or maybe
not. Either way, please feel free to go up and take a good long look at it! "It" is the
magnificently beautiful new tabernacle that has been given to All Saints' by a group of
parishioners in honor of Fred and Katie Bush. How fitting that this has been given in
honor of two people who have not only been leading and faithful parishioners here for over
forty years but also have taken the lead in realizing a promising future for All Saints'. We will
dedicate the new tabernacle at our festive Name Day Eucharist on All Saints' Sunday,
November 2 (one service only at 9:30 a.m.. followed by brunch.) The tabernacle we were
using has been returned to its original place in the Chapel, thus completing our long-held
goal of restoring to the Chapel everything that was taken from it to furnish our present
church building.
A tabernacle is a special "box" that is used to hold the reserved sacrament—that is, the
consecrated bread and wine saved from a Eucharist and kept for hospital and home
communions, as well as for use when needed at services. Because it holds the holiest of holy
things—the very "Real Presence" of Jesus Himself—a tabernacle is also a primary point of
focus for sacred space and devotion. Thus, it is prominently placed and its design and
materials should reflect something of what it means for us to affirm that Christ is indeed
present to us in the Holy Communion.
Our new tabernacle is truly an exceptional piece. As a specially commissioned work, it is
unique—there isn't another one like it anywhere. The artist is Karen Cantine, an
internationally known metalwork artist who has pieces in the Smithsonian Institution, the
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Ms. Cantine worked carefully with us in the design, using photographs and measurements of
the church so as to match both "personality" and scale. The tabernacle is crafted entirely in
textured sterling silver over wood, and it is finished with brass detail. The twin doors hold
two of the principal symbols of our Lord: in the center, the stylized Greek monogram of
Christ (the ChiRho) is framed on either side by the "Alpha" and "Omega," the first and last
letters of the Greek alphabet, which the Gospel of John uses to describe Jesus as "the
Beginning and the End." The doors are bordered on all four sides by shafts of wheat
(delicately cut and raised in brass relief), recalling Jesus' words "I am the Bread of Life." A
splendid work of art in itself, the new tabernacle is, more importantly, a noble and inspiring
statement of our Church's faith in the presence of our Lord.
For many years now, the Memorials Committee and I have been working with the area of
the altar and reredos (the brick wall behind the altar) in order to heighten a sense of sacred
space and to create a stronger focal point for worship. This new tabernacle brings a
definitive improvement! After consultation with Ms. Cantine, we are now working with
architect Gus Staub on further proposals continuing this work. It is all very promising and
exciting—stay tuned!
Shannon +
