At the triennial gathering 2017 closing worship service, the Rev. Angela Khabeb exclaimed: “News flash! Christianity is not comfortable. If you are comfortable in Jesus, you’re doing it wrong.”
Following Jesus is messy. Loving one another is justice. We are not perfect, we are often broken, sometimes we don’t fit. Sometimes our edges are rough—but we are one body in Christ.
The inspiration for Women of the ELCA Gathering logo came as I walked around downtown Phoenix, the site of the 2020 gathering. I noticed a mural outside of the convention hotel. Its collection of broken mirrors, tiles, shards of plates and painted rocks ebbed and flowed in a kinetic frenzy of color and textures.
We are The body of Christ
The mural reminded me of the body of Christ and how we are all misshapen pieces in one glorious and beautiful work of art.
The palette of deep purple and bright green in the new gathering logo is reflective of the scenery of the valley in the Phoenix area. Along the streets of this city, dusty earth tones are punctuated with bright purple flowers and vibrant green cacti. The turquoise color connects to the history of native cultures in Arizona and the southwest region. Red signifies love. The shade of red in our gathering logo is not one of fire or caution, but rather one of joy.
As we embrace the theme “Just love” we remember the words of the Rev. Alexia Salvatierra at the gathering in 2017 in Minneapolis: “I believe that if we follow mercy all the way, go deep into mercy, we end up at justice.”
The Gathering 2020 will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., July 16-19, 2020. Watch for information about registration on welcatg.org in late summer.
Elizabeth McBride, director for intergenerational programs and editor of Café, designed the Gathering 2020 logo. She has a bachelor of arts degree from Arizona State University and has designed graphics for Women of the ELCA since 2000.
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