New! On Eagle’s Wings Cross Designs

“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

sterling silver On Eagle’s Wings cross measures 1 1/8″ X 3/4″

This jewelry piece, H66 On Eagle’s Wings, is a high polished sterling silver cross with a raised, stylized eagle. It measures 1 1/8″ X 3/4″ (measurement does not include bale). Priced at $55 for the cross + $6 US shipping = $61.  I am now accepting pre-orders while it is still in production stages. Click the photo or above link to pre-order from my website.

The design came about over the summer as a commission from St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas  to make a large pectoral cross (below) for one of their pastors celebrating 50 years in ministry. After making the large cross in the style of my Impressions of Nature series they decided to make a smaller cross (above) available to their members. The stylized eagle design I used on the crosses is my 3 dimensional interpretation of the logo of St. John Lutheran Church.

large sterling silver On Eagle’s Wings Impressions of Nature pectoral cross measures 3″ X 2″

The eagle is a powerful symbol used to represent St. John the Evangelist. Christian tradition has connected the authors of the New Testament Gospels that bear their names (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) with the four “living creatures” that surround God’s throne, as described in Revelations, Ezekiel, and other early Christian texts. John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle because, as the eagle soars towards heaven, he soared in spirit upwards to the heaven of heavens to bring revelations back to earth. John describes many things at a loftier level than the other three gospel authors.

The eagle represents Jesus’ Ascension, and Christ’s divine nature. More inspirational symbolism of the eagle may be found online, including this primer to Catholic symbolism, where a Cloistered Poor Clare Colettine Nun beautifully expresses the power of our Christian symbols as teaching tools to “…grasp them in their beautiful simplicity and begin to appreciate the profound meaning within them, for each contains an entire treasury of thought, a repository of the experience of life in the Faith in its many joyful, painful and hopeful dimensions.” Her symbolism of the eagle includes “The Word of God has the power to raise us up on eagles wings and bring us to heaven” as expressed in the verse from Isaiah that I include with these crosses in a printed gift enclosure.

Both crosses are available to all for purchase. In the spirit of our inclusive faith, I do not create exclusive designs. My thanks to St. John Lutheran for generously sharing their eagle logo design with the world in this way. It was a joy for me to translate it into this new form to create another wearable love story and statement of faith. Click the respective photos or linked text to read the full description of each design with ordering information on my website.

Symbolic Jewelry Grouped By Small Size Designs

This grouping shows the smaller designs available in my “From The Heart Line” sterling silver Christian symbol jewelry series. I have been creating and growing this line of faith inspired jewelry since 1988. I include a gift enclosure of symbolism with each piece, offering the wearer a “love story” to visibly wear and verbally share. Read more about these visual stories & wearable statements of faith on my website. All shown may be ordered and delivered in time for Christmas gifting. A gift that centers on the reason we celebrate this season.

Hand Crosses As Prayer Tools

I make these hand held crosses with polymer clay and shape to fit the hand. They may be used as a tactile focusing tool for personal prayer and meditation.

Polymer Clay Hand Crosses For Prayer & Comfort

A local ministry recently ordered 50 hand crosses to be included in comfort kits for cancer patients. Working as a prayer is inevitable as I work on an order like this. Even though I was pushing an overdue deadline, while preparing for large shows at the same time, the power of the end use of these hand crosses, slowed me down to form each cross with an intention of prayer.

“There are some people who, in order to pray, use as an excuse the fact that life is so hectic that it prevents them from praying. This cannot be. Prayer does not demand that we interrupt our work, but that we continue working as if it were a prayer.”  – Mother Teresa

Dear Lord, help me to always fill my work with you, with focused intention, in continual dialog with you.

Christ Our King and Shepherd

CHRIST OUR KING AND SHEPHERD

This cross design is part of a series of jewelry pieces that are all derived from the pectoral cross I made for The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle. Each piece features different elements of his pectoral cross. This design features the Good Shepherd, lion and lamb, and grapevine that are all part of Bishop Doyle’s cross. In gratitude for Bishop Doyle’s blessings to share his cross with others, I donate a percentage of my sales of these derivative designs to be used in his ministry.

FLEUREE CROSS SHAPE
The ends of the cross terminate with stylized fleurs-de-lys. The liliform ends represent the Trinity and the total twelve petals represent the Apostles. The arm-ends also have the appearance of crowns. The crown symbolizes that Christ is King, and it is also a reminder that crowns await all faithful Christians. “Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

THE GOOD SHEPHERD
There are numerous biblical accounts using the analogy of Christ as The Good Shepherd. One of the most familiar is from the Gospel of John when Christ said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”

THE LION AND LAMB
The familiar lion and lamb imagery has developed from a combination of biblical verses from Isaiah to symbolically convey a message of peace. The verses paint a picture of ferocious beasts (like the lion) feeding and lying with gentle animals (like the lamb). The depiction in the cross with a lion and lamb lying together at the feet of the Good Shepherd reminds us that peace and unity is available to us through our Great Mediator.

CHRIST THE TRUE VINE
The vine represents Christ who tells us in John 15, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser…I am the vine, you are the branches.” In referring to Himself as the stem that sustains the branches, and his Father as the vinedresser, He was using a metaphor that was well understood, since grape growing was widely practiced in the Holy Land. He describes how the vinedresser prunes so that it will bear more fruit and how a branch thrives in its connection with the stem and root system.

This cross is in the early design stages with a projected availability date of February 2010. To follow the making of this cross, subscribe to my blog or become a “fan” of my facebook business page. A photo journal of the making of Bishop Doyle’s pectoral cross may be viewed on my website: http://nancydenmark.com in the special projects section.

BISHOP DOYLE PECTORAL CROSS PROJECT