A New Spiritual Tapestry at Emmanuel

^{A symbol of inclusion, Emmanuel College four new banners mark the centenary of the United Church of Canada and milestones in its psychospiritual studies program. (Photo by Leslie Shepherd)}

By Leslie Shepherd 

2025 is a banner year for Emmanuel College, as it will celebrate the centenary of the United Church of Canada and the 10th and 15th anniversaries of the Buddhist and Muslim foci of the Master of Psychospiritual Studies.

Fittingly, four new banners have been hung in the college’s entrance, one each celebrating the Muslim and Buddhist faiths, alongside a pair of Christian banners. 

“The banners are part of the college’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion as they visibly recognize our diverse traditions and different identities in artistic and inclusive ways," said Emmanuel Principal Dr. HyeRan Kim-Cragg. 

A pair of Christian banners that used to hang in the college Chapel were rediscovered this year and hung in the main foyer of the school. The quilted banners proclaim the message, “Comfort my People and Rejoice. Emmanuel shall come.” inspired by the Prophet Isaiah.   

Rev. Kim-Cragg then commissioned two new banners to represent the Buddhist and Muslim faiths. 

The 15-feet by three-feet Buddhist banner was hand- and machine-quilted from 100 per cent purple cotton, with a gold appliqued dharma wheel, a symbol that represents the Buddha's teachings and the path to enlightenment.  

It was made by Barbara Bright, the mother of Dr. Jennifer Bright, an assistant professor of Buddhist spiritual care and counselling at Emmanuel who will be the inaugural Wutai Shan Venerable Dayi Professor in Buddhist Spiritual Care in July. Dr. Bright said the dharma wheel was chosen because it is a symbol recognized by all Buddhist traditions. 

The Muslim “Tawaf” banner, also 15-by-3 feet was designed by Milton, Ont., artist Nargis Naqvi. The word "tawaf" comes from the Arabic word Taafa, which means "walking" or "circling.”   

“This beautifully crafted piece represents a vibrant Muslim community alongside the Buddhist and Christian communities,” Naqvi said.
 
The top of the banner shows part of a verse from the Qur’an that says, “Allah is the light of the heavens and earth.” Below that is the Green Dome of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, which contains the burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. 

On the bottom half of the banner is the Kaaba, a cube structure built by Prophet Abraham – the father of the faiths of Jews, Christians and Muslims – inside the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is surrounded by pilgrims indicating diversity from around the world. A gold leaf banner around the Kaaba states the declaration of faith for Muslims: “There is no deity worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His Messenger.” 

The vibrantly coloured banner was made from rolled canvas with hand-embellished gold leaf and textured acrylic paint. Part of the banner was printed from an art printer as the artist made the design digitally on her iPad.