Altar Guild Consulting & Vestments for Today's Church
Helping ordinary people be part of God's extraordinary story
"And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord had commanded Moses." Ex 39:1
In the book of Exodus, one of the first things the people of Israel did after receiving the Law is to construct the tabernacle. God gave Moses very specific instructions for making His holy place to be among His people. He tells them the design of the metal work and the stone work, the tents and the hangings, and finally the colors to use to create vestments (or priestly garments) to use while ministering in the holy place. God inspired these artisans and He commanded His home among them to be a place of beauty (Ex 35).
Exodus39 Custom Church Vestments is the creative work of Mary (Bukovich) Schultz and David Schultz. Our goal is two-fold: to provide quality dignified vestments for clergy and churches at sensible prices and to offer help in caring for what we have been entrusted.
Our work includes Chasubles with understole, Copes, Solemn sets, Stoles including broad stole, spade-end, traditional preaching, and angled deacon styles, Burse & veil sets, Dalmatics, Cremation veils, and Humeral veils. From the initial design and budget to the finished product, we have produced many vestments to the specific requirements of individuals and churches.
Unique to Exodus39 are the product lines of Positively Repurposed and Perfectly Proportioned. Because many of our old vestments still have very fine usable embroideries or orphreys, we are able to "repurpose" these onto new vestments. Positively Repurposed is a very positive and good stewardship use of what we have.
The Lord God made each of us the size He wants, thus we are not all the same size. Vestments designed for the average size person will be too long & sloppy on someone built closer to the ground. And for those of the lofty type, average size will be skimpy. That really does not reflect our wanting to offer God our finest (as He told Moses to do). Therefore, we offer Perfectly Proportioned sizes.
Altar Guild Consulting has been recently added to our suite of services. We are available to answer your questions and work with you as you care for the altar and vestments. Our services range from training new volunteers to revitalizing tired methods to determining what is needed to caring for new, older, and antique pieces. This help can be delivered in person or virtually.
We are respectful of the resources available to you. We try to produce attractive vestments at sensible prices. We are committed to good stewardship. And we want to help you tell God's Extraordinary Story your way.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Mary (Bukovich) Schultz has been an active Episcopalian since the age of 5 (almost a "lifer"). Beginning in the Junior Choir at the age of 8, she became an organist when 12. This lifetime of worship activity has included trained altar guild studies, being a worship director, and years of playing organ and piano in both the Lutheran and Episcopal traditions. Her vestment sewing began in 1980 while working with a tall priest in a rural church that had 1950's era small vestments. Designing and sewing the vestments while working within the constraints of a small budget prepared her for years of sewing for others, culminating in the formation of Exodus39 Church Vestments.
David Schultz was an active Lutheran for much of his life, until discovering the Episcopal Church. By this time, he was already involved with Exodus39. David is an industrial engineer who is artistic and musical (trumpet) - interesting and very helpful traits to have in a creative business. He designs vestments, helps with the purchasing and preparation of fabrics, and makes sure that the sewing area is ergonomically set up and that product is transported & displayed properly. He is also the shipping department and all around roadie!