Kathy's Sewing and Embroidery

I bind unto my­self to­day
The strong name of the Tri­ni­ty,
By in­vo­ca­tion of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

First stanza in St. Patrick’s Breastplate

This is the second parament and vestment collection I created for Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Newton, North Carolina. This collection has the special distinction of being the only one I produced that has been used in both our chapel and sanctuary. I love to give credit where credit is due. Many of the lovely ladies from our church helped with the construction of this set.

I chose to call this collection Three-in-One-One-in-Three due to the abstract nature of how the cross medallions are formed in the layouts of the paraments. It is very subtle and subconsciously causes the congregants’ line of vision to move from one element of the design to the next, then on to the next. The central focus when one gazes upon the dressed chancel are the superfrontal and chalice veil, and in the case of Mount Olive, a crucifix in the center of it all.

No matter the liturgical season, these elements will always be present, no matter the color, theme, or style. They are our first reminders of why we come to church every Sunday morning, and other days also. We see the colors and motifs upon the paraments that remind us of events in Jesus’ earthly ministry. Whether the crucifix is centered in front of the chalice veil or elsewhere on the altar, it is there as a reminder of God’s love for us in that Christ died on the cross for our sins. Best of all, we see the chalice veil covering the most important aspect of the Divine Service; Christ’s true body and blood where we receive the forgiveness of our sins. This all happens where the Holy Spirit brings us the Word from the pastor’s mouth to our ears.

In this particular collection one will see two rows with each row containing three cross medallions. This partition is separated by an orphrey on each side. The next portion on either side contains two rows of one medallion in each row. A partition that matches the center piece caps each end. Hence the Three-in-One-One-in-Three. After the mind’s eye moves back to the center the viewer looks up where a subtle line moves into a Trinitarian symbol. The lectern fall matches the center partition of the superfrontal, of two rows of three medallions, plus a lower horizontal orphrey border. Then the Bible marker draped over the pulpit displays one medallion with an orphrey trim.

Three-in-One-One-in-Three Collection during Ash Wednesday 2026

Three-in-One-One-in-Three Collection during Good Friday 2026

Full Poem of St. Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto my­self to­day
The strong name of the Tri­ni­ty,
By in­vo­ca­tion of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me for­ev­er
By pow­er of faith, Christ’s in­car­na­tion;
His bap­tism in Jor­dan riv­er,
His death on cross for my sal­va­tion;
His burst­ing from the spic­èd tomb,
His riding up the heav­en­ly way,
His com­ing at the day of doom
I bind un­to my­self to­day.

I bind un­to myself the pow­er
Of the great love of cher­ub­im;
The sweet Well done in judg­ment hour,
The serv­ice of the se­ra­phim,
Confessors’ faith, apos­tles’ word,
The pa­tri­archs’ pray­ers, the pro­phets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done un­to the Lord
And pur­ity of virg­in souls.

I bind un­to my­self to­day
The vir­tues of the star lit heav­en,
The glo­ri­ous sun’s life giv­ing ray,
The white­ness of the moon at ev­en,
The flash­ing of the lightn­ing free,
The whir­ling wind’s tem­pes­tu­ous shocks,
The sta­ble earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eter­nal rocks.

I bind un­to my­self to­day
The pow­er of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to heark­en to my need.
The wis­dom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The Word of God to give me speech,
His heav­en­ly host to be my guard.

Against the de­mon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temp­ta­tion force,
The na­tur­al lusts that war with­in,
The hos­tile men that mar my course;
Or few or ma­ny, far or nigh,
In ev­ery place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hos­ti­li­ty
I bind to me these ho­ly pow­ers.

Against all Sa­tan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of he­re­sy,
Against the know­ledge that de­files,
Against the heart’s id­ol­atry,
Against the wi­zard’s ev­il craft,
Against the death wound and the burn­ing,
The chok­ing wave, the poi­soned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy re­turn­ing.

Christ be with me, Christ with­in me,
Christ be­hind me, Christ be­fore me,
Christ be­side me, Christ to win me,
Christ to com­fort and re­store me.
Christ be­neath me, Christ above me,
Christ in qui­et, Christ in dan­ger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and strang­er.

I bind un­to my­self the name,
The strong name of the Tri­ni­ty,
By in­vo­ca­tion of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By whom all na­ture hath cre­ation,
Eternal Fa­ther, Spir­it, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my sal­va­tion,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.