A Narrative Through Quilts

After worship on Sunday, June 7, people of Trinity gathered for a beautiful and thoughtful presentation by Peg Lee, who shared “Narrative Through Quilts”—a glimpse into the artistry, history, and deep generosity woven into the quilting tradition of the Northern Michigan Relief Sale.

Peg began by recalling her first visit to the Relief Sale nearly fifty years ago, where Mennonite communities gather each August to offer handmade goods for the benefit of people around the world. She described the quilt auction as a place where “each quilt has a name and a story,” and where the makers understand their craft as “one way we can make a difference in the world… Together we are transforming lives.”

During the presentation, Peg shared several quilts from her own collection, each created by women who “take their responsibility to mend the world very seriously and with a commitment filled with great generosity and joy.” She reflected on decades spent attending the auction, watching quilts become “more and more beautiful—many of them stitched entirely by hand,” and now often made by the daughters of the women who began this ministry of giving.

Peg also encouraged attendees to explore the Northern Michigan Relief Sale’s Facebook page for videos and previews of quilts featured in recent years, noting how clearly the community’s “stewardship made visible” shines through their work.

Her gratitude for the chance to share these stories was unmistakable: “I was so happy to bring in some of my quilts to share with the congregation,” she wrote afterward. “Their generosity is overflowing.”

The morning offered a moving reminder of how creativity, community, and compassion can come together to make a lasting impact—one stitch, one story, one quilt at a time.