Five Symbols That Belong on an Ordinary Time Stole

When people think about the church year, they often picture the dramatic seasons.

The deep purple of Lent.The brilliant white of Easter.The vibrant red of Pentecost.

But then comes the longest season of all: Ordinary Time. Despite its name, there is nothing ordinary about it. Ordinary Time is the season of growth. It is where discipleship takes root, faith matures, and the everyday work of following Christ unfolds. It is less about mountaintop moments and more about learning to notice God's presence in the rhythms of daily life.

That's one reason I love designing Ordinary Time stoles. They tell stories that unfold slowly. Here are five symbols that beautifully capture the spirit of this often-overlooked season.

Leaves: Everyday Growth

Perhaps no symbol belongs to Ordinary Time more naturally than a leaf.

Leaves don't appear overnight. They emerge gradually, responding to sunlight, rain, and changing seasons. Faith often grows in much the same way.

Most of us don't experience transformation all at once. Instead, it happens through ordinary acts of worship, service, prayer, and kindness repeated over time. A leaf reminds us that healthy growth is often quiet.

2. Trees: Deep Roots

Throughout Scripture, trees often symbolize strength, wisdom, and faithfulness. Their roots reach deep before their branches reach high. That's a fitting image for Ordinary Time.

This season isn't primarily about dramatic spiritual experiences. It's about putting down roots that will sustain us through every other season of the church year.

3. Rivers: Living Water

Water appears throughout the Bible as a sign of life and renewal. During Ordinary Time, rivers become a beautiful reminder that God's grace is not something we receive only once. It continues to flow.

Like a river nourishing everything along its banks, God continues shaping us in ways we often don't notice until much later.

On a stole, flowing lines can quietly echo this movement, gentle, steady, life-giving.

4. Birds: Trust and Presence

Birds have long been symbols of God's care. Jesus pointed to the birds of the air as reminders that God knows and provides for creation. They also represent freedom, joy, and attentiveness.

A bird stitched onto a stole can invite both pastor and congregation to remember that ministry isn't simply about working harder.

Sometimes it's about noticing where God is already at work.

5. Flowers: Flourishing

Flowers may seem like obvious symbols for Easter, but I think they belong just as naturally in Ordinary Time. Flowers don't bloom all year.

Their beauty is the result of countless unseen days of growth. Roots developing. Rain falling. Sunlight gathering.

In many ways, flowers celebrate what Ordinary Time is all about. Not instant success. Faithful flourishing.

The Beauty of Ordinary

Jesus often taught through ordinary things that people encountered every day. He spoke of seeds and vines, fields and fishing nets, bread and water. Again and again, he pointed to creation to help people understand the kingdom of God. The natural world became one of his greatest teaching tools, inviting his followers to notice God's presence in what might otherwise seem commonplace.

Telling Your Story

At Carrot Top Studio, every Ordinary Time stole begins with a simple question: What story does this symbol tell?

Sometimes that story is found in the steady strength of an oak tree. Sometimes it flows through the movement of water or blooms in a field of wildflowers. Other times it takes flight in the quiet presence of a bird, reminding us of God's care and faithfulness.

No two ministries are exactly alike, and no two stoles should be either. The symbols chosen for a stole become part of the story a pastor carries into worship week after week. They quietly reinforce themes of hope, growth, hospitality, creation, or renewal, often speaking to the congregation before a single word is preached.

If you're looking for an Ordinary Time stole that reflects your ministry, your congregation, or your love of God's creation, we'd be honored to help you find one that tells your story.