Presentation of GFS World Council 2026 Banner by Alison Jackson
As World Council 2026 begins in earnest, a new World Council Banner was presented to the delegates and attendees in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The banner has been made with great love and care by mother and daughter team, Mrs Alison Jackson and Mrs June Burnside from GFS Ireland. Alison is well known to us all as a former Central President, both Senior and Junior Delegate to past World Councils, member of the World Council team, member of many GFS Ireland committees, leader in both Donaghmore branch in Armagh Diocese and also Dromore branch in Clogher Diocese. Mrs June Burnside is a founding member of Donaghmore branch in Armagh Diocese with over 50 years of leadership there. Between June and Alison, they have more than 100 years of service within in GFS and have been blessed with immense talents and gifts for needlework as evidenced in this beautiful banner.
When presenting the banner to World Council, Alison took time to explain the detail in this banner which was based on the World Logo and theme – Rooted in Faith, Reaching for the Stars.
The banner comprises 9 panels with the World Council logo and GFS World log at the centre of the banner.
Each panel depicts a linked country with team name and scripture verse.
Each star is the same size to remind us that no matter what country we are in, we are all the same. Every star is made in different material to show that although we are the same, we are different as well. Each star in a linked country group is touching one another – some stars are leaning on each other, some stars are very close and some aren’t. This reminds us as linked countries that we are able to do closer projects together and sometimes we can help by prayer.
Each star is surrounded by blanket stitch which reminds us the scripture covers us like a blanket and that God is there to cover us and help us.
The names are done in a chain stitch where the stitch dictates the current stitch and dictates the next stitch to be done. This reminds us that as we celebrate 150 years already of GFS, it determines where we go in the future. We can only move forward in the future because of where we start today.
On each star, there is a pearl, to signify that in Sri Lanka, we are “the pearl of the ocean”.
The scriptures are stitched in running stitch which reminds us that when we are happy or in trouble, we should always run to Jesus and the Bible.
Other stitches – french knots to remind us that every single action we have has the power to be beautiful and to stand alone by itself; zig zag stitches which shows that sometimes we feel we are working hard but not getting far, but we should remember that God keeps the things that are important in our lives and anything that is not important, He takes away from us.
On the reverse of the banner, the names of the World team are stitched.
Proverbs 31:18 She knows the value of everything she makes, and works late into the night.
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