Meet Clerical Creations founder Emily (Loy) Harding ’21

Emily (Loy) Harding ’21 grew up in Central Nebraska and knew she wanted to attend college close to home. Since high school, she had been interested in serving as a teacher, which meant Concordia University, Nebraska was always on her college interest list. 

“Running track in college was something that I also had aspirations of doing. Concordia was able to offer both a high-quality education in preparation for teaching as well as the best atmosphere for running track!” she said. “It was extremely easy to meet people with a Christ-focused mind set and similar goals in life. Several of my teammates on the track team soon became my closest of friends, roommates and even bridesmaids in my wedding! The culture of Concordia is one that I will never take for granted.” 

Harding has a bachelor’s degree in elementary and middle level education with concentration in mathematics from the university. She said she made many lifelong friendships during her time on campus and her track teammates became like a second family to her. 

“We bonded over shared passions to succeed, encouraged each other through tough workouts and celebrated everyone's accomplishments,” she explained. “Our close bond as a team played a major role in our GPAC championship streak beginning in 2019; winning those titles alongside my teammates will always be cherished memories.” 

Harding said her professors mentored and guided her during her time on campus. 

“Through engaging with my professors during various classes and observing my field placement teachers, I was able to see Christ's love being shown first and foremost to all students. Seeing how eager they were to not only teach content but share the Gospel with all their students was something that really encouraged me to pursue teaching in Lutheran schools. Having the ability to freely discuss and even teach religion classes has been something that I have loved the most in my teaching career,” she said. “I left Concordia with a high confidence in teaching. Having the ability to observe in a classroom setting in the first year of college, complete field work in various schools in the area the next two years, and accomplish two eight-week student teaching placements in the final year left me with numerous teacher-tools and tips that really helped set me up for success as I began my own career.” 

She said the vast amount of classroom experience during college helped her gain confidence and feel equipped to serve in her own classroom following graduation.  

“In addition to classroom work [at Concordia], I also competed in track all four years. I was able to appreciate the mentorship of my coaches,” she said. 

For the past five years, Harding has not only served in the classroom but also coached middle school and high school sports including cross country, basketball and track.  

“I model my own coaching philosophy after that of my Concordia coaches,” she said. “Coaching my athletes to be successful at their skill is always expected, but helping mold them into well-rounded, Christ-like individuals is my priority. I received grace and forgiveness each day from my coaches, and I practice that same skill with my athletes today.”  

When her husband Jacob ’20 was completing his vicarage, Harding had the idea to launch her small business Clerical Creations. 

“He had the idea I make his vestments,” she explained. “To the credit of my mom and aunts who taught me how to sew at a young age I was able to find or create patterns for the various vestment pieces. I also worked with our church organist on how to run an embroidery machine and fit different designs onto the fabric. I was blessed enough to purchase my own embroidery machine to help create the liturgical art on the vestments. I then started to make very simple stole designs. As my confidence grew, I made custom patterns for my stoles as well as chasubles and paraments! While possessing just a simple pattern, many of my designs are custom and tailored to fit what a pastor wants, meaning none of my vestments are ever alike. Creating these custom-made items makes my work exciting and new each day!” 

“I have had the great joy of serving churches from over eight different states and well over 25 different congregations. Adding beauty back to sanctuaries and making pieces that are reflective during worship will always be my goal.”

Several congregations local to the Hardings’ vicarage in Linn, Kansas, supported and encouraged Emily to continue creating different pieces. 

“It was then that I decided to go public with my business idea to any Lutheran church in need. Being connected to a Concordia through undergrad, as well as my husband being at Lutheran seminary, it was very easy for word to spread about my work to the churches,” she said. “I quickly received order requests first for just stoles, then stoles and chasubles, to eventually full sets of paraments with matching vestments! Some of my work even includes paraments and stoles for Weller Chapel at Concordia Nebraska, and, more recently, ordination vestments for my husband and several of his classmates from seminary.” 

Harding said finding the balance of teaching for eight hours during the day to then sewing a minimum of two hours almost each night was an interesting challenge.  

“On average, a stole can take two to four hours to complete depending on the complexity of the embroidery work needed. A chasuble will usually take a full day's work – eight hours -- to complete, again depending on the detailing of the design. Paraments can take up to a week to complete in full with the various pieces,” she said. “While stressful and chaotic at times, receiving the thank you from various congregations and hearing the compliments on my work is always so fulfilling and makes all the time worth it. I have had the great joy of serving churches from over eight different states and well over 25 different congregations. Adding beauty back to sanctuaries and making pieces that are reflective during worship will always be my goal. I pray that, God willing, I am able to continue creating for many years to come!”  

After graduating from Concordia, Jacob and Emily moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to teach at Concordia Preparatory School. Jacob taught high school theology, and Emily was a middle school math teacher. She also coached high school cross country and track. After a year in Baltimore, they made the decision to move to St. Louis so Jacob could attend seminary. She taught for two years at Our Savior Lutheran School in Fenton, Missouri, as the fifth- and sixth-grade homeroom teacher and coached cross country and track for elementary and middle school. While Jacob was on vicarage during the third year of seminary, she taught at Linn Lutheran School in Linn, Kansas, as the third- and fourth-grade teacher and coached high school basketball and track. For the final year of seminary, they moved back to St. Louis, and she returned to Our Savior, teaching third and fourth grade and resuming cross country and track coaching duties.   

Emily said she has enjoyed serving in Lutheran schools for the past five years, but will be stepping away from the classroom this year as the Hardings are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child – a girl – in October. 

“While I won't be working full-time, I do plan to continue my sewing business and already have a list of orders to begin completing,” she said. “My husband was just ordained and installed to be pastor of First Lutheran Church in Paola, Kansas. While most of our days now consist of settling into a new town and vocations, we try to maintain a sense of normalcy through the chaos.” 

Emily said that her days are filled with unpacking boxes, tackling home renovation projects, and continuing her sewing work. She spends five to six hours each day working on sewing projects. She said that her teaching work and sewing work both bring her great joy. 

“While in the classroom, the smiles of my students and the eagerness for them to tell me new stories over the weekend or how their sports tournament went is always a great joy. Seeing my students outside of the classroom and them running over to say hi or give a hug is one of the greatest feelings! While teaching in the younger grades these last two years, I was able to really see my students understand their faith and become bold in their actions. By the end of the year, all my students were saying a daily prayer in the morning or wanting to volunteer to pray to end our day,” she said. “With Clerical Creations, the gratitude I receive from congregations is most fulfilling. I love seeing pictures posted of their new vestments or paraments as well as receiving thank you notes expressing gratefulness. After spending hours on one or two different pieces, it makes it all worth it to see and hear how happy it can make a church!” 

Emily said that her time at Concordia Nebraska strengthened her faith, and she fondly recalls the friendships formed during her time on campus. 

“I left Concordia with a stronger faith than what I entered with. I was able to surround myself daily with like-minded Christians who challenged and helped grow my faith. I also left with a greater knowledge of my faith. Through basic doctrine classes and daily discussions with friends (and now husband), I gained such a greater understanding and appreciation for the Lutheran Church and church history,” she said. “I am extremely grateful for my opportunity to attend Concordia! I was able to make lasting friendships and a network of Lutheran teacher connections across the country.” 

Concordia University, Nebraska equips students to serve as the hands and feet of Christ and be His witnesses through the university’s church work programs. Future Lutheran educators, directors of Christian education, pastors, deaconesses and parish musicians are prepared to share the love of Jesus around the world during their time at the university.