The Pastoral Care Committee is hosting a gathering called Prayer Shawl Ministry. We are looking for individuals who like to knit to meet once a month to knit shawls for members of our congregation and extended family members who are going through life changes. We will be weaving our hopes, blessings and prayers into the shawls as we create them.

 

What is a prayer shawl ministry?

* Shawls have been made for centuries; they are universal and embracing; they comfort and enfold; wrap and warm; mother and hug; shelter and beauty. those who make and receive shawls are loved and blessed. People knit shawls for many differ net reasons. Shawls celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, friendship and love. Shawls console those who are grieving, comfort those who are ill, bring hope to those who are in despair. Parents knit shawls for their children, children knit shawls for aging parents. The reason to knit a shawl are as numerous as the people who knit and receive them.

* Come and share yourself and your stories as you work on your shawl. We talk; we listen; we silently pray for the person who will be receiving our shawl as the creating process is taking place. As a group, we pray together over each shawl that is finished and bless it. We feel as though the person who will receive it has been woven into the fabric of our own life over time.

* Our knitting weaves us - our hearts and our souls - into the truth of God's love.

* Knitting Into the Mystery ministry began on a cold morning in January 2000, when ten woman gathered around a candle in rockers and chairs with their knitting needles and yarn. They helped each other when needed, discussed the variety of colors being knitted, chatted with excitement and had such a good time they decided to meet the following month. By word of mouth, the attendance doubled because the story of this ministry began to unfold. Once shawls began to be given away, stories came back to the group from recipients of these shawls; thank you notes were shared; a ministry was born and continues.

* Excerpts taken from Knitting Into the Mystery - A Guide to the Shawl Knitting Ministry by Susan S. Jorgensen & Susan S. Izard

 

As the shawls are knitted, crocheted, or sewn, prayers are offered for the one who will be receiving the shawl. Some of the time you will not know who will be receiving the shawl at the time it is being made, so the prayers may be general. The shawls are gathered together and blessed by the prayer shawl ministry group. A dedication service and blessing may also be a part of church services when a number of shawls are completed and ready for distribution.

At this time we have no funding, so we'll have to fund this ministry ourselves. Participants purchase their own needles and yarn. Hopefully, once we are up and running, some donations will come in which will help with the purchase of materials. Prayer shawls are not to be sold!

Come and join us!
There is great fellowship in this ministry as we come together for a common purpose.
We meet on the third Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m.
at the home of one of the participants.
We welcome all who are willing to knit or crochet and pray for others.
Even if you can't come to the meetings, you can still be part of this ministry!

For further information or if you are interested in being part of this ministry
please contact Aliesje Carruthers