Wakefield Community Prayer Shawl Ministry
“She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.” Proverbs 31:13
THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY IS GOING REMOTE!
For the past several years, the Prayer Shawl Ministry has met monthly to knit and crochet prayer shawls for our members and friends who might benefit from a warm hug during times of sorrow and stress. We have not kept track of the numbers, but we know that hundreds of folks have benefited from our work. And we have used the time we spend together in prayer for those who received the shawls and others in our community going through tough times.
It has become apparent that our schedules no longer permit attendance at these gatherings; the last several meetings have been sparsely attended (to say the least). Therefore, we have decided on a new approach.
KEEP KNITTING!! KEEP CROCHETING!! KEEP OUR FRIENDS IN PRAYER!!
From now on, we are asking you to “work from home.” Like me, you may use the time you spend watching baseball working on a shawl. Many of you may have partially completed shawls in your work baskets. Many of you may have yarn set aside for a shawl, but haven’t gotten to use it yet. Now, when you finish one, bring it to Priscilla Frothingham or Harriet Wilson. We will see that it gets blessed and given to someone in need. And if you are not currently a member of this ministry, you can start participating on your own schedule. Right now, we have a number of small shawls, but we really need adult size ones. Please join us!
Priscilla and Harriet
“You created every part of me, knitting me in my Mother’s womb. For such handiwork, I praise you. Awesome this great wonder!”
Psalm 139:13-14
About the Shawls
In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS. Care and the love of knitting (and crochet) have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way. As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!
For more information, prayers, patterns, please visit the Shawl Ministry website at https://www.shawlministry.com/