Prayer Shawl Ministry
“For it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works that I know very well.”
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, Conneticut, gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this programme 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. Intention 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.
Besides knit and crochet; the shawls can be woven, sewn, quilted, machine knitted etc.
At Haverhill Methodist Church a group of people decided to get together one day each week in the Prayer Room in ‘Next Door’ (adjacent to the Church), to pray for all those who are ill or suffering.
As part of the healing ministry we knit or crochet shawls. Each shawl is steeped in prayer, and if the recipient is known to the group they will be named in our prayers. A prayer or reading is enclosed with the shawl.
We hope that those who receive these shawls will find comfort and feel uplifted by the gift.
If anyone would like to join us in this shawl ministry then please come along any Tuesday afternoon 2.30pm til 4.00pm. You will be made most welcome.
Contact:
Sandra Loader or Janet Etheridge
01440 703947 01440 703232
