What is a Prayer Shawl?
Can you touch a prayer? Can you pull it close and feel its comfort? You can if it comes as a gift in the form of a Prayer Shawl. Prayer Shawls are simple gifts of grace from God that are prayerfully and lovingly stitched by as a reminder that God's promise is always with us.
About our Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our Prayer Shawl ministry began as a visible way for us to nurture and care for members of our church family when they are experiencing some kind of health issue. A shawl is a sign that we love and care for each other. It is a tangible way to show God's love to all of his people. We gave our first shawl in February 2004 and quickly grew into a larger ministry reaching out not only to our church family, but others in our community and beyond.
History
The present day Christian Prayer Shawl Ministry was founded by two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at the Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. One of the founders, Janet Bistow, explains the underlying meaning of this new interpretation of an ancient custom-- "Shawls? made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles."
Significance of Three
The pattern for the shawls is a seed pattern of knit three, purl three. The patterns of three can be found in every religion and society.
The three stages of life: birth/life/death
Time has three divisions: past/present/future
The human being has three parts: body/mind/spirit
Virtues often mentioned together: faith/hope/love (1 Corinthians 12)
There are three primary colors from which all other colors are created. May the rich colors used in these gifts of love serve as a reminder of the glorious colors of life with which our Creator has woven us together.
Creating a Shawl
A shawl is started with prayer blessing for the recipient. As the crafter knits of crochets, they continue to pray. After the shawl is finished, it is blessed again by a circle of people. The recipient receives the message that many people, some whom they do not know, and may never meet, have been praying for then and will continue to do so. Each shawl is a blend of prayers, talents, gifts, and grace. Through these shawls we are all knit together by God's guiding hands and love. We all are woven together in this process of simple grace
"You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother's womb. For so many marvels I thank you: a wonder an I, and all your works are wonders." From Psalm 139
References: Book-Knitting into the Mystery (S. Jorgensen and S. Izard)
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