Prayer Shawl Ministry Celebrates 20 years!
Please join us in celebrating:
20 years of sharing God's love in tangible form!
Sunday, September 7th
Shawl Blessing
Special Coffee Hour
2012; photo by Jack Herbig
History
Officially organized in 1998 by Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, Prayer Shawl Ministry is a national, mostly Christian movement, spread by word of mouth. The original organizers maintain a website (Shawlministry.com) and have published a few books, but each group is independent and self-directed. The goal is to spread God's Love by giving people a comforting mantle in their time of need, or of celebration. These mantles are a tangible sign of God's Love flowing to the recipient through the prayers of our hearts, the agency of our hands and the blessing of our community. In September of 2005 long time
St. Mary's parishioner Ann Taugher convened 8 knitters to form a Prayer Shawl Ministry group. We were beginning knitters, experienced knitters, friends and strangers. Through knitting fellowship and common purpose we became lifelong friends.
December 2005 or 2006.
L-R Front row: Rev. Marcia Lockwood, Diedre Spainhour, Rebecca Bruemmer; Ann Taugher, Doreen Tovey; Back row: Ann Pettit, Brita Bruemmer, Judy Obbink. Photo Credit: unknown
Prayer Shawl Ministry at St. Mary's
Since 2005 we have given out at least 892 shawls! Most shawls are given at times of illness, bereavement, or other life crises. However, arrival, sending out, graduation, birth, confirmation, wedding and baptism have all been joyous shawl giving occasions. The very first shawl delivered was to Les Reed, who was in the hospital in October 2005. (In 2016, he was the first person to take up residence in a Leslie Garden Niche also. He was a memorable character in many ways!) In 2006 we sent a shawl to parishioner Doris Beach's sister who lived in Sweden—that may be our furthest away shawl delivery. Shawls have gone to at least 3 bishops, and many to other clergy, but more have gone to confirmands, and Christian Social Concerns and I-HELP clients.
The Shawls
The fundamental shawl is a knit rectangle 24 inches by 60 inches, in a pattern of off-set threes (the Trinity!) Over the years crocheted, woven, quilted and even hairpin lace shawls have been created, and sizes have ranged from petite, featherweight lace triangles, through lap robe squares, to nearly blanket sized shawls. In time there is the perfect recipient for each shawl. Occasionally we join together and each knit a few rows/squares on a communal shawl. Rev. Kristine has one of these special ones. Our all-time most prolific shawl maker is Virginia Davis who made 115 shawls! She is followed by Judy Moffett who made 81, and Ruth Reed who made 58. What an inspiration they are!
Creating Together
We have about 18 active shawlmakers at this time. PSM has attracted shawlmakers from beyond St. Mary's right from the first. Currently we have 3 consistent makers who do not attend St. Mary's. Years ago, one parishioner's estranged brother made 5 or 6 shawls and sent them to us from his home in Southern California! The makers of shawls are not the only participants in the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Everyone who comes forward with a need thy have encountered, and gives a shawl to extend God's love (and theirs often!) is a member of PSM. The group has been led over the years by Ann Taugher, Ann Pettit, Susan Elliott, and Teri Brown.
In addition to creating together once a month, Prayer Shawl Ministry has undertaken other works. We have helped process and distribute several yarn estates, one in particular, Linda Jacobs', in 2013 is memorable, and raised over $20,000 for St. Mary's! PSM has participated in numerous St. Mary's Holiday Bazaars, selling hats, scarves, socks and mitts. Prayer shawls are never sold though, only given. Many hand knit items have been given as gifts to I-HELP clients at Christmas time. We have hosted Learn to Knit days, and had Garden Parties and Hat parties and, one time we listened to the Gospel of Mark read out loud while we knit. Each year we celebrate our founding anniversary, and we are glad to share that occasion with you as we embark on our second twenty years!
January 2025 PSM meeting/party (Photo credit: Ann Pettit)