Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry at our parish began with the blessing of shawls at our December 2015 Evening Prayer with the Anointing of the Sick. In the past few months, we have given away about 75 shawls, to anyone who themselves, or who knows of someone who, would find comfort in receiving a shawl. Fr. Phil usually blesses the shawls when he presides at the Anointing of the Sick celebration.
We have about 16 people “signed up” to knit or crochet the shawls … ranging from those who are finishing off other projects first, to those who have made the “handiwork” of knitting or crocheting a shawl a part of their daily prayer life. A prayer shawl is a very powerful and tangible sign of community, of faith, of belonging, of not being alone. As Fr. Phil says, they are a living sacrament.
We are just beginning, and so we leave this to the Holy Spirit to provide resources and guide us along our way. If you can’t knit but would like to provide wool or funds for wool for this wonderful project , your help would be greatly appreciated.
For info, please contact office. For those who would like to learn “our” pattern, there is an amazing group who gather in the Sacristy Thursday evenings from 5:45 to 7 pm. Feel free to drop in!!!
PRAYER SHAWL CORNER
What a delight it is to have our Prayer Shawl tree, just outside the Vestry office! You may have noticed some of our “servant shawls” there as well … the wonderfully eclectic coloured ones. They are knit from the leftover bits of wool from all the other prayer shawls, and represent to us, all those many many individuals who have given so much to others, being content to take whatever is left over for themselves. Whether you find our meaning in them, or whether the uniqueness and variety of the colours resonate … please enjoy sharing them. We are also knitting “white garment” shawls for baptisms … both as a reminder of new life in Christ, and of our parish’s commitment to be a faith-filled and prayerful community. And for all those who have asked, we have donation envelopes on the tree as well! Thank you for your ongoing generosity. Our parishioners, guests, and visitors have shared upwards of 450 shawls! Thank you for your faithful evangelization through this ministy. That is a LOT of long distance hugs, support and encouragement, steadfast prayer, and many shared journeys! Looking forward … we are going to adapt the prayer shawl card for those donated shawls that use different patterns. Stay tuned for that update. If you would like to join our knitting community … you are so very welcome.