Meeting Notes: The bright, cheery faces matched the bright, sunny evening outside as the meeting went on and we prayed over beautiful Prayer Shawls and Prayer Cloths. And, oh the stories you missed if you weren’t there! Zena was back from vacation in Jamaica, and she still magically pulled completed items from her “Mary Poppins” bag – it had to be at least that deep. Alida contributed beautiful lap robes and prayer cloths, just as she faithfully does even though she’s unable to attend the meetings. Jenny’s shawl is getting longer and longer – she’ll have her first project done soon. Barb is back from Honduras and the walk to Emmaus. With only four more weeks left in her Disciple class, she promises to crochet like there’s no tomorrow. Belle had the biggest skein of red yarn I’ve ever seen, and was crocheting as fast as possible. Ellen is back to the Chemo Caps – she’s got to teach others to make those caps. Dana has a unique basket weave shawl going out of Homespun yarn. Robin has a beautiful shawl out of several colors of Homespun just about completed – God has a special person in mind for that one. Robin, our spring bride, came in to say hello. She has a pass for a few more months.
Members and Meetings: Each of us are volunteers in the Prayer Shawl Ministry; however, I believe we are each in this ministry for a reason that is between ourselves and God. He has given us the time, the talent, and the desire to be His hands and feet for the tasks He sets before us. He brought us together because we are all different – with different strengths and skills to share. We’re each an essential piece of this ministry. When we put our individual talents together, and follow God, we can do the impossible. When you aren’t with us, we are missing a vital piece of this ministry. It’s hard to imagine us without you – please join us on Wednesday evenings when you can.
No Meeting on April 7th: Next week is Spring Break for the local schools, so there will NOT be a Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting to allow those of you with children to enjoy your families.
Rainbow Ministry: On April 21st, Reverend Sheri needs 7 Prayer Shawls for the Rainbow Ministry – 1 in a color suitable for a man. This is the date of their final meeting this year, during which each of the parents receive a Prayer Shawl, and each of the children will receive a fleece blanket from the Prayer Blanket Ministry. Please keep this need in mind, so we can set the 7 shawls aside for this meeting. If you have any questions regarding the Rainbow Ministry, please contact Sheri.
Communion Sundays: Thanks to approval from the Pastors, the draping of Prayer Shawls on the altar rail on Communion Sundays has brought blessings to many unnamed individuals. On February 28th, about half of the Prayer Shawls on the altar rail were distributed to individuals who may not have come forward, or made their needs known without the shawls being available. Seeing the shawls go out wrapped around someone with tears in their eyes, or folded carefully for a person who will receive it from that person, is the act we talk about in our meeting prayers. God has a name for every item we make even before it is complete. The item just needs a way to get to that person. I’ve heard people enter the sanctuary and say when they see the shawls on the altar that it’s Communion Sunday, because the shawls are on the altar!
Thanks be to God for the opportunity to drape the shawls on the altar.
April 25th: April 25th is the next Communion Sunday. Please mark your calendar to arrange the Prayer Shawls at 9:15 for the 9:30 service, at 10:45 for the 11:00 service, and fold and put away at 12:15.
Prayer Cloths: We have an ongoing project for World Communion Sunday, which is the first Sunday in October. It is our goal to have approximately 1500 to 1600 Prayer Cloths from which attendees at the various services may select one if they wish on that day. Please keep this project in mind as the months go by. We need an average of 200 a month to reach our objective.
Just a Note: It is my privilege and pleasure to be part of the hardest working, most dedicated, compassionate group of women I’ve ever worked with, in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, aka: Chicks With Sticks. Thanks to your ongoing faithfulness to God’s Prayer Shawl Ministry, the cabinet is filling up again! We go through times of thick and thin, overflowing and barren shelves. God knows the ministry’s needs and is always there to meet them.
Donations of yarn keep coming in. The selection is great right now, so if you haven’t been to the storage cabinet recently, God has so abundantly filled with a rainbow of colors, types, and styles of yarn, feast your eyes and choose your favorite color. Turn it into an item that will wrap an individual in need with God’s love, comfort, and healing! Dana and Meredith have put together project packages if you want something ready to go!
There are pattern books and pattern sheets for knitters and crocheters. If you can’t find one you like, just ask for help. Jane has pattern books available from Red Heart. Zena designs her own patterns. The Internet is awash with websites that offer patterns for beginners to highly advanced artists.
We have crochet hooks and knitting needles in many sizes and styles. There are even knitting looms, if you want to try something different. Please don’t be shy.
This ministry makes items from Prayer Shawls, afghans, lap robes, chemo caps, preemie caps, and Prayer Cloths, to Helmet Liners for our troops, and scarves for the Grace Bags. Make the item that you are most comfortable with and enjoy the camaraderie offered by the other members, while you become His hands and feet for those who need His help.
Then take the next big step out of your comfort zone, and deliver a Prayer Shawl, or another item, to one in need. Share the tears of relief or grief or joy or love! You will be as blessed as the recipient, and you will find Agape love! Your heart will burst with love. Try it – you’ll like it.
Love and blessings,
Beverly
"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 (NIV)
