The Weekly Yarn - August 25th

Good day to all our Chicks With Sticks.  The Prayer Shawl Ministry has begun a new season in this new school year.

Meeting Notes:  For those of you who were not there on Wednesday eve, we really missed you!  We had our first open house event this week and God has brought us new hands and new hearts.  Welcome to our newest members! Nancy was back for week 2 bringing us several gorgeous prayer cloths; Patty and Dorothy are first time visitors who blessed us with their enthusiasm and willingness to help out. God knows who to call and when to call them. Praise Him!!

We had many of our available shawls on display that evening and when you looked around at all the colors, shapes, and sizes, it reminded me of God’s people.  Some were small, some were very long, some were bright and bold while others were subtle.  Some were very delicate and some were bulky and sturdy.  We are all different, and our reasons for being part of this ministry are different, yet underneath it all, we are all made of God’s fabric and knit (or crocheted) together using His pattern to make us perfect in His eyes. We are truly blessed to be the hands and feet of our Savior, serving Him in this amazing ministry of hope. It does not matter if we are there every week, or are working as a stay at home contributor, or even an out of state contributor.  What matters is that our hearts are in line with God’s will to serve others.

We were again blessed by the arrival of several beautiful prayer shawls, chemo caps, and prayer cloths.  Each week the abundance comes in.  Each week we send out shawls, and get back even more.  I like God’s math program very much.  He is into multiplication big time.  We are prepared for our next Communion Sunday on September 5^th.  We will again place shawls, blankets, etc. out on the altar rails for 930 and 11 services, and in the first pew row for the 8am service.  If you are interested in helping arrange these items prior to each service, please let me know.  It will require very little of your time and makes a big difference for the congregation.

Prayer Cloths:  Congratulations to all the Chicks With Sticks for your persistence!  Prayer Cloths keep coming in at a steady pace.  We are well on our way to having sufficient prayer cloths for October 4^th  (World Communion Sunday).  Won’t it be awesome to see every person who enters this building on that day get offered a prayer cloth to keep, knowing that we have prayed over each and every one of them!

Announcement for all: After many years of dedicated leadership, Beverly Smith will be stepping down as the leader of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  Beverly has been our contact person, deliverer, producer, coordinator, and general cheer leader for our group.  Thanks so much Beverly for doing a fabulous job expanding this ministry into the blessing it is for our church. 

Beverly and Helon will be our shawl delivery team and are happy to have you join them.  Delivering a prayer shawl is the biggest gift you can give yourself.  You get the blessing of praying with those who need extra prayers, as well as providing a smile for them in times of illness, stress, or any other life shaking situation.  If you feel God leading you to become part of the delivery team, please let me, Beverly or Helon know.  You get more out of it than will be required to put into it.

After hearing God’s call, I have decided to step up and take Beverly’s position of leadership.  I hope I can be as effective as she has been.  I am looking into new ways to grow our ministry, and am always open for suggestions.  I covet your prayers in this time of transition as I learn the ropes and get adjusted to new tasks.  No one is perfect, and I certainly am not, so if something comes up that needs attention, do not hesitate to let me know.  I will try my very best to get to all the suggestions, ideas, and tasks for this ministry in a timely fashion.

I hope you all have a fabulous week.  Keep knitting, crocheting, and praying, for it is in that quiet time that we will all hear from God.

Love and blessings,

Dana

“A woman is like a tea bag…you never know her strength until she is in hot water”  Eleanor Roosevelt

Completed Project for 8-18-10

The Weekly Yarn - August 18th

Meeting Notes:  The entire evening was a blessing from God!

· God blessed us with an abundance of new Prayer Shawls and Prayer Cloths to pray over. 

· God blessed us with 110 Prayer Cloths this week, so we’re now up to 1197.  Keep up the great work.  We need 303 more to reach our goal by October 3^rd, World Communion Sunday.

· God blessed us with a new member.  We welcome Nancy to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. 

· God blessed us with the return of members we hadn’t seen for awhile.

· God blessed us with the opportunity to pray for many individuals who received prayer shawls in the last week.

· God blessed us with the ability to take four more Prayer Shawls for delivery this week.

We serve an amazing, awesome, huge God! He blesses us with the Prayer Shawl Ministry by letting us be His hands and feet for this wonderful Ministry.  Join us as soon as you can.

Special August 25^th Meeting:  Please plan to be there! Watch for the announcement in the epistle this Friday.  The next meeting will include a social “just for fun”.  The announcement in the epistle will say something like this:

JOIN US

MEET THE CHICKS WITH STICKS THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25^TH

Light refreshments will be served!

5:30 to 7:30 pm / Rooms 308 & 309

Learn about the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  See some of the prayer shawls, chemo caps, prayer cloths, and other items.

We’ll teach you to knit or crochet, tell you about upcoming projects, and share stories, laughter, and love!

Helon and Jane have agreed to make a light cookie dessert and a punch or tea.  Anyone else who is interested in bringing a dozen cookies or a punch type of drink or lemonade or tea, please contact me.  Paper plates, napkins, and paper cups are needed also.  I don’t anticipate needing more than 50 of the paper goods at the maximum.  This is supposed to be very casual – just a chance for potential new members to come in to see what we do, ask questions, meet us without feeling like they are walking in and making a commitment.  I hope we get some takers – the worst that happens is we enjoy a few cookies and social time!

September 5^th­ – Communion Sunday:  Please mark your calendar to help arrange the Prayer Shawls and Prayer Cloths at 7:45 for the 8:00 service, 9:15 for the 9:30 service, at 10:45 for the 11:00 service, and fold and put away the shawls at 12:15 on September 5^th.  As you know, the Prayer Shawls and Prayer Cloths have been greatly appreciated on Communion Sundays and disappear quickly.  Please let me know which service you will be available to assist with the items.  Thanks.

The Knots Prayer:

Love and blessings,

Beverly

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ - I Thessalonians 5:23            

The Weekly Yarn - August 11th

Meeting Notes:  August 11^th found us organizing the wonderful Prayer Shawls, Chemo Caps, and Prayer Cloths that came in, as well as a large donation of yarn from Loretta Pena.  God continues to provide for his flock!  The Prayer Shawl Cabinet is full, as is the Prayer Shawl Closet full of additional Prayer Shawls, along with the Prayer Cloths that we are storing for October 4^th.  Good stories and laughter were plentiful as we worked to get things in order. 

Children’s Blankets:  One decision was made to try to have on hand 5 or 6 Prayer Afghans for young children – not as gifts, but for the same situations that adults go through.  Such a situation came up over the weekend, and through God’s Grace, we had a blanket that worked wonderfully, but that isn’t always the case.  So we discussed it and decided we should work to make it purposeful in the future.  We have 6 on hand right now so we’re in good shape, but keep that in mind as you look at patterns.

Prayer Cloths:  Congratulations to all the Chicks With Sticks for you persistence!  The Prayer Cloths were counted as of August 11^th and we have 1,087.  Only 413 more to make by October 4^th  for World Communion Sunday and six weeks to make them in!  We need approximately 70 per week.  When we stated our goal of 1500 by October 4^th at the beginning of the year it seemed impossible, but, thanks to your consistency and faithfulness, we will make it.  You are awesome.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." — Corrie ten Boom

The Weekly Yarn - August 4th

God is good to us all the time.  Thanks to all of you who are working so diligently from home over the summer.  You are keeping the Prayer Shawl Ministry going with the beautiful Prayer Shawls, Prayer Cloths, and Chemo Caps you’ve made.  The privilege of praying over all of these items has been a true blessing!

With school starting on the 9^th of August and the Wednesday evening meals starting on the 18^th, it feels like a new beginning is just around the corner for us.  I hope to see a flood of members join us on August 18^th after the Wednesday evening meal when you can take your children to child care if that helps you.  Those of us who have attended our meetings over the summer have missed you!

Tips from Lion Brand Yarn: I have found that when patterns call for working with more than one strand of yarn at a time that putting the skeins inside of plastic sandwich bags with one corner clipped for the yarn to be pulled through prevents the yarns from tangling and makes the project move along much more quickly.  - Susan N.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

If you have done the best you can do and if you have gotten all you could extract from something -- you have given all you had to give, then the time has come when you can do no more than say thank you and move on. – Maya Angelou

August Update for the Chicks With Sticks - August 3rd

Just A Note:  Having been out of town since the middle of July, there is much to tell you so I decided not to wait until the meeting tomorrow.  As you can see, a lot has happened recently!  You are a marvelous group of women who keep things going on no matter how hot the summer gets.  I hope to see many of you tomorrow evening.

Thanks From the Costa Rica Mission Team:

Dana & Lisa,

     On behalf of the Costa Rica mission team, I want to thank both of you and the teams that make up the prayer shawl and blanket ministries.   On our most recent trip to Costa Rica, we were fortunate to take along a number of shawls and blankets, though we were not certain how or when God would be calling for those.  But call he did!  Pastor Douglas and his wife, Yami, asked several of us to travel to homes of church members who were struggling with illness or problems.  During those trips, the pastor poured anointing oil in our hands, and together, we prayed aloud our own prayers of healing while laying on hands. These were very spiritual times, and we clearly felt God with us.  When we presented the prayer shawls and prayer blankets, however, the recipient and family members present became overwhelmed with gratitude.  They were so touched that God used each of your team to provide comfort and healing to THEM, even though you didn't know them by name or circumstance at the time the blankets and shawls were being created.  We let them know that our church would continue to pray for them by name.

Four shawls also went to the women who helped us with Bible School each day and who prepared a meal of thanks for us before we left. We believe these women will be continuing the ministry we began at the community center (Bible School).
We left the remaining blankets and shawls with Pastor Douglas and Yami to distribute as needed. Again, thank you and your teams for serving with hearts like Jesus! 

Cindy   

Special Request From Linda A.:

“Hey there girls, I know that you have a lot of contacts that have huge hearts for people in need, so I thought I would ask if you might be willing to pass along this information. I have a young mother, Ashley who is need of new born baby boy items. I met her while she was staying at the V. L. and she is really is the sweetest thing ever.  She and her hubby were able to get out of the Villa and are currently renting a place in Buford.  Unfortunately, due to his job changing, they are not being able to make ends meet and are currently looking for another place to stay that is cheaper for them.  She has a little boy Riley, who is almost 3, but all his baby things were taken from them a while ago.  (that is another story).  If anyone you know may have some things to pass along, I will be glad to pick those up from you at church if you would let me know.  If you feel led, to buy them something or give a monetary donation, that  would be great blessing to them, but don't feel obligated in any way.  Let the Lord lead you in this! Thank you for your loving and giving hearts!! 

Addendum from Linda:  She is due the end of August, but I am just trying to help her get some things together so she feels more at peace about having him.  She is in a very rough place right now, trying to find a new place to live, and raising her other little one, Riley.  She has also had numerous health issues during this pregnancy, so I think that anything we can do to give her a little "lift" during this time, would be great! 

Be blessed, Linda”

Giving – Sharing – Caring:  While looking at yarn at Hobby Lobby, I picked up a brochure by Bernat called “bernatcares.com”.  It includes a page on Prayer Shawls with this paragraph that fits our group so well.

“A prayer shawl is a thoughtful gift to share with someone who is grieving or immersed in difficult times.  They can embrace with comfort & healing, uplift with your wishes and prayers, and bring warmth to the lost and ailing.  There are many occasions to share a prayer shawl both in times of loss and celebration.  No matter how simple or complex your prayer shawl, the message is the same  - your kindness has been felt.”

The brochure has several tips in it also.

1. While making your prayer shawl, be sure to have positive thoughts, a prayer, or blessing repeated with each stitch.  Your wish will be passed on to the recipient.

2. Use new yarn.  Be sure to use yarn that can be machine washed and dried – your treasures will be cherished for years to come and become keepsakes for a grateful family.

3. Use bright shades to brighten up the receiver’s day.

4. Send only clean items void of animal hair and food spills.

5. Think upbeat thoughts and pass your positive wishes along with each stitch to someone who needs them.  It will be good for you too.

Go to bernatcares.com to download patterns to knit or crochet for individuals in situations who need uplifting through God’s love and comfort in one of these items. 

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is registered online under my e-mail address, if you would like to have access to this feature please contact me and I will pass along the information for you to get registered.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“I dwell in possibility” – Emily Dickinson