Merry Christmas in the Weekly Yarn - December 24th 2009

Merry Christmas, Ladies

I think my Christmas spirit has finally arrived today!

It’s been a wonderful 2009.  Thanks to God and your willingness to be His hands and feet, the Prayer Shawl Ministry has grown, reached many new individuals through many new items and activities.  I pray that all of you have a blessed Christmas. 

As 2009 draws to a close, there are just a couple of updates for the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

December 27^th is the next Communion Sunday.  There is one service that day at 10:30.  We have very few Prayer Shawls in the cabinet, so we’re adding Prayer Cloths, scarves, preemie caps, and Chemo Caps.  The addition of other types of items will fill the altar rail and allow the congregation to see all the items available to them when they’re in the need of God’s comfort and love.  Anyone who will be in town on the 27^th, and has time to help prepare the altar between 10:00 and 10:15, please come to the service early.

January 6^th, 2010 is our next meeting.  Between now and then, watch for communication about a review of 2009, ideas for 2010, and a couple of new patterns. 

Merry Christmas,

Beverly

“In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.” Bernie Siegel

The Weekly Yarn - December 9th

God is Love.  Wednesday was a loving evening with the Prayer Shawl Ministry members.  Not that there isn’t always a lot of love to share when we meet!  This felt different.  There were a lot of hugs, laughter, shared stories, and warm hearts. 

Hilary came in from her baby shower to share stories about how her pregnancy was going – what better time of the year than Christmas to talk about having a new baby. 

Rev. Sheri came to visit our meeting which is always a blessing.   We didn’t know then how wonderful her timing was!

Robin came in with the rosiest cheeks and biggest smile to give us wonderful news!  She and Jim are getting married – with Tyler’s blessing, of course.  Rev. Sheri led us all in a prayer of praise and blessing for Robin and Jim. 

Blessings Abound:  Very seldom do we have a Prayer Shawl recipient come to one of our meetings to receive a Prayer Shawl; however, Mary Ann came to receive one for the loss of her grandmother.  What a blessing and a privilege to wrap her in her golden shawl, explain to her how it was made with prayer, prayed over in our meeting, and then pray that the shawl bring her God’s love, comfort, healing power, and peace.  She also took a Prayer Shawl with her for her father, Donald, who was seriously injured in a golf cart accident which was hit by a van.  We pray he is comforted by the shawl selected for him.  It was a shawl just completed and turned in on Wednesday.  

Becky came in to pick up three Prayer Shawls for friends of hers who were diagnosed with cancer last week.  Three of the completed shawls from Wednesday evening were just what she needed.  Only God could have known what we would need that evening.  God is so good.

You cannot imagine the changes you make in other’s lives, and your own, until you deliver a Prayer Shawl and share the tears of joy, grief, and relief. 

December 16^th is the last meeting for 2009.  Enjoy your Christmas holiday just Enough.

January 6^th will be our first meeting in 2010.  Come back with renewed spirit and excitement.  Think about all we accomplished in 2009 and what we may do in 2010.  God will bring us new opportunities and challenges so let’s be ready to answer his call.

New Member:  Please welcome Mary Ann to the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  We’re glad you’re joining us.  

Updates:  Since we’re ending 2009, please check your information for errors or changes and let me know about them.  If we don’t have all of your information, please provide the missing pieces.  Thanks.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“…Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”  Isaiah 40:31

Prayer Shawl Meeting, November 18

What a blessing to be able to participate in the prayer service for our men and women serving in the armed forces. 

Thanks, Sheri, for such a moving time of worship on Wednesday night.  Thanks also to all of you who made helmet liners, scarves and prayer cloths, and brought candy and beany babies to send to our folks in uniform.

Later, we prayed over three shawls and a prayer cloth to add to our cabinet, and welcomed another generous donation of yarn for our stash!

A number of our group were missing due to illnesses that are circulating. Hopefully, everyone will feel better after the holidays. 

We look forward to seeing you all back soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Ellen Carey

The Weekly Yarn - November 18th - Thanks be to God!

Calendar Reminders:

November 25^th:  There will not be a meeting.  The next meeting will be on December 6^th.

November 29^th:  Prayer shawls and Prayer Blankets will be on the altar rail on Sunday the 29^th.  Please join me at 9:15 outside the Parlor if you can help arrange the items on the altar rail prior to the 9:30 service, and at 10:45 prior to the 11:00 service, and at 12:15 to fold and return the items to the cabinet after the 11:00 service.  Thank you for all you do.

Generosity:  As we begin the holiday times, gifts to be given and gotten are on our minds, parties to attend, and a host of other activities.  Generosity can be elusive as we get caught up in the hustle and bustle. 

Davis outlined four requirements of generosity on Sunday, the 22^nd, in his sermon.

1. Generosity is an act of grace. Grace is an attitude of gratitude.

2. Generosity can occur in scarcity, as in abundance.

3. Generosity cannot be coerced, but it is a voluntary act.

4. Generosity is defined by the Incarnation.

You are all guilty of being generous – generous with your time, love, care and concern for those who are in desperate situations, those who are hurting, and those who need the comfort and healing power of God’s love.  You never have enough time, sometimes, not enough money, but you’re always there.  You give voluntarily, not because you are coerced.  You give because you are a member of the Body of Christ.  Thank you. 

You cannot imagine the changes you make in other’s lives, and your own, until you deliver a Prayer Shawl and share the tears of joy, grief, and relief.  Promise yourself you will step out of your comfort zone and share one of these precious moments in 2010.  We’ll have a practice session in one of our meetings in the first quarter if you like.

Care Packages:  Packing will be done at 10:30 on Tuesday in the Church Office conference room.  Please be there if you can.  I realize this is very short notice.

Other items needed for the packages are:

Ink pens
Notepads of paper

Hot cocoa mix

Individually-wrapped licorice
Microwave popcorn
Ramen noodles
Macaroni & cheese

Toothbrushes

Playing Cards

Body Powder

Deodorant

Socks

Tip of the Week:  I read this in a newsletter recently.  It’s a good storage option for those of us who tend to buy yarn before we need it and keep a store of it on hand in case we have a brilliant idea in the middle of the night.  You know who you are!

“I have finally found the perfect storage solution for the huge amount of yarn which I have amassed during my 50 plus years of knitting. I store them in a closet in hanging sweater garment bags which have several cube-like compartments. The yarn is sorted by type and color in plastic bags in the compartments and is easy to see and retrieve at first glance.” - Jennifer M.

God’s Plan:  I have to share a story with you – a God moment.  When I was at church this morning, straightening the Prayer Shawl cabinet and doing other tasks, I realized there were a couple of Prayer Aghans on the bottom shelf that had been purchased about six months ago at Goodwill, when we were desperate for anything to fill the cabinet.  Almost immediately after they were purchased, and added to the cabinet, beautiful handmade shawls started coming in, and the cabinet overflowed again.  These two blankets continued to be pushed to the bottom and to the back of the cabinet without an owner.

Today, as I straightened the cabinet, and realized the cabinet was still comfortably full, I made the decision to take them with me and donate them back to Goodwill.  I dawdled around a bit and did a few more little tasks before I left.  As I walked out the door, a very upset woman walked up to me, saying her mother was very ill, supposed to go to surgery, had no money for a cab, but they had taken a cab to the church, and the cab driver was calling the police.  She continued to say her mother was nearly naked and cold, and she couldn’t get in the church, but she knew Reverend Allen and named a couple of other people, and knew that I could get her in. 

I was taken aback to say the least…what should I do?  All of the warnings we’d heard about what not to do when someone confronts you in the parking lot went through my head!  My first response was to give her the two blankets and say, “Wrap your mother in these two blankets!”  The church door was locked so I went to the buzzer, and said “There is a lady out here looking for Reverend Allen” and the receptionist said “he’s on his way out”, as the door opened and Allen stepped out. 

Reverend Sheri was walking up the sidewalk as tears started down my face!  The two blankets that I thought were give-aways had someone’s name on them.  God just needed hands and feet to take them outside at precisely the right moment to hand them over! 

Never doubt God has a plan for all that we do.

Happy Thanksgiving: 

We have so much for which to be thankful.  God has blessed us with abundance. I pray you are blessed with a Thanksgiving that is filled with all of the blessings you deserve.

Thank you for all of the blessings you have brought to the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Blessings and love,

Beverly

“A smile is the light in your window that lets other know there is a caring person inside.” – Dennis Waitley

The Weekly Yarn - November 11th

God is so generous in his blessings and peace.  We had a fairly full house, but we were unusually quiet!  In fact, everyone commented on how quiet we were.  Maybe we were contemplating the hues of the yarn or the Holy Spirit was talking to each and every one of us as our needles and hooks clicked away.  Who knows…it was a peaceful time with our patterns, yarn, and each other.

Two beautiful prayer shawls were turned in – one brilliant gold and one silky deep blue, along with a blond chemo cap, a pink baby cap, 3 more helmet liners, wool scarves, and several prayer cloths. 

This is a  picture of one of the prayer cloths.  

Here is the pattern:

Crocheted Cross Prayer Cloth

Materials Needed:

MC = Main Color, size 4 yarn Color B, size 4 yarn Size F crochet hook

Completed size: 5”x5” The gauge can be changed by selecting a different size yarn or hook.

Changing colors: Pull new color through last loop of old color.

Carrying colors: Lay old color on top of row and crochet over it.

Instructions:

Chain 24. Row 1: With MC, in the second chain from the hook, sc and sc in each remaining chain. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: Sc in top of each sc in row 1. Chain 1 and turn. Rows 3 – 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Sc in the first 9 sc. Join color B to MC. With color B, sc in next 5 sc. Carry MC under 5 color B sc. Change to MC in last loop of 5^th sc and sc to end of row with MC. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 6 through 17: Repeat Row 5.

Row 18: Sc in the first 9 sc. Join color B to MC. With color B, sc in next 5 sc. Carry MC under 5 color B sc. Change to MC in last loop of 5^th sc, but continue to carry color B along top of row for 4 more stitches. Sc to end of row with MC. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 19: Sc in the first 5 stitches. Change to color B in the last loop of the 5^th sc. Carry MC along top of row as you sc in the next 12 sc in color B. Pull up MC in last loop of 12^th sc and sc in MC to end of row. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 21 through 23: Sc in the first 5 stitches. Change to color B in the last loop of the 5^th sc. Carry MC along top of row as you sc in the next 12 sc in color B. Pull up MC in last loop of 12^th sc and sc in MC to end of row. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 24 through 27: Repeat row 5. Row 28 through 29: Repeat row 2. Do not cut off.

Edging: 3 sc in each corner stitch, in each sc across top, sc in each edge row, sc in each chain along the bottom. Join with a slip stitch to first sc. Cut off and weave in.

 

If you have a problem with the pattern – yes, it’s one I made up and I’ve never written out a pattern I made up before please contact me.

Help Needed, November 17th:  Tuesday morning at 10:00 a short work time will take place to put each helmet liner and wool scarf in a plastic bag with washing instructions and a card that says it is from the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  The prayer cloths are already in plastic bags with cards, but we’ll verify they are ready to go too.  This should take an hour or less to prepare for the Prayer Service on the 18^th in the Upper Room at 6:30. 

Any donations we want to make of hard candies, other food items, Beanie Babies, cards or letters, can be brought then and stored in our closet to be taken up at the same time on the 18^th.  We will meet at the storage closet at 10:00 AM on the 17^th.

November 18^th Meeting:  It will begin in Rooms 308 and 309 at 5:30, and at 6:20 we’ll go to the Upper Room to pray over the helmet liners, scarves, and prayer cloths that will be sent to the members of the Armed Services who are stationed overseas.  They will be included in Care Packages along with other items being sent to these individuals. 

In addition to the items we have to contribute to the Care Packages, donations are being accepted from the congregation for hard candies, granola bars, and other commercially packaged treats (no peanut butter, or anything that can melt or be crushed in shipping).  Beanie Babies will be included to be given to local children as a goodwill gesture.  Most importantly, cards and letters will be appreciated to let the soldiers know they are loved and remembered.  Soldiers are prohibited from accepting homemade foods.

There will not be a meeting on November 25^th.  Enjoy Thanksgiving with your families. 

November 29^th is Communion Sunday.  Please let me know if you can help arrange the shawls prior to the 9:30 service, add shawls if needed prior to the 11:00 service, and fold and put the shawls away at noon.  So far I’m the only one signed up for this project.

Prayer Cloth Bowl: A crystal bowl holds the Prayer Cloths in the Upper Room.  One of the members of the congregation has volunteered to etch a Bible verse on the bowl and we have the opportunity to suggest the verse we would like to have on the bowl.  Please pray about it and send suggestions.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12: 9

The Fall Festival

What a delightful day!  There was a nip in the air, and a good time was had by all.  One Prayer Shawl found its rightful owner as did two Prayer Cloths.
Many families were introduced to the Prayer Shawl Ministry and several families told stories of how the Prayer Shawl Ministry had touched them previously.

Martha, one of the original founders of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, took first place in the Bake-Off with her famous pound cake.  There was food flowing from all sides of the Campground.  Peanut butter, chocolate pecan, and the mysterious cherry-vanilla fudge were offered inside the cabin along with Captain Crunch peanut butter "surprises".  The same treats were offered on a table just outside the cabin along with chocolate pecan toffee.

Len had hand-made ceramics and other art on the porch of the cabin which was a great draw.  Thank you, Len.

Carleen and Lisa were in appropriate dresses of the era for a country fair.

And Barbara was in overalls and a sweater dressed for the weather. 

What would we change for next year?  Not much!
    Maybe add 10 degrees to the temperature with God's help.

    Bring tablecloths for the tables. 
    Bring paper napkins for the candy. 
    Make a white story board for the Prayer Shawl Ministry for inside. 
    Bring the brochures we have for the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
    Make a large sign for outside the cabin.

For the first real effort at the Fall Festival, it went very well.  I requested the same cabin from Danette for next year if it's okay with everyone else.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

 

    

This is too cute!!!

Free Crochet Pattern
Lion Brand® Wool-Ease®
Amigurumi Candy Corn
Pattern Number: 80763AD

Free Crochet Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn
Lion Brand® Wool-Ease®
Amigurumi Candy Corn
Pattern Number: 80763AD
SKILL LEVEL: Easy
SIZE: One Size
About 3 in. (7.5 cm)
CORRECTIONS: None
MATERIALS
• 620-301 Lion Brand Wool-Ease® Yarn: White/Multi
1 Ball (A)
• 620-171 Lion Brand Wool-Ease® Yarn: Gold
1 Ball (B)
• 620-157 Lion Brand Wool-Ease® Yarn: Pastel Yellow
1 Ball (C)
• Lion Brand Crochet Hook - Size G-6
• Large-Eyed Blunt Needles
NOTES:
1) Work in continuous rnds; do not join or turn unless otherwise instructed.
2) Yarn is sufficient for multiple Candy Corn.
CANDY CORN
With A, ch 2.
Rnd 1: Work 4 sc in first ch. Place marker in first st for beg of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is
completed.
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around – 8 sts.
Rnd 3: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around – 12 sts.
Rnd 5: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around – 16 sts.
Change to B.
Rnd 7: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 8: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around – 20 sts.
Rnd 9: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 11: Sc in each st around.
Change to C.
Rnds 12-16: Sc in each st around.
Fasten off.
FINISHING
Lightly stuff Candy Corn and sew lower edge closed.
Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES
beg = begin(s)(ning) ch(s) = chain(s)
rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s)
sc = single crochet st(s) = stitch(es)
Free Crochet Pattern: Wool-Ease® Amigurumi Candy

 

Blessings

Robin

October 14th with the Prayer Shawl Ministry

God is good always. He brought us new members, new Prayer Shawls, Prayer Cloths, Helmet Liners and Scarves for the Armed Services Care Packages, and an abundance of donated yarn and knitting needles! The table in the room was stacked high with new yarn! Thank you Kathi, Linda, Dee, and Ellen for the yarn donations. God has big plans for the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Davis dropped in for a few minutes to say hello. We offered to let him use some of the new yarn and needles. He graciously declined saying, “he didn’t knit, and he didn’t inspect our work, but certainly did respect it.” Ellen told him we could “keep him in stitches.” He said he had to leave because “he had been needled enough!” Oh well, so much for puns.

New Members: Ernestine, Anne, and Cindi joined us for the first time on Wednesday evening. Welcome to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. We are very happy to have you as members. These three ladies are knitters. A few months ago the crocheters outnumbered the knitters. Now it’s the other way around. There were only 4 or 5 crocheters at the meeting on the 14^th, so crocheters, if you’re taking a vacation – we need you back.

Knit Chemo Cap: There have been several requests for the knit chemo cap pattern, so it is attached.

Remaining 2009 Calendar: These are the scheduled meeting dates for the remainder of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 (yes, that is next year!). Given that the holidays are fast approaching, this may help us in our planning.

· October 21^st and 28^th – Regular meeting times

· November 4^th, 11^th, and 18^th – Regular meeting times

November 25^th – No meeting

· December 2^nd and 9^th – Regular meeting times

December 16^th, 23^rd, and 30^th – No meeting

· January 6^th, 2010 – No meeting

January 13^th and beyond (as they say in Toy Story)! – Regular meeting times

Next Communion Date: As on October 4^th, we will have Prayer Shawls, Afghans, and Blankets on the altar rail on November 29^th. Please let me know if you can help with set-up at 9:15, add items at 10:45, and remove the items at 12:15. This is really an easy task and it offers so much to our congregation. Thank you for your help and support.

Armed Services Care Package Update: There are approximately 10 Helmet Liners and 10 scarves ready to go into the Care Packages. Twelve Prayer Cloths are in bags with the special Prayer Cloth card. These items have been set aside in the gray bin for the Care Packages to be prayed over. The only thing that needs to be added are the care instructions to the Helmet Liners and Scarves since they are wool.

There will be 10 packages sent out from our church to members in Iraq and Afghanistan. The items will be prayed over at the November 2^nd Conversations with God service at 8:00 AM in The Upper Room. Please be there if you can. Sheri Smith and Nancy Ford have also requested help packing the Care Packages if anyone is interested. They will let us know the date and time.

Prayer Cloths: Prayer Cloths are spreading like wild fire. So many of you have taken the idea of the Prayer Cloths and run with them. I hear so many stories about sharing them with the women in your Circle, your bridge club, or other groups, and then those members making them for their friends. It’s wonderful to see this little piece of cloth mean so much to each of us.

Starting in January, I am going to suggest that each of us make one extra Prayer Cloth a week and that we store them until World Communion Sunday which is the first Sunday in October I believe. On that day, we should have enough to give one to everyone who wants one who attends any of the three services on that day. Let me know if you think that is a worthwhile goal.

I will not be in attendance on the 21^st or the 28^th due to cataract surgery, but will be with you in thought and spirit. I will still be crocheting though! And when I return I’ll be able to see all of you better.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa

October 14th with the Prayer Shawl Ministry

God is good always.  He brought us new members, new Prayer Shawls, Prayer Cloths, Helmet Liners and Scarves for the Armed Services Care Packages, and an abundance of donated yarn and knitting needles!  The table in the room was stacked high with new yarn!  Thank you Kathi, Linda, Dee, and Ellen for the yarn donations.  God has big plans for the Prayer Shawl Ministry.   

Davis dropped in for a few minutes to say hello.  We offered to let him use some of the new yarn and needles.  He graciously declined saying, “he didn’t knit, and he didn’t inspect our work, but certainly did respect it.”  Ellen told him we could “keep him in stitches.”  He said he had to leave because “he had been needled enough!” 

Oh well, so much for puns.

New Members:  Ernestine, Anne, and Cindi joined us for the first time on Wednesday evening.  Welcome to the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  We are very happy to have you as members.  These three ladies are knitters.  A few months ago the crocheters outnumbered the knitters.  Now it’s the other way around.  There were only 4 or 5 crocheters at the meeting on the 14^th, so crocheters, if you’re taking a vacation – we need you back.

Knit Chemo Cap: There have been several requests for the knit chemo cap pattern, so here it is.

Skill Level: Beginner
SIZE
S (L)
Circumference 13 (16)" [33 (40.5) cm]
Note Hat is very stretchy.
Materials
• LION BRAND Fancy Fur
1 (2) ball(s) #213 Rainbow Red
or color of your choice
• LION BRAND size 13 (9 mm) knitting needles (double-pointed or straight needles)
• LION BRAND large-eyed, blunt needle to sew seam
GAUGE
10 stitches + 12 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch (straight needles: knit on right
side, purl on wrong side) (double-pointed needles: knit every round).
BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.
Double-Pointed Needle Hat
Cast on 32 (40) stitches onto 3 or 4 needles. Join and knit every round (stockinette stitch)
until hat measures 6 (7)” from beginning.
Begin crown shaping as follows:
Round 1 *Knit 6 (8), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 28 (36) stitches.
Round 2 Knit.
Round 3 *Knit 5 (7), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 24 (32) stitches.
Round 4 Knit.
Round 5 *Knit 4 (6), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 20 (28) stitches.
Round 6 *Knit 3 (5), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 16 (24) stitches.
Round 7 *Knit 2 (4), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 12 (20) stitches.
Round 8 *Knit 1 (3), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 8 (16) stitches.
(Large size only) Next Round *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 12
stitches.
Next Round *Knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 4 (6) stitches.
Next Round *Knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 2 (3) stitches.
Knit 2 (3) together. Fasten off.
Cut yarn. Draw yarn tail through last remaining stitch using large-eyed, blunt needle and
tighten. Weave in ends.
Straight needle Hat
Cast on 32 (40) stitches. Knit 1 row, then purl 1 row (stockinette stitch), until Hat
measures 6 (7)” from beginning.
Begin crown shaping as follows:
Row 1 *Knit 6 (8), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 28 (36) stitches.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 *Knit 5 (7), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 24 (32) stitches.
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 *Knit 4 (6), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 20 (28) stitches.
Row 6 *Purl 2 together, purl 3 (5); repeat from the * to end – 16 (24) stitches.
Row 7 *Knit 2 (4), knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 12 (20) stitches.
Row 8 *Purl 2 together, purl 1 (3); repeat from the * to end – 8 (16) stitches.
(Large size only) Next Row *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 12
stitches. Purl 1 row.
Next Row *Knit 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 4 (6) stitches.
Next Row *Purl 2 together; repeat from the * to end – 2 (3) stitches.
Knit 2 (3) together. Fasten off.
Cut yarn. Draw yarn tail through last remaining stitch using large-eyed, blunt needle and
tighten. Cut yarn. Sew back Hat seam. Weave in ends.

Remaining 2009 Calendar:  These are the scheduled meeting dates for the remainder of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 (yes, that is next year!).  Given that the holidays are fast approaching, this may help us in our planning.

· October 21^st and 28^th – Regular meeting times

· November 4^th, 11^th, and 18^th – Regular meeting times

November 25^th – No meeting

· December 2^nd and 9^th – Regular meeting times

December 16^th, 23^rd, and 30^th – No meeting

· January 6^th, 2010 – No meeting

January 13^th and beyond (as they say in Toy Story)! – Regular meeting times

Next Communion Date:  As on October 4^th, we will have Prayer Shawls, Afghans, and Blankets on the altar rail on November 29^th.  Please let me know if you can help with set-up at 9:15, add items at 10:45, and remove the items at 12:15.  This is really an easy task and it offers so much to our congregation.  Thank you for your help and support.

Armed Services Care Package Update:  There are approximately 10 Helmet Liners and 10 scarves ready to go into the Care Packages.  Twelve Prayer Cloths are in bags with the special Prayer Cloth card.  These items have been set aside in the gray bin for the Care Packages to be prayed over.  The only thing that needs to be added are the care instructions to the Helmet Liners and Scarves since they are wool.

There will be 10 packages sent out from our church to members in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The items will be prayed over at the November 2^nd Conversations with God service at 8:00 AM in The Upper Room.  Please be there if you can.  Sheri Smith and Nancy Ford have also requested help packing the Care Packages if anyone is interested.  They will let us know the date and time.

Prayer Cloths:  Prayer Cloths are spreading like wild fire.  So many of you have taken the idea of the Prayer Cloths and run with them.  I hear so many stories about sharing them with the women in your Circle, your bridge club, or other groups, and then those members making them for their friends.  It’s wonderful to see this little piece of cloth mean so much to each of us.

Starting in January, I am going to suggest that each of us make one extra Prayer Cloth a week and that we store them until World Communion Sunday which is the first Sunday in October I believe.  On that day, we should have enough to give one to everyone who wants one who attends any of the three services on that day.  Let me know if you think that is a worthwhile goal.

I will not be in attendance on the 21^st or the 28^th due to cataract surgery, but will be with you in thought and spirit.  I will still be crocheting though!  And when I return I’ll be able to see all of you better.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.  But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa

Prayer Shawl Meeting October 7, 2009

What a joy it is to meet together in our new room! 

Many of our ladies had other commitments, so it  was a smaller group of us who met to play and pray together. We have a number of helmet liners and scarves completed for our Troops.  Miss Martha has graciously agreed to give help to those of us who are confused by the pattern!!!!

We have several new prayer cloths ready for the Upper Room as well.                                                            

There is some new yarn in our bins....not to start a stampede, but Wal Mart has several colors of Red Heart Super Saver on clearance for $1.50....Be sure to check our stash, also, if you need materials for your next project.

The fall festival is coming up.  If you plan to help with set up, please be there by 1:30. Our cabin will display not only our handiwork, but also crafts made by a number of other people.  We will have a sign up sheet next week, for anyone who can come out and play.  In addition, if anyone has a rocking chair or a lawn chair that rocks, we are in need of one or two for the front porch of our cabin.

This week, there will be at least five shawls presented, as well as a chemo cap. Our cupboard is by no means bare, but if anyone has a completed shawl or lap robe, please try to get it to us soon.

Have a Blessed week.

Ellen Carey

September 16th with the Chicks with Sticks

September 16^th:  “It was a dark and stormy night”...and we were a small, but mighty group in our new space, which was bright and comfortable.  Probably most of you are too young to remember Snoopy in the Charlie Brown cartoons trying to write a story beginning with those words.  I don’t think he ever got any further than “It was a dark and stormy night”.

Miraculously two very comfortable chairs appeared in our new room for those with back problems, so even that worked out well as the thunder boomed.  The hooks and needles clicked away as we talked, laughed, and prayed.  Even “the dog eating my homework” didn’t dampen our spirits! 

Prayer Shawls:  God blessed us with four completed Prayer Shawls and two scarves for the Grace Bags.  Our project for the Armed Services Care Packages has two completed helmet liners and two scarves in our storage area and at least two scarves in New York with Dana.  Two Prayer Shawls and a cross were given out on Wednesday evening, and two shawls were added to the cabinet.

Prayer Shawl Cabinet:  Our Prayer Shawl cabinet is no longer overflowing – we have one empty shelf.  However, God will provide as He always does.  We’re diligently working on Prayer Shawls and the Armed Services Care Packages and can only knit and crochet 24 hours a day...oh wait, family life and sleep fall in there somewhere too.  Thank you for all of your hard work.  You are wonderful!  This is such a rewarding Ministry­­ – it’s easy to want to spend all of your time on it.

Colors for Shawls:  We often talk about colors of yarn for Prayer Shawls so you might find this list gives you ideas about new colors for your projects.  From the Prayer Shawl Companion:

· Red:  love, passion, respect, energy, enthusiasm, courage, vigor, health, understanding

· Pink: friendship, compassion, sensitivity, generosity, soothing, warm-heartedness, gratitude

· Orange: thoughtfulness, vitality, creativity

· Yellow: wisdom, learning, optimism, intuition, faith, well-being, friendship, energy, happiness, sociability, joy, gladness, goodness

· Green: earth, healing, prosperity, fertility, clarity, sympathy, hope, renewal, health, confidence, abundance, growth, life, permanence, peace

· Aqua: courage, balance, harmony, stability

· Blue: water, healing, meditation, intuition, peace, tranquility, honesty, loyalty, communication, sincerity, wisdom, spirituality, eternity, self-esteem

· Indigo: wisdom, insight, instinct, spiritual nature

· Violet: spirit, spirituality, intuition, truth, memory, nostalgia, humility, comfort during grief or mourning, peace

· Purple: power, leadership, royalty, truth, justice, temperance, spirituality, wisdom

· Brown: wholesomeness, honesty, steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, practical, down-to-earth, warmth

· Beige/Tan: optimism, simplicity, calmness

· Black: self-confidence, strength, absorbs negativity, mature wisdom, harmony

· White: spirit, light, air, innocence, protection, peace, purity, gentleness, perfection holiness, maidenhood, illumination, reverence, humility, winter

· Gold: masculine energy, enlightenment, sacred, durable

· Silver: feminine energy, flexibility

· Gray: strength, balance, wisdom

September 23^rd Meeting:  Watch for an e-mail about the next meeting.  There will be an exciting announcement!

Love and blessings,

Beverly

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." - Henry David Thoreau

Another Prayer Shawl Finished and Grounds for Euthanasia…

I used Homespun for this one. I love working with this yarn. It is so very soft and given the texture and the bulkiness of this yarn it makes for quick work. I knocked this one out in about two weeks or so.

I love the colors, Homespun Windsor (the blue), Homespun Pacific (the pale pink and beige variegated) and white.

The colors worked so very beautifully together.

Her is a close up of the colors!

I had just finished off the last edge and folded up up and placed it aside to turn in on Wednesday. My sweet devil puppy decide to curl up on top of it for a small nap.

How very precious I thought.

Until I saw this!

A HOLE!

A HOLE CHEWED BY MY SWEET PRECIOUS DEVIL PUPPY!

But…God is good!

You see I was on my way out the door to my morning work out and had already instructed my sweet devil puppy to get into his crate BEFORE I spied the HOLE.

Had he not been safely behind bars already I am not sure what would have happen!

Robin

September 9th in our new space

New Space:  God is good all the time!  With His divine intervention, we held the September 9^th meeting in rooms 308 and 309.  All of our yarn, patterns, and other supplies are in the storage closet (with lots of extra room for expansion) at the end of the hall.  And there is more room for growth of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, so please bring your friends and continue to spread the word about what we do.

Helmet Liners and Scarves:  Martha turned in the first helmet liner Wednesday evening and Zena turned in the first scarf – thank you so much for your work.  When the September Prayers and Concerns list was reviewed, there were 21 individuals from our congregation, or who are friends or relatives of members of our congregation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, or another area who would appreciate a wool helmet liner or scarf during the time of year coming up.  Dana knew of one other individual not on the list.  I’ll continue to check with Nancy to make sure we have enough items for the number of Care Packages the Church is sending.  Please do what you can on this project.  Thank you for supporting it.

Prayer Shawls:  As always, there are so many people in need of God’s love, comfort, and healing.  The question came up again on Wednesday evening about the qualifications for an individual receiving an item we make.  Quite some time ago it was decided that the person did not need to be a member of the congregation, did not need to have a specific malady, just needed God’s love, comfort, and healing.  The items are not meant to be gifts such as “an over the hill” birthday gift.  Other than that, the qualification was between the individual and God.

If you attended either the 9:30 or the 11:00 service on the 6^th, you witnessed the draw of the Prayer Shawls and the Prayer Blankets on the altar rail.  So many individuals stopped to touch them or stayed and prayed over them after communion, and after the service.  After the 11:00 service, the last person left the altar rail about 12:45.  What a precious and holy moment!

  Prayer Shawl Cabinet:  As stated so eloquently by Meredith, when she saw the Prayer Shawl cabinet for the first time on Wednesday evening, the cabinet was overflowing before the Prayer Shawls for six individuals were taken from it.  Yarn items take up a lot of space so when you put six items in.  It looks very full.  Conversely, when you take six items out, it looks empty.  I know of three more shawls that will be delivered in the next week.  No doubt by next Wednesday, it will look very empty again.

Prayers and Concerns:  Thank you for sharing your own prayers and concerns on Wednesday evening, as well as praying for others and the completed items.  If it is all right with everyone, I would like to make that part of our meetings.  We tend to overlook our needs in our quest to do the Prayer Shawl Ministry’s work for the glory of God.

Food Co-Op:  Robin has asked us to bring a can of food for the Co-Op each week – a simple request for a worthy cause.  I have to confess that I forget almost every week.  Please try to remember your can of food for the 16^th and surprise Robin with a can from each of us!

Snowflakes:  Most of us collect something – baskets, figurines, yarn, etc.  I recently read an article about a woman who collects snowflakes – not the ones that fall from the sky, but snowflakes made of all kinds of materials.  Her reason for collecting them is a handwritten sermon prepared by her deceased Methodist preacher grandfather in the 1960s, and delivered at the Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in downtown Macon, Georgia.  “His message was we are all called to be individuals, but stand as one.  Snowflakes are breathtakingly beautiful when they fall; when they hit the ground they become one.”   Her grandfather’s premise was we should all emulate snowflakes.

When I read this story, I thought about how each of the members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry are so unique, but also so loving to others, which allows us to act as one body to glorify God by providing tangible evidence of his love, comfort, and healing.  Thank you for all you do each and every day!

See you on the 16^th.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

Don’t be afraid, just believe! – Rev. Alan H., September 6^th, 2009

For those of us who are not Knitting Savants!

 

Blessings

Robin

Getting to Know Each Other Again - September 3rd

Thanks be to God again:  God is good all the time.  What an awesome night in The Parlor!  I’ve been taught that you don’t use the word awesome lightly.  It’s only used when you are in awe of something.  Well, last night, ladies, I was awed.  God was with us while we prayed, talked, laughed, knitted, crocheted, shared our stories, and got to know each other again or for the first time.  Thank you God for bringing us together and creating this Ministry and thank for allowing us to be His hands and feet.

Prayer Shawls:  God provided a wonderful bounty of completed projects last night.  Shawls, scarves, and chemo caps were stacked high on the foot stool.  If you look closely in the photo of the group that was there last night, there were enough completed items that everyone was holding something.  What a blessing!  In fact, seventeen was the magic number last night.  That’s how many members were in attendance for all or part of our time together in The Parlor.  It has been a long time since we had introduced ourselves, and with so many members present, it was fun to learn more about each other.

God revealed two individual’s names last night who need special prayers and comforting.  Becky delivered a Prayer Shawl to a friend last night due to a recent job loss.  And Zena took a Chemo Cap to send to a relative, who is very ill from her first round of chemotherapy. 

Yarn and Supplies:  Belle was kind enough to bring in two boxes and a bag of yarn and supplies donated by a friend.  It will take a while to go through it to see what’s there and how best to put it to good use.  Between supplies and members, we may outgrow our lovely Parlor soon.  What a wonderful opportunity God presents us with.

Birthdays: Please wish the following members a Happy Birthday this month!

            Barbara C. – September 12^th

            Trisha D. -   September 13^th

Helmet liners and scarves: 

This September project is underway.  Thank you for your enthusiastic response.  Please let me know if you need patterns or yarn for the liner or the scarf.  The helmet liner pattern is pretty much set.  If you have questions on the pattern, Becky, Ellen, or Dana can answer question about the pattern.

If you have a problem with the scarf pattern, please let me know if you need help, or you are free to pick a different pattern.  The only requirements on the scarf pattern is that you use wool and that it is a closed pattern, meaning not lacy or open so that it is warm.

Fall Festival:  October 18^th is approaching rapidly.  The time for the festival is from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  However, we will need time to set up the cabin so those who plan to participate please plan to arrive about 1:00 PM.  In addition, we need the names and phone numbers of specific craft people who want to display their wares in our cabin so I can arrange for the tables or whatever they will need to put their items on display.  Please contact them or me so I can contact them to get the details.

Have a wonderful three day weekend!

Love and blessings,

Beverly

Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary. - Sir James Matthew Barrie

Waffle Stitch Crochet Scarf

Zena told me that she didn’t receive the instructions, just page one, on the attachment for the crocheted scarf for the Armed Services project.  This is page two of the pattern.

I worked on the pattern this afternoon and found the 6” width recommended was too slim from my point of view so I “uncrocheted” a couple of times until I was comfortable with a wider scarf.  I started with 38 chains and then followed the instructions for the foundation row and rows 1 and 2.  The scarf will be about 10” wide.  I don’t know yet if more than two balls of yarn will be required.  However, you can follow the instructions as written.

Free Crochet Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn

Wool Yarn

Waffle Stitch Crochet Scarf

Pattern Number: 80986AD

SKILL LEVEL: Easy +

SIZE: One Size

6 x 57 in. (15 x 145 cm)

CORRECTIONS: None

MATERIALS

• Wool ® Yarn:

2 Balls

• Lion Brand Crochet Hook - Size I-9

• Lion Brand Crochet Hook - Size J-10

• Large-Eyed Blunt Needles

GAUGE:

16 sts + 9 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) over Waffle Pattern. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR

GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified

in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes

you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size

hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

FPDC (front post double crochet) Yo, insert hook from front to back then to front, going

around the dc post, draw up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. Skip st

behind the FPDC.

STITCH PATTERN

Waffle Pattern

Foundation Row: Dc in 4th ch from hook (beg ch counts as 1 dc), dc in each ch across.

Row 1 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), turn. Skip first st, dc in next st,

*FPDC in each of next 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * across, end dc in last st, dc in top of

turning ch.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3, turn. Skip first st, *FPDC in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts; rep from *

across, end with FPDC in last dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Rep rows 1 and 2 for Waffle Pattern.

SCARF

With larger hook, ch 26.

Work Foundation Row of Waffle Pattern, then rep Rows 1 and 2 of Waffle Pattern until piece measures about

56 in. (142 cm) from beg, end with a Row 1 of Waffle Pattern.

Next Row (RS): Change to smaller hook. Ch 3, turn. Dc in each st to end.

Fasten off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

In The Parlor on August 26th

August 2009:  Another month of 2009 has raced by.  And another evening in The Parlor kept the crochet hooks and knitting needles flying while stories of summer were told and shared.  Belle Northcutt joined us again after a long absence.  We got to know Ann O. and Meredith J. better during their second meeting.  There were a total of 14 of us in attendance in The Parlor which makes for a lively evening.  If you haven’t been in a while, please join us. 

Two new Prayer Shawls and a chemo cap were turned in on Wednesday night.  And several others are well on the way to completion.  If you know of individuals who need the items we make, please let us know.

September Project:  Patterns were distributed for the helmet liners and scarves.  The wool yarn from our yarn bins in the appropriate colors is gone; however, we will have more for those who plan to participate in this project.  There are still several of the helmet liner and the scarf patterns left to make the dozen of each.

The helmet liner requires one skein of wool yarn of approximately 175 yards and the scarf requires two skeins of 220 yards each.  Please remember 100% wool yarn is required!  Acrylic yarn can melt if it comes near heat.  We will have washing instructions with the items.  Colors allowed by the military are black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab.  The scarf pattern is attached for crocheters.

Updates:  Three new members have joined us in August and several changes have been made in other member’s information so a new membership roster is attached. 

Food Co-Op:  Many of you remembered your can of food for the Food Co-Op – some of us forgot.  Please bring one this Wednesday also.

Care Notes:  If you haven’t noticed the revolving rack of Care Notes in the area by the rack for the Upper Room magazines, please look for it the next time you come out of the Sanctuary.  I picked up a couple of the booklets on a recent Sunday on topics that pertained to reasons we deliver Prayer Shawls.  The last paragraph in “Finding Hope When Times Are Tough” by Jim Auer says:

Humanity “never made any material as resilient as the human spirit” wrote British philosopher Bernard Williams.  A little thought will bring to mind multiple times when you have “leaped back” (the literal meaning of “resilient”) into the mainstream of life after a significant setback.  You still have that resilience.  Under the loving care of the God of your understanding, you will do so again.

We have all had situations like the author describes.  In the Prayer Shawl Ministry, God has given us an opportunity to be His hands and feet to help individuals find that resilience and give His love, comfort, and healing powers that He has put into the fibers of yarn we deliver.  God is so good.

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” – Unknown

On Site Tech Support

After Wednesday evenings knitting lesson I returned home and pulled my newly learned knitting out of my yarn basket and begin to click away.

Y’all it wasn't pretty! The flames and smoke from my crashing failure could be seen for miles away.

I noticed that there was a weird loop hanging off of the back and in my naiveté I foolishly thought that I could simply remove the needles and pull the stitches out and back track past my boo boo and then begin again.

That was my first mistake.

After painstaking putting the needle back through all the loops only to discover that I had threaded the needle on the wrong way.

I then pulled it off again and tried to put the needle back on the right way.

Well it went down hill quickly after that.

Let’s just say that the more I tried to repair my error the worse it got and then finally I just thought that it would be easier to just pull it all back out and start again.

However I did to take into consideration my short term memory loss and the fact that even though I had been shown multiple times how to cast on onlt a few short hour befor …well sadly the intricacies of casting on had been completely removed from my memory bank.

At that point I apparently had also lost the capacity to read the English language as well.

I read through the written instruction on how to cast on and decide that although it was written in English, my brain was somehow translating it back into Arabic as it made no sense to me what so ever.

After lamenting my total failure I sent out an email in the hopes that someone would take pity on my and come to my rescue.

Y’all, I think we need to get some of those magnetic signs that will stick to the side of your car for emergency proposes:

A special thanks for my super hero member of The Chick with Stick Technical Support Task Force.

She braved the rain to make a special in home service call.

The problem was diagnosis as, technical difficulty is due to operator error namely me with a malfunctioning long term memory shortage due to old age of the operating system.

Thanks Ellen for the home tech support!

Blessings

Robin

Aug 23 – Completed Payer Shawl

 

Oh my stars I am finally finished!

Blessings

Robin

Knitted Helmet Liner

This is the helmet liner pattern noted in the weekly e-mail.

Materials:

Cascade 220 or any soft wool yarn that will knit to gauge. Approx. 175 yards. (5 hanks of 220 will make 6 hats). NOTE: PLEASE USE ONLY WOOL YARN. Helmet liners made of synthetic fibers cannot be worn by Marines in combat areas. Colors allowed by the military are black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab. Size 8 - 16” circular needle, or size to get gauge and same size double point needles. Size 6 -16” circular needles for the ribbings One stitch marker. Gauge: 4.5 st./in. in st. st.

Instructions:

Neck: With smaller circular needle, cast on 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and knit in 2x2 rib for 6 inches. (Note: This used to read 4 inches but feedback from soldiers to Linda Swinford led to a revision. There should be 6 inches of neck ribbing. Thank you!)

To make hat portion: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle. Leave smaller circ.in rest of the stitches, cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beg of round, join in round, K even for 4”. 1st dec row: *K11, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round. Next row: Knit even. 2nd dec row: *K10, 2tog,* repeat to end. Next row: knit even. Change to DP needles when necessary. Continue decreases as established until K2, K2tog. After this, decrease every row until 7 stitches on needle. Cut yarn 8-9” long, feed through remaining stitches and weave in.

Ribbing around face: (This portion has been revised from original instructions, based upon feedback from soldiers. Please use these instructions entirely rather than any older instructions you may have. Thank you.). With smaller needle still in neck portion, PU stitches around face. Join in circle and K in 2x2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease in a total of 8 purl stitches by P2tog (4 sets on each side of face, i.e. 10:00, 2:00, 4:00 and 8:00). This will pull the ribbing in close to their face. BO in ribbing and work in tail. BO around face can be snug.

Don't forget to include a Washing Instruction Label and "Made For You By..." Label! It works best if you type the instructions on adhesive labels and stick and/or staple one on each completed helmet liner. Here's a sample:

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS -
WOOL. Do NOT put in washer or dryer; or it will shrink.
HAND WASH ONLY with mild soap in COLD water.
Lay flat to dry. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.  

This helmet liner was hand-knitted for you by: [put your name here, and optionally your address].

Welcome Back To The Parlor - August 19th

It was an awesome night in The Parlor.  God was with us as we honored Him by celebrating a return to Wednesday dinners, classes, and His work.  What a bounty He brought us.  More yarn was turned into scarves, afghans, and chemo caps than I’ve ever seen and all the seats in The Parlor were full!  There were enough new items for each of us to hold one while we prayed prior to taking them to the Prayer Shawl cabinet.  Ladies, if we keep this up, we may need a bigger room.

In addition, there are new projects in different stages of completion.  The Parlor is a blessed, happy place to be on Wednesday evening with lots of work, laughter, support, encouragement, and stories.   Barbara taught herself several new crochet stitches for her new project and still volunteered for the Granny Squares.  Jenny is making wonderful progress on the knitted scarf she’s making, especially with her longer knitting needles.  Ellen and Ann worked together so Ann could learn to knit.  Martha is working on a beautiful knitted white shawl.  Robin S. is back with a wonderful tan and working on a blue afghan.  Robin B. brought two completed afghans and a yarn donation – thank you, Robin.  Rebecca and Lisa came in to help with prayers – we’ve missed you both.  Susan has a new project going.  Robin L. is completing a bright shawl out of cotton yarn…is this going to be the yarn you warn us about?  Dana came in for as long as she could before she had to pack for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Minneapolis (did you take a pink shawl with you?).  Dee has a couple of beautiful knitted projects going and still spoke up about working on Granny Squares!  Alida was with us in spirit.  She sent four completed shawls, four completed scarves, and at least four dozen Granny Squares! 

Me – I just went from one project to the next, forgot to mention several things I planned to talk about, and forgot to take pictures!  The Chicks With Sticks are such a joy to be with, even making notes about what I plan to do doesn’t work!  Please join us on the 26^th.

Welcome new members:  We’re so happy to have you in this Ministry. 

            Ann O. joined us and is learning to knit!  .

            Meredith J. came in for her first meeting, with knitting and crocheting skills! 

Back to Square One:  Alida is making more Granny Squares!  Barbara and Dee have stepped up to the plate to learn to make afghans out of the squares.  We started on the squares last night.  Alida asked for more yarn last week to make more squares so we’ll have fun putting several items together.  Alida is a great contributor.  We appreciate all you do for the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

September Project:  One of the items I forgot to talk about last night was a September project for those of you interested in participating.  In November, our church sends Care Packages to members of the Armed Services.  From the information I’ve received approximately 10 to 12 packages are sent out each year.  If we have any church members with family on active duty, we choose those individuals first.  We then go to a site called “Any Soldier” and, depending on how many boxes we can fill, we choose soldiers from that site to send the rest of the packages to. 

Ellen did some research as far as items we can make for the packages and found there are some restrictions for items going to members of the Armed Services overseas.  They are as follows: 

USE ONLY WOOL YARN. Helmet liners made of synthetic fibers cannot be worn by Marines in combat areas. Colors allowed by the military are black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab.

Given these restrictions, and the fact that we do not know where these packages will go until the last minute, those who choose to make helmet liners or scarves for these packages, should follow these guidelines to be on the safe side.  In addition, the seasons are quite different in the Middle East than here and it can be quite cold. The other thing Ellen discovered is the helmet liners that are knitted are more comfortable than the crocheted helmet liners. 

With that information, the recommendation is that helmet liners are knitted and scarves are crocheted in the wool yarn colors noted above.  We do have some wool yarn in the bins in The Parlor and will go through the bins next week.  I’m not sure how much there is, but we’ll check and use that first.  We will include washing instructions with the items so the recipients know how to care for them.

It would be nice if we can have a helmet liner and a scarf for each of the 10 to 12 care packages be sent out – can we make it an even dozen?  Please let me know if you are interested in participating in this project and if you think you can get one of these items completed by the end of September. 

October Fall Festival:  Just a reminder to save October 19^th on your calendar.  We’ll have a great time at the Fall Festival in our “Tent” from 2:00 to 5:00.  A schedule and organization sheet will go out in a couple of weeks. 

Thanks for all you do. 

Love and blessings,

Beverly

“Faithfulness to the little things will help us to grow in love.  We have all been given a lighted lamp and it is for us to keep it burning.  We can keep it burning only if we keep on pouring oil inside.  That oil comes from our acts of love.” – Mother Teresa

In The Parlor with The Chicks With Sticks on August 12th

God is so good to us.  So many wonderful things are going on and so many prayers are needed as usual.  Six beautiful new shawls were turned in and prayed over last night.  Thanks to everyone’s hard work, the Prayer Shawl cabinet is full again.

During the month of July, God revealed the names of over 30 recipients for items from the cabinet.  So far in August only six items have been distributed.  However, that’s the ebb and flow of things.  It doesn’t mean we should stop working.  Like the squirrels storing up acorns in the summer for the long winter, we never know when requests will come in and take the cabinet from full to empty.

Care Packages:

In November, our church sends Care Packages to members of the Armed Services.  From the information I’ve received approximately 10 to 12 packages are sent out each year.  If we have any church members with family on active duty, we choose those individuals first.  We then go to a site called “Any Soldier” and, depending on how many boxes we can fill, we choose soldiers from that site to send the rest of the packages to. 

At our meeting last night, we discussed the possibility of including an item from the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  Based on the number of packages sent out, we felt it would be possible for the Ministry to participate in this project by knitting or crocheting a scarf and/or a helmet liner.  Becky Moore has a pattern for knitting and for crocheting a helmet liner.  Dana S. through divine intervention, just purchased camouflage patterned yarn!  And we have multiple scarf patterns.

We’ll discuss this in more detail on the 19^th.  However, given the fact that it’s August, there are around 12 packages, and we have around 30 members, the task doesn’t sound too daunting.  If you have questions or comments before the 19^th, please let me know.

Calendar Update:     

For those of you who showed up for dinner last night because of my e-mail, I apologize!  In the bulletin on Sunday, there was a note saying dinners would begin the 19^th, not the 12^th – my error.  So let me try again and say that when you come for dinner and bring your youth to their activities, please stay for the Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting.  We would love to have you back!

Ministry Moment:

Dana S. spoke in our prayer time last night about the privilege of delivering a Prayer Shawl and the blessing you witness and receive during the delivery.  If you have not had an opportunity to deliver a Prayer Shawl, please volunteer.  God will be with you and bless you and the recipient.  Tears of joy and healing will flow for all involved – it’s a wonderful moment of love and bonding that you will remember for the rest of your life.  An example of a Prayer Shawl I was blessed to deliver is below.

Iola  was so gracious and sweet on July 7^th when I took the Prayer Shawl to her home.  I didn’t know Iola before then, but discovered she was a neighbor of mine thanks to Barbara M.  The Prayer Shawl was draped on her lap as she reclined in her chair and I knelt next to her.  We prayed a short prayer and held hands.  Then I explained to her how we made each item, praying while we made them, prayed over them when they were completed, and prayed with the person when we delivered them.

I explained, in her case, her Prayer Shawl was made from the Granny Squares crocheted by Alida S., who I thought Iola may know.  When I told her that, Iola said that she did know Alida and was pleased that she had made the squares.  Later I had an opportunity to tell Alida the story about who received the first afghan from the Granny Squares she had made, and Alida was pleased the afghan went to someone she knew.

God has given us a wonderful opportunity to spread his love, comfort, and healing power to those in need.  Share in it.  His glory is awesome!

Love and blessings,

Beverly

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Colossians 3:23

In The Parlor on August 5th

Blessings Flow:  The Prayer Shawl cabinet is comfortably full again. The Lord blessed the Prayer Shawl Ministry with 12 (really) shawls/afghans, a chemo cap, a preemie cap, and preemie sandals on Wednesday evening.  Due to the construction, the items didn’t make it to the cabinet until Thursday morning.  There’s a saying that says “you can’t get there from here” and it was true Wednesday evening, or at least I didn’t know the way.

Thanks to everyone who contributed Wednesday evening.  Each of the items was so beautiful.

The 60s Are Back:  The Lion Brand news letter said the 60s are back!  If you go to www.lionbrand.com and search for 60s patterns, you will see a myriad of patterns from the 1960s.  I know some of you won’t remember them unless you watched television reruns, but others of you, like me, will remember them very well.  While I don’t know if I’m ready to wear the styles again, they’re fun to look at.

 

Zip Codes:  Just a reminder to let me know if your zip code has changed on the mailing address you provided for your membership in the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  The Post Office sent out a notice for those addresses who will be effected by the change.

Grace Arbor Presentation:  Robin D. invited Ellen and me to make a presentation to the Grace Arbor group on August 3^rd.  What a delightful group of people!  We had an opportunity to tell what the Prayer Shawl Ministry does and why.  We passed around a few items and received a lot of questions.  They had a few stories of their own also – about projects they made in the past.

Birthdays: Please wish the following members a Happy Birthday this month!

            Robin S. – August 4^th

            Beverly S.– August 18^th

Patterns and Yarn: Attached are two new knit and two new crochet patterns in the event you need something new to do.  I don’t want anyone to get bored.  Remember to check in our yarn bins for yarn to knit or crochet with for your new projects.  Dana has offered to bring a yarn winder for those yarns that are still in hanks.

Calendar Reminders:

            August 12^th Meeting – Wednesday night dinners begin on August 12^th

Watch the bulletin and schedules on Sunday.  When you come for dinner and bring your youth to their activities, please stay for the Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting.  We would love to have you back!

Fall Festival Update – October 18^th, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Carleen has offered to be one of our front porch crocheters for the Fall Festivals.  She has an old fashioned dress and bonnet to wear while she’s sitting there crocheting.  Carleen’s mother is also going to display her embroidery work inside the “tent”.

Just For Fun:  Attached is a Yarn Lovers Puzzle – it’s a crossword puzzle based on terms used in our crafts.  Good luck on it if you try it.  The information with the puzzle said the answers will be out next week.

Blessings and love,

Beverly

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chicks with Sticks June 24th

Joys and blessings: As the saying goes, God is good all the time! Wednesday evening we had eleven women at our meeting with lots of stories, sharing fellowship, laughter, and of course our needles and hooks were flying! We were blessed with five new Prayer Shawls and two new scarves to pray over and put in the cabinet.

Working together: We were so glad to see faces we hadn’t seen for a while (I didn’t want to say old faces), as well as new faces. Jenny was back learning to knit under Ellen’s expert tutoring.

Alida’s granny squares (about 1/3 of them) made a nice blanket and there are still quite a few left to use. Teamwork makes the work fun. God has called us for something He has given us the time and talent to do.

Watch for information: Thank you Nancy, for arranging for the information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry to be in the Sunday bulletin and on a PowerPoint slide for the Sunday service. The brochures around the church are helping to spread the word about our ministry also. Requests have been received for a Prayer Shawl and for more information making items for the ministry based on the brochure.

New Members: Please welcome JoAnn to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The Wednesday evening meetings don’t fit in to her schedule, but she has volunteered to crochet items and deliver them to us. We welcome you with open arms, JoAnn, and look forward to meeting you.

Prayer Shawl Opportunities: We have frequent opportunities to help individuals with Prayer Shawls and Blankets and often don’t think about it. Please be mindful of helping people over their difficult times.

Simple Gifts: As we all watch our money, there are more and more articles written about going back to simple gifts for special occasions. It seems the talents we have are becoming more popular to learn and the items more valued as gifts.
Love and blessings,

Beverly

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength, - Philippians 4:13

Prayer Shawl Ministry in Action

I received this email this morning. I have abbreviated the names down to their initials to protect the privacy of the individuals involved but this is the perfect example of the body of Chris at work.

I just got a call from A. B. and he let me know that Mrs. E. E., who was the older lady beaten so badly in a home invasion recently has passed away. A fellow officer that A.B. serves with on the police force wanted to let us know that the prayer shawl A. B. gave her has been with her since the day he brought it to her and she will be buried with it. The family was so deeply touched by this gift of grace and prayer for someone we did not even know that they wanted us to be aware of their gratitude. I told Alan that I would pass this along to you ladies. This is why we do what we do each day, isn’t it?

Love,

S.

June 17th in The Parlor

Wednesday Evening: If we were playing games in The Parlor on the 17^th, we definitely had a “Full House” with 10 members in attendance! We also were playing Checkers with Granny Squares thanks to Alidal. Alida crocheted a bag full of squares needing just the trimming and sewing together. So while trying to decide the color order and what to make out of them, the squares were spread around on the floor.

New Member: Welcome Loretta to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Thank you, Dana, for bringing Loretta to our ministry. The best way to add new members is to invite our friends.

Many Blessings: We had the privilege of praying over several new shawls, scarves, and one fleece blanket. Barbara is so talented she doesn’t stop at working with yarn, but uses her time to sew also. Thanks for retiring, Barbara.

In addition, prayers for recipients of items distributed in June were offered. The Prayer Shawl Ministry allows us to pray while we’re crocheting or knitting, when an item is completed, and again for the recipient that God has chosen for each item.

The best way for us to continue to enjoy the many blessings and to share the many blessings is to find ways to touch as many lives as possible!

Moving Forward: As of the end of May, the Prayer Shawl Ministry Steering Committee came up with a list of several projects to pursue. It’s time to move forward on these projects, like the Fall Festival. We’re still open to other projects and working with other ministries and groups so please bring your ideas. It’s a great way to make sure our ministry known to the rest of the church and the community.

Thanks: The Priscilla Circle invited Ellen and me to make a presentation at their June 2^nd meeting. What a wonderful group of ladies. They asked many great questions and made a donation of cash and two prayer shawls to our ministry.

In Our Prayers: Please keep the following members in your thoughts and prayers:

Dee, we hope you are feeling well enough to join us again soon

Barbara, traveling to her sister’s to help during foot surgery

Logan, reaching the end of her recovery from back surgery

Martha, knee problems

Those with unspoken needs

Tip of the Day: Knitting You all know I don’t knit so if this is obvious, I apologize, but I think I’ve heard this discussed before so when I read this, I thought I would share.

Trying to figure out how far from the end of the yarn to make your slip knot? Measure off the length of your needle once (if using a long one) or twice (a shorter one) then wrap your yarn around the needle once for each stitch. Make your slip knot and start casting on.

Love and Blessings,

Beverly

Count your blessings, not your troubles. – Dale Carnegie

Chicks With Sticks - May 20th

The Parlor was humming on Wednesday evening.

Melanie is back. She came bearing three beautiful, finished afghans.
Barbara had stories to tell about her travels during her first week as a retired person. She showed us her first completed shawl and has plans for more to come.
Ellen knitted a mini-shawl and put it on a checked background for us to wear so people could “check us out”. Very clever!
Becky told us how thankful Kevin’s family was with the shawls they received last week. She’s knitting a beautiful shawl in West Point colors for a special individual in need.
Shirley is determined to get crocheting mastered! I think she’s about there.
Robin has the blue square afghan getting larger every week.

We missed you!

Healing prayers were said as we opened the evening.

We pray God will continue to bless us with the skill, talent, and love to make the items He leads us to create for those individuals in need. Only He knows who the recipients will be. As always, we enjoy the fellowship and laughter with each other during our time together; however, our main purpose is to create the items that will bring joy and healing to those in need.

New information has been posted around the church. The tack lines in the hallways have updated flyers.

We have a new web page at http://www.fumclv.org/prayer-shawls.html. Watch the bulletin and The Messenger for updates also.

Participation in the Prayer Shawl Ministry can occur on many levels. If you can’t be with us in The Parlor on Wednesday evenings, you can knit or crochet at home.

Patterns can be found on the Internet, mailed or e-mailed to you. There are also patterns in the dresser in The Parlor. Free patterns can be found online at Lion Brand Yarns (http://cache.lionbrand.com/freePatterns.html ), Caron (http://www.caron.com/free.html), crochet pattern central (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/) , and knitting pattern central (http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/ ).

We have yarn waiting to be used! Some of the yarn can be combined with other colors to make creative patterns. If you’re stuck on a stitch, we have expert knitters or crocheters who will gladly help you through a problem. Just ask.

If you have a special person who needs to be lifted up with one of the Prayer Shawls, and you have something special in mind, you can bring in the yarn and pattern you would like to have us use. We’ll get it done.


Love and blessings,

Beverly

Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.” – Dale Carnegie