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