One of the behind the scenes, less visible, yet important ministries of Good Shepherd is our Prayer Shawl Ministry. Many of you may not even be aware of this beautiful, creative ministry that touches both our members, and people in our greater community. Prayer shawls are simply knitted or chrocheted shawls that are lovingly made by members of our congregation to then be blessed by Fr. Gary and delivered to people in need of comfort. This ministry works in two ways; you can “make a shawl” to help others, or “take a shawl” to offer to others.
You may have noticed a lovely wooden cabinet that has been placed in the back of the Sanctuary. This will be our “new home” for this quiet ministry, and it will house all the instructions and supplies needed to create a shawl, or to find a shawl to take to others. Feel free to open the cabinet and take a look at its treasures!
Many of our knitters and crocheters find creating a prayer shawl to be a prayerful ministry, and they pray as they create their pieces. The strength of the prayers during creation of the piece, coupled with the formal blessing after creation is a means of making God’s love tangible to others in times of sickness or trouble.
Grant me patience as I create this shawl. And bless my handiwork as it travels to bring comfort and peace to someone in need of your warming embrace. Amen.
We offer a prayer shawl at the healing prayer station during in-person worship. Many of the prayers offered are for people outside our parish, and the shawls become a way of telling someone that they are held in prayer. Some of our prayer shawls have become features in local chemotherapy rooms, some have traveled across the country and to foreign countries.
"Shawls ... made for centuries universal and embracing,
symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God.
They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace,
mother, hug, shelter and beautify.
Those who have received these shawls have been
uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to
fly above their troubles..."
- Janet Severi Bristow, Co-Founder of the National Prayer Shawl Ministry