Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry (PSM) was created by Vicky Galo and Janet Bristow after completing the Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary to carry on the spirit of the class through a project.  They began by knitting shawls for breast cancer patients and new mothers.  The word of this new ministry spread.  In 1999, Susan S. Izard was the recipient of a shawl and this gift led to a shawl ministry centered in her church.  Together with Susan S. Jorgensen, Susan Izard authored a wonderful book, Knitting into the Mystery, which serves as a guide to a shawl knitting ministry.

As the shawl takes shape in the hands of the knitter, the knitter prays that the one who wears it will be wrapped in the love and prayers of our church community.  Each shawl is presented with a prayer and the name of the shawl’s creator.  One favorite shawl pattern is a knit 3, purl 3, with the number 3 representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Our PSM began about a year ago with a few tentative efforts.  But thanks to our “knitting guru”, Joyce Coon, and others, we have given ten prayer shawls to members of our congregation who have faced a crisis, a loss, or celebrated a baptism.

If you know how to knit, once knew how to knit, or just want to learn how to knit; please join us in this loving and very personal ministry.

As we knit, we will listen to music, pray together and share our lives with one another.

By Karin Robinson