A Prayerful Ministry

All over the country, stitchers are joining together to create prayer shawls for community members in need. A prayer-shawl is a gift that is handcrafted with prayers and good wishes, and wrapped in love to bring comfort to the recipient -- which also brings blessings to the donor since she participated in a community gift.

Making a prayer shawl gives us time to reflect on how fortunate we are to be blessed with the talent of crochet and our abilities to share this gift with others.

I would like to interject a personal note here: I participate in the prayer shawl ministry at the First Mennonite Church here in Berne, Ind. It is a wonderful experience to gather together with others to discuss patterns and colors and needs within the community as the stitches fly from our fingers. Recently, I had some health issues myself and was presented with a beautiful purple, brown and soft white bobbled shawl -- these ladies know my colors! -- by my group. Wearing this shawl while I visited the doctor's offices and received treatments was such a loving experience! Crochet may not heal all wounds, but it certainly helps make things feel better!