Sardis Presbyterian Church

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Wednesday evenings

4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Dining Room

The “Praying Hands” Prayer Shawl Ministry

All knitters, experienced or novice, and those interested in learning to knit, are invited to join the Prayer Shawl Ministry. This ministry knits shawls and lap robes which are blessed and given to members who are grieving, recovering from surgery, homebound, or otherwise in need of comfort.

Please join us on Wednesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. in the Dining Room for an hour of fun, fellowship, and service. Experienced knitters are happy to provide instruction for beginners. If you knit but your schedule doesn’t allow you to join us you can also consider knitting a shawl for this ministry as your time allows. Contact Mary Ann Norris with any questions: 704‐364‐2170.

About The Shawls

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.

Care and the love of knitting (and crochet) have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way.

As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need.

Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!

Besides knit and crochet; the shawls can be

woven, sewn, quilted, machine knitted, etc.

Some uses for the shawl

Undergoing medical procedures; as a comfort after a loss, during bereavement, prayer or meditation, commitment or marriage ceremonies, birthing, nursing a baby; as a bridal shower gift; leading ritual; first menses or croning rites of passage, during an illness and recovery; ministering to others or just socializing...There are endless possibilities!

To make a shawl personal, the giver or the recipient may want to adorn the shawl with beads, shells, feathers and charms. A blessing or ritual maybe offered when the gift is presented.

“For more information contact Renda Brinson, Director of Christian Education, renda.brinson@sardis.org 704-926-1585 “