The Prayer Shawl Ministry is group of parishioners that meets regularly for support and community as well as to develop expressions of love and caring through yarn and handcrafts. Modeled after Prayer Shawl Ministries in other Churches, the needlework most frequently takes the form of a shawl that is then blessed and distributed to a member of the parish who is ill, going through chemotherapy or has suffered the loss of a loved one. The Saint Mary’s group is informal and simply enjoys being together to share our work, ideas, patterns, and successes as well as results that are less than successful. Advice and instruction are never far away! Attendance is not taken but a roster is maintained so that members may receive reminders of meeting dates or updates of current members who have asked to be remembered in prayer.
Since inception of the Ministry in 2014, parishioners who cannot physically join us have sent us beautifully finished shawls and lap robes to be blessed and distributed. Others have donated yarn, needles, instructions videos, pattern books and other items so that a beginner can start without incurring any cost. Some knitters have volunteered to give hands on instruction.
New members are always welcome! The meetings are held in the Parish Conference Room from 10:15 to 11:45 on the 2ndMonday of the month. In September we are expanding the meetings to the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.
Some members in the community have anonymously dropped off yarn and needles no longer used to the Pastoral Ministry Office for the uses of our Ministry. Another Anonymous Angel created BEAUTIFUL shawls with matching hats for blessing and distribution. We value your gifts! Angels from our Parish have taken Blessed Prayer Shawls to the Terraces, Cedar Creek and the Meadows as well as to the sick of our parish. Thank you! No one has to do it all – many are doing what they can. What a beautiful gift you are to our Parish! We have received so many donated patterns, instruction videos, needles and bundles of yarn that the knitters can produce the shawls at no expense to themselves! One of our members has volunteered for “on the job” instruction if someone is interested in joining us but is not sure of their knitting skills.
We welcome new members!
If you would like to receive a prayer shawl for a parishioner or loved one, please contact the parish office or 408 354-3726 ext. 110). Donations of yarn and supplies are happily accepted at the Pastoral Ministries office.