Halloween Knitters and Crocheters

Prayer Shawl Ministry. Knitting and crocheting ladies on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2012.

Kathy, Barbara, Gail, Jan, June and Alyce (standing).

Father Karl Schray blesses our most recent shawls
and applies Holy water to each one.

 

Peace and Blessings.

 



Our Prayer Shawl Ministry To Date

Last week we welcomed a new member, Kathy, to our group and enjoyed her presence again this week. She says she will keep coming.

Knitted Boucle' shawl

Forgot to take a camera to our Prayer Shawl Ministry group this morning, but have added these few photos. To date, from Holy Redeemer we've given away 85 shawls and have many in our storage box ready for presentation. Most were blessed by our priest with about six more waiting to be blessed.

Bernie came by to tell us that her niece, Jan, lost her battle with cancer yesterday. Bernie wanted to tell us her niece said it brought comfort being wrapped in the blessed prayer and how much it meant to her. Bernie encouraged us to keep moving forward with this excellent ministry.

In a similar story, an adult son once told me that his deceased mother's young granddaughter now had her prayer shawl and loved it as something that her grandmother had cherished. 

We selected a shawl to give to Bernie, and one for our prayer shawl member, Barbara, who recently lost her husband. We pray these shawls bring comfort and peace to those who receive them.

Sweet crocheted baby blanket.

Gail also took two baby blankets and two nursing shawls to present to two twin sisters who are both pregnant and due soon.

We welcome anyone of any affiliation who wants to knit or crochet with us.

Shawl in soft baby colors will be a
nursing shawl for a new mother.

Peace & Blessings.

Crocheted baby blanket in lovely pastels.



Prayer Shawl Ministry with Seven Attendees Today

Prayer Shawl Ministry women having fun at Holy Redeemer Church in the Rectory on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 from 10am to noon. Anyone is welcome to join us. If you don't know how to knit or crochet, we will teach you.

From left: Mary, Marilyn, Barbara, Alyce, June, Jan. Gail's behind the camera.
Marilyn knits children's hats to be donated. The rest of us are doing shawls.



Sharing Patterns

A recently completed triangle shawl knitted in soft Boucle yarn.
Most of our shawls have a symbol on them.
This one has a silver heart.

Peace & Blessings.

Small Group Today, May 30, 2012

I didn't remember my camera last week when we had a larger group. Today, there were four of us. We are back in the Rectory and, as you can see, we have fun at our Prayer Shawl Ministry. It blesses us as much as it blesses those who receive the knitted or crocheted shawls.

Even when there are only four of us, we have fun!
 Jan and Mary are folding and stacking shawls and lap robes
neatly in the storage cabinet designed just for them.

Alyce gets down to the business of knitting
while Mary and Jan clown around a bit. Smile.
We are so happy to have Alyce back with us. After
snow birding in Arizona all winter, she's back in Oregon.



Some shawls and lap robes waiting to be blessed.
Father Karl has been away and some have built up since he left.
He flew to Portland yesterday and is driving back to North Bend today.

 Peace & Blessings!

Prayer Shawl Knitters & Crocheters

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, we met in the Parish Hall since the Rectory is being painted.

Gini, Barbara, Mary, Jan and June in Holy Redeemer Parish Hall,
knitting and crocheting on Wed., 5/2/12. Gail is behind camera.

Barbara's recently finished crocheted shawl. Beautiful!
Navy blue on table is a laprobe in progress.

Gini working on a striped laprobe.

Jan and June.

Small groups like this are wonderful opportunities for
friendships to form, offering healthy interaction and support.

We assist one another with our projects and other things.
Smile.

Consider starting a Prayer Shawl Ministry at your church. The benefits far exceed the wonderful shawls that are presented to the ill and grieving.

Peace and Blessings to you and yours.

St. Monica's Prayer Shawl Ministry Group

Photos of Saturday knitters at St. Monica's Catholic Parish in Coos Bay, Oregon.



Father Paul at St. Monica's Parish blessing the
Prayer Shawl Knitters and Crocheters who were present at that Mass.

Sprinkling them with Holy Water.

Father Paul in background. Prayer Shawl Ministry
participants at their monthly Saturday morning meeting
 held at St. Monica's Catholic Church in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Same day. Photo taken from opposite side of the room.

Participation is not limited to either Parish, or even to just Catholics. This ministry welcomes all people who want to knit or crochet. Most of us work on Prayer Shawls that are blessed and presented to the sick or grieving, since that's our focus.

However, it isn't a requirement. Many also knit baby blankets and hats, many of which are sent for children in Afghanistan or to others in need. We also welcome those who want to learn to knit or crochet.

Peace & Blessings!

Current Prayer Shawls

Our newest member, June, knitting
two strands into a soft, heavy lap robe.

Knitters and crocheters at Holy Redeemer Wednesday morning, April 25, 2012, in the Rectory living area. Next Monday the Rectory is going to be painted. For the next two Wednesdays, Prayer Shawl Ministry participants will meet in the Parish Hall at 10:00 a.m. instead of in the Rectory. 

Barbara, June and Jan

Mary and Barbara

Jan's current project. She also makes beautiful cards to
accompany the shawls and lap robes.

Barbara crocheting a baby blanket.

Gail with a recently completed triangle
shawl.

Back of the same triangle shawl.

Our shawls get a symbol of faith stitched on them.
Some have an added bead like this one
with a blue bead and a cross.

PEACE & BLESSINGS!

SHAWLS IN PROGRESS

Prayer Shawl Ministry at Holy Redeemer on March 7, 2012.

Red shawl in back is knitted.
Intricate pink shawl in front is crocheted.

 

Barbara is one of our most productive knitters.

   

Just arriving. Minnett and Jan haven't even removed
their coats yet. Barbara arrived before everyone and is
already busily knitting.

Jan, Minnett, Barbara and Mary about to begin.
Gail is behind the camera.

Sample yarns donated to our ministry. Comparing
color choices and deciding which to knit or crochet next.

Three of the most recent shawls.

Prayer Shawl Knitters and Crocheters

WELCOME!

Jan, Mary and Barbara

Some participants in The Daughters of St. Therese Prayer Shawl Ministry,   Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Barbara, Mary, Mary and Jan.

Six ladies were present, including the camera woman who knits too.

Many who are unable to attend at Holy Redeemer on Wednesday mornings, or at St. Monica's one Saturday a month, still knit or crochet at home. Many donate their time and talent to this ministry to bring encouragement and comfort to those who are ill or grieving.

Barbara, Mary, Mary, Jan and Minnett in the Rectory at
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, North Bend, Oregon.
Empty chair at window is Gail's, acting as photographer.

Peace & Blessings!

A Loving Ministry

To date knitters and crocheters in this Prayer Shawl Ministry have freely presented sixty-seven (67) blessed prayer shawls. Each was offered as comfort to those who are sick, grieving or suffering emotional pain.

Jan's wonderful hand made cards are chosen to coordinate with the shawls.

Although the cards we send with each shawl may differ on the outside, most have the same blessing inside.

Prayer Shawl Blessing

God’s blessings and grace are upon this shawl

To warm, comfort, enfold and encourage you.

May this mantle be a safe haven for you –

A witness to the sacred touch of

God’s secure love for your well-being.

May it sustain and embrace you in

Both good times and difficult ones.

Upon receiving this shawl,

May you be nurtured with Joy,

Cradled in Hope,

Graced with Peace

 and

Wrapped in Love.

 V

God bless those who have, or will receive them, those who create them, and those who deliver them.

Peace and Love to All.

Last Year's Knitters and Crocheters of Prayer Shawls

From left to right: Marilyn, Jan, Carole, Mary, Sally & Minnett.
Empty chair is for Gail, acting as photographer.

Box to hold shawls was built and donated to Prayer Shawl Ministry
by Bud Bradley of Holy Redeemer Parish.

Inside lid is a holder for the Record Book.
The sign in front reads:

"Remember:
Register outgoing
Shawls in this Book
 to avoid duplications.
Thank you!"

More Shawls Knitted With Love and Prayers

Shawls about to be blessed at a Holy Redeemer Mass.

Prayer Shawl Ministries are non-denominational. Many Christian churches throughout the world have formed them. 

Knitters and Crocheters volunteer their time, and many also contribute the yarn that goes into the shawls. Some groups accept donations of yarn and other knitting supplies.

Every group operates autonomously with one thing in common: the shawls are never sold. They are knitted or crocheted with prayers for the recipient and given away after being blessed.  Prayer Shawls are meant to show comfort and caring to those who receive them.

 

Shawls arranged before Mass.
Candles not yet lit and overhead lights not on yet. 

More shawls added to be blessed at Mass.

A storage chest made and donated to hold our Prayer Shawls.

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Jan modeling a newly completed long knit shawl.

Sally working on a shawl at a
Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting in
Holy Redeemer's Rectory.

A blue triangle shawl, knitted with double yarn.

A red triangle shawl knit in "Soft" Red Heart yarn.

Another version of a triangle shawl. In this case, there
wasn't enough dark pink to complete it, so light pink was added.
Turned out rather nicely.

Gail models a shawl knit lengthwise.
Many shawls are knit from the short
end. These stripes are created by
 knitting the long edge instead.

Front view of same long shawl.
Knit in Homespun of various colors,
a great way to make use of extra yarns.

Peace & Blessings to You

and on all you do in emulation of Christ,

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.