While the Prayer Shawl Ministry at TCPC began in September 2007, the concept of the Prayer Shawl Ministry began in 1998 in Hartford, Connecticut, with a group that combined care and the love of knitting or crocheting into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. The website www.shawlministry.com is the source of patterns and prayers. Prayer for the recipient during the making of the shawl is a key concept. The hope for the prayer shawl is that it will bring comfort and remind the recipient of God’s love and of the love and support of the church community.
The prayer shawls go to church members and their family members in times of sickness, injury and death. Baby hats are knit for expectant mothers. We also honor special requests from the congregation and others who may have a friend, co-worker or family member in need. The members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry pray over the completed shawls and hats before delivery. A special card has been Prayer Shawl Ministrydeveloped with the church’s stain glass window on the cover.
Participants in the Prayer Shawl Ministry knit or crochet at home or in meetings at church on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8pm in the Work Room from fall through spring. In the summer, we meet once a month at a member’s home. Besides knitters/crochet-ers, we have volunteers who deliver prayer shawls and baby hats.
We welcome new members of all ages and all skill levels at any time of the year. We have excellent instructors in the group.
In the first year of this ministry, 95 shawls/baby hats were given; in year two, 132 shawls/baby hats were given; and so far in year three 14 shawls/baby hats have been given.
