Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is one of the ways we at St. Andrew’s Pray Continuously.
This ministry, which began several years ago, provides comfort to those in difficult or stressful situations (such as illness, grief, or the arrival of a new baby) through the gift of a prayer shawl. These beautiful shawls are knitted or crocheted especially for each recipient.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is in need of a few more knitters and crocheters. We invite you to attend our weekly fellowship time where we knit and pray and encourage one another.
If it is not possible to attend, and you like to knit or crochet, please consider “joining” us while you knit at home.
Please contact Natalie Kinkel for the patterns we use and for more information. We meet from 1:45 - 3:00 pm on Wednesdays and from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Saturdays in room 211. Please join us!
"When I joined the St. Andrew's prayer shawl group a few years ago, I was introduced to a group of people who make knitted ( or crocheted) shawls for anyone who needs comfort in times of illness or grief, or just to celebrate that person. As a full-time student, I was concerned that my school schedule wouldn't allow me to participate, but found that the group meets twice a week, one of which is Saturday. When I was asked to lead the Saturday group, I was really excited. I've even attended a prayer shawl workshop!
If you feel led to be part of this ministry, feel free to visit us soon!"-Natalie Zieske
Prayer shawls are different from other knitting in a few ways. The purpose of a prayer shawl is to give someone who is suffering a tangible example of God's love and care. The shawl is made of soft yarn so the recipient can wrap up in it and feel God's arms around him or her. A prayer shawl is knit with prayer. Knitters pray before, during, and after they work on the shawl. Sometimes we know who we are knitting for, and sometimes we don't, but we pray for the person just the same.
Giving a shawl is a very moving experience. We have given them to new mothers, grieving mothers, grieving widows, brides, people moving, people struggling with chronic illnesses, people with injuries, and people we just thought needed to be reminded that God really cares about them.
After Hurricane Katrina, we were contacted by a lady in Florida who was in a Prayer Shawl Ministry there. She had about 10 shawls that were unspoken for and said God put it on her heart to give them to the Katrina survivors. Her pastor advised her to get on the Internet and search for a Presbyterian church in Houston that had a prayer shawl ministry. She contacted us and sent the shawls.
Julie Giles, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, started St. Andrew's Prayer Shawl Ministry in March of 2004. A friend had rekindled her interest in knitting, which she hadn't done since she was a child. After knitting a scarf for everyone she knew for Christmas, Julie began to feel like God wanted her to keep knitting, but do a little more with it. She found out about prayer shawl ministries, talked to Pastor Jane about it, and set up the meeting. The rest, as they say, is history. Our prayer shawl ministry has made shawls for over 180 people in the past six years.