In Irish Encounter, Ellen Shepherd crochets and leads a prayer shawl ministry for her church and community. FYI, I do, too, but I’m not the inspiration for Ellen.
Our ministry has given away shawls to people who are undergoing chronic illnesses or experiencing grief or who experiencing great change. We’ve sent them to almost fifteen states and out of the country as well.
We don’t send them as agents with healing power, however. We send them as tangible evidence of God’s love. While we crochet or knit, we pray for the person who will eventually receive the shawl–unless we’re crocheting together. Then we enjoy verbal fellowshipping.
Our group is a multi-generational one that includes people with diverse backgrounds. We’ve even had a shawl crocheted by a male. For the record, I’m talking about one of my sons, but he asked. I didn’t make him.
Take a look here for free patterns and tips about the ministry:
http://www.shawlministry.com/instructions.html
I like using the Caron Simply Soft brand with a G-sized hook. The measurements of mine are usually twenty inches by sixty, but some people crochet lap blankets instead of shawls. We make bigger ones for men and smaller ones for babies.
This ministry is a blessing to the people who receive the shawls as well as to those of us who create them.
Do you have a favorite church ministry? Tell us why.
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