Led by Women
"With a prayer shawl ministry, care and the love of knitting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!" (www.shawlministry.com)
Ready: Learning about prayer shawlsThe roots of the Prayer Shawl Ministry
throughout the Winston-Salem Convocation
extend deep into the community to The Faith Leader Training Program (FLTP)
of the Domestic Violence Community Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County,
North Carolina. FLTP was established in 2001 by a group of local community
members and faith leaders with two goals in mind: (1) building and sustaining
bridges between community systems and clergy and lay leaders in area churches,
synagogues, and mosques, and (2) improving the lives of county residents affected
by domestic violence.
Representing their respective churches, Anne Butler of St. Paul's in Winston-Salem (who also has a seat on the Diocesan ECW Executive Board), and Linda Winikoff of St. Anne's in Winston-Salem have been active members of the FLTP since it began. The following initiatives have resulted from their work with this program:
Set: Many skeins of yarn were donated for the prayer shawl
projectIn 2004, two resolutions were presented
and passed at the Annual Diocesan
Convention of the Episcopal Diocese
of North Carolina:
- On the Pledge of Non-violence
- On Clergy and Laity Training on Intimate Partner Violence
In 2005, the Episcopal Church Women's Harris-Evans Conference focused on domestic violence. In discussing action steps for responding to this critical issue, the idea of knitting prayer shawls for residents of battered women shelters was raised up and embraced.
Done: Just a few of the prayer shawls made by women and men of the
Winston-Salem ConvocationIn 2006, Anne and Linda developed the idea of a Prayer Shawl Ministry for
the entire Winston-Salem Convocation where it was
presented as a Lenten discipline. The plan was that every Tuesday night during
Lent, knitters and crocheters of all skill levels would meet to make the shawls.
Those unable to attend the meetings were given instructions about how to proceed
on their own. Before the shawls were delivered they were blessed by a priest.
The ministry took on a life of its own with the number of participants -- male and female -- nearing 100. And it has gone beyond Lent. Members of the convocation have agreed to continue their knitting and crocheting, though on a periodic basis. The recipients of their handiwork will vary. Moreover, they are offering their comprehensive Prayer Shawl Ministry how-to packet to all -- click below.
Full Information on the Prayer Shawl Ministry
