Woven in Prayer, Wrapped in Love
Dearborn First UMC Prayer Shawl Ministry provides love and comfort for many.
Dearborn First UMC has a long tradition of compassionate hand-crafting
Dearborn First UMC is blessed to have members of our faith community who are gifted with abilities to make hand-crafted needlework items - quilters, seamstresses, knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, and even folks skilled at tatting lace and hooking rugs. Many have used their skills over the years to create items out of compassion for others - quilts for Linus Project, hats, mittens and scarves for Cass Community Social Services, walker and wheel chair bags, not to mention the Festival of Quilts, the proceeds from which went to local and global charities.
And for the last 13+ years - prayer shawls, lap robes and infant baptism blankets as part of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
What is a Prayer Shawl?
A prayer shawl is a shawl or lap blanket, lovingly knitted, crocheted, or woven, to provide warmth, comfort, reassurance, and hope to those who receive them.
A prayer shawl ministry is a blessing not only for those receiving a shawl, but for those making them, as well. As the shawl is created, the shawl maker adds their love and prayers with each stitch, knowing that it will soon wrap another person in love.
How did the Prayer Shawl concept begin?
The concept of a prayer shawl ministry began in 1998 by Janet Severi Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.
How does a Prayer Shawl Ministry Work?
Prayer shawl ministry combines the love of knitting and crocheting, with the love of reaching out to others in caring compassion. The shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient. The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way.
Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!
Prayer shawls await dedication to God in worship so they may be delivered to those needing comfort. (Photo credit: Kirstin Karoub)
How does the Prayer Shawl Ministry work at Dearborn First UMC?
Once prayer shawls are dedicated to God in worship, they are placed in resealable bags and can be found on standing shelves against the wall behind the Welcome Center. Prayer shawls are on top, and lap robes are on the bottom shelf. Baby blankets are kept in Pastor David’s office.
Prayer shawls are available to members and friends of the Dearborn First UMC faith community, to be picked up and delivered to a person who needs healing and/or comfort*. (see note below)
To request a prayer shawl or lap robe*, contact Jan Houston, the coordinator of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
To sign out and deliver a prayer shawl, feel free to choose one from the shelf. You will find a clipboard with a sign-out sheet.
Please write your name and the name of the person receiving the shawl or lap robe. This helps avoid too many shawls going to the same person.
To make and donate prayer shawls, lap robes, or baby blankets, you can find free patterns and detailed instructions here.
Feel free to use any weight yarn - please make sure it is machine-washable. Shawls and lap robes can be any color or pattern, but the warmer, cozier patterns work best.
Finished items can be brought to the church office during business hours (M - Th, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.), or contact Jan Houston to make arrangements.
DONATIONS OF YARN are also gladly accepted!
Dearborn First UMC and its congregation are grateful for this ministry, and for the countless hours poured into making each item. May the ripple effect of blessings flow from maker to giver to receiver and onward, so that they may continue to strengthen and nurture others in the years to come.
*PLEASE NOTE: Requests are honored based on availability. Due to the scope of this ministry, we can not accommodate mailing requests or custom orders. Shawls vary in colors, sizes and patterns.
“As you wrap yourself in this shawl of comfort, may the Mother of Mercy, Father of Faithfulness and Spirit of Compassion wrap you in their all-encompassing love this day.”
