St. Paul's United Methodist Church
at 12 Marlborough Street in historic Newport, Rhode Island
Prayer Shawl Ministry at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
About the Shawl
In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997
Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary
in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of
their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality
under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.
Care and the love of knitting (and crochet) 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.
As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need.
Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!
Besides knit and crochet; the shawls can be woven, sewn, quilted, machine knitted, etc.
Undergoing
medical procedures; as a comfort after a loss, during bereavement,
prayer or meditation, commitment or marriage ceremonies, birthing,
nursing a baby; as a bridal shower gift; leading ritual; first
menses or croning rites of passage, during an illness and
recovery; ministering to others or just socializing...There
are endless possibilities!
To make a shawl personal, the giver or the recipient may want to adorn the shawl with beads, shells, feathers and charms.
A blessing or ritual maybe offered when the gift is presented.
"Shawls ... made for centuries
universal and embracing,
symbolic of an inclusive,
unconditionally loving, God.
They wrap, enfold,
comfort, cover, give
solace, mother, hug,
shelter and beautify.
Those who have
received these shawls
have been uplifted and affirmed,
as if given wings to fly
above their troubles…”
Janet Bristow
-1998
Copyright
2008
We invite you to join with us for the Prayer Shawl Ministry on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Pastor's Study at St. Paul's.
For more information go to the Shawl
Ministry Website:
www.shawlministry.com