Shawl Ministry

Reprinted with permission from
www.shawlministry.com

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 © 2004

About The Shawls...

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 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.

Whether they are called "Prayer Shawls," "Comfort Shawls," "Peace Shawls," or "Mantles," to name just a few, the knitter begins each shawl with prayers and blessings 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 on its way. 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!

Some uses for the shawl...

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.

Stories and Inspiration

We had our start-up meeting of the Shawl Ministry last night. Ten women came, ready
to start.. One of the women (Carolyn) had received a shawl when she was going through breast cancer and was now making a shawl for someone. She wasn't aware of an appropriate recipient at the time she began the shawl but after our first Health Care Ministry meeting, after I asked for prayers for my brother Frank, who was dying of cancer, she realized who that shawl was for. She called me up and asked me if I would like the shawl for Frank. I was thrilled, and I will ask my brother if, when I give him the shawl, Carolyn can come with me.

She finished the shawl, praying for Frank and his family and brought it to the meeting last night. Our pastor came over to say hello to us and we started our ministry by blessing the first shawl for my brother.

A newly widowed friend was left off at her house on a very cold, winter night. She said that she would be okay because she could wrap herself in her shawl that comforts her so much when she's alone with her thoughts.

A recent divorcee keeps her shawl, made for her by her friends, always nearby for comfort.

This web site had a profound effect on my life. I came upon it by accident. I was up early Sunday morning. I was not feeling well and decided to amuse myself on line. I am a 58 year young female. I have Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s and just had surgery on Jan 6th. I had a tumor on my appendix that encompassed the colon and both ovaries. I had a third of my colon, appendix and both ovaries removed. I went in to the operation thinking that I had cancer. I was at peace with it all. The good news was that it was not cancer. I am getting stronger everyday.

I am Jewish and I am a knitter. I have knitted things my whole life and given them as gifts. In 1986 I had a near death experience. I saw the light, heard the music and met my father again. I also knew that I was in the presence of God. I was told that I had to go back to my body. I had a mission to accomplish on earth. I think that I have finally found my mission. Being Jewish, I am quite familiar with pray shawls. Men cover their heads and shoulders and pray with the shawl on. Women also are wearing pray shawls to pray. The idea spoke to me about wearing them for nursing, cancer patients, to heal etc. I know that it would comfort me. I have so many challenges in my life right now. The one thing that I do know is that to give something so inspiring, made with love and full of good thoughts, is a most wonderful gift to give. I just wanted to let you know that I am going to try to gather special people to do this wonderful mitzvoth. I think that it was meant to be that I should find you, most wonderful angels. Judith J.

How to begin a Shawl Ministry Program in your community
By Janet Bristow & Victoria Cole-Galo

If you belong to a faith community, find out if this ministry could be introduced there. If you will be bringing this to the community in which you live, find a space that would accommodate your needs, such as library, community center, senior center, or continuing adult education center. It’s helpful to have a core group of a few interested people to discuss how to envision this ministry. It is important to have a person willing to coordinate and administer the details of this ministry.

Place an ad in your church bulletin, newsletter, local newspaper, community center, library, senior center, or continuing adult education office brochures or publications. Make a flyer and/or sign-up sheet to post on bulletin boards at the above locations.

It’s helpful to have a shawl on display. If possible, give or arrange to give a workshop to begin the ministry. Workshop flyers should contain all the pertinent information such as supplies needed, where, when, contact person, etc. Small groups can meet in private homes, either as part of the larger group or if you have a small number of knitters.

Decide if you will meet to knit in the mornings, evenings or both. At your first meeting, discuss who the recipients will be. Will you be offering the shawls to the members of your faith community, local hospital, hospice, shelter, or charity? Get suggestions from clergy, pastoral care team, social worker, parish nurse, or members of your community. Sometimes you will know whom the shawl is for; sometimes you won’t. It’s good to have a number of shawls on hand, available to staff and those who might be visiting someone in the hospital, nursing home, or at home. If you’ll be supplying shawls on a monthly basis to a shelter, hospital, or oncology center, inquire about the number of shawls that would be required, and decide if you will be able to meet those needs.

As this is a prayerful process, remember to begin each gathering, planning meeting or knitting circle with some type of ritual, prayer or blessing. Encourage participants to write their own prayer; or write a group prayer that you can include with each shawl.

Prayer Shawl Workshop

“You created every part of me, knitting me in my Mother’s womb.
For such handiwork, I praise You. Awesome this great wonder!”
Psalm 139:13-14

This workshop is highly recommended as a model for groups who want to bring the Prayer Shawl Ministry to their faith communities. Each group that has embraced this ministry adapts it to their own particular guidelines. Besides providing comfort during illness or grief, the shawls can be given for times of joy and celebration, such as: nursing shawls for new mothers, baptisms, birthdays, bridal gifts, ordinations, upon entering a nursing home, rites of passage, etc.

Some have a handful of knitters with their own small ministries coming together monthly to knit shawls for outreach to their church families and community. Other groups meet in private homes, knit according to their own schedules, and then, occasionally, come together with the larger group.

This ministry is very adaptable!

The workshop experience is about 3 hours in length, depending on the number of participants and scheduling for lunch/break. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch and the host group supplies beverages and desserts. Also, each participant should bring yarn, needle/hooks, a votive candle and holder either brought from home, or the host group can provide them as a gift. Our group provides folders of information and prayers for each person, as well as resource information and instruction for new knitters.

The workshop can be planned as an interfaith event, bringing together people of various religions for an ecumenical gathering. A hosting group can sponsor the event extending the workshop invitation to faith communities in their area. It becomes a wonderful opportunity to meet your neighbors!

For further details - please contact:
Janet Bristow