Comfort Shawl Ministry
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"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." Janet Bristow
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At Providence, we believe that a full Christian life—indeed, a full human life—includes prayer and worship, community and fellowship with others, the intellectual challenge of study, and service to those in need.
The Pastoral Care Committee at Providence continually seeks to identify the gaps that exist between our present reality and God's vision of the world and to enable members of the congregation to give of their time and talents to help narrow those gaps.
We hope that through involvement with the Comfort Shawl Ministry, you will feel God's call to serve others as a member of the Providence community. Come join us as we meet together to produce these shawls as a visible sign of our concern and care of our members and those outside the walls of our church. Please check the church calendar for the day and time of our meetings.
History of Providence Comfort Shawl Ministry
One of our members, while recovering from an accident, received a shawl from a friend whose church had a shawl ministry. The gesture was so unexpected and comforting that some members of Providence decided to research the origins of this type of outreach. In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo created their “Shawl Ministry” as a result of their experience at the Women’s Leadership Institute in Hartford, CT. That program exists today under that title and can be researched on the Shawl Ministry Web site.
The Comfort Shawl Ministry at Providence, draws on some of the aspects of the Shawl Ministry program. Members of the Comfort Shawl Ministry meet regularly to sew, knit or crochet at their own speed to produce these shawls of comfort for people who are undergoing physical or psychological stress in their lives.
During the making of these shawls, prayers are said and blessings invoked to travel with each shawl to its recipient. It is our prayer that these handmade items will make the love of God feel real to someone who is in need.
Uses of the Shawls:
- Medical Procedures
- After a loss
- Bereavement
- Meditation
- Birthing
- Baptism
- Illness and Recovery
- Ministry to Others
- Just because
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