Weekly Article

Shawl Ministry celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this week. It’s a bit surreal to realize that we’ve been knitting and crocheting and praying and bagging and giving away cozy shawls nearly every month for the past 20 years – a total of 2,000 shawls! And that doesn’t count the dozens of baptism blankets or the dorm blankets we make for Derry’s graduating high school seniors. 

In that time we’ve sent completed shawls across the country and around the world. Some people who received one in the early years are now receiving a second shawl. Each shawl is a labor of love created by one of our talented makers. Several in our group are not Derry members, but have found us online and mail in shawls or bring them to our regular gatherings on the second Monday of the month. 

You may remember the Gospel miracle when Jesus turns jugs of water into fine wine at a wedding feast. That story of a miracle that starts from the most basic elements is one of the things I think about as we work on and pray over our handmade shawls. We begin with soft fibers: yarn hooked or knit into a pleasing pattern. As we work, we pray for the person who will receive the shawl. When we’re done making a shawl, more blessings happen as we pass each completed shawl around our circle. Then the shawls are bagged and delivered to someone in need. Usually it’s one of our own Deacons who makes the delivery.

We pray and we send, and we move on to the next shawl. Once in a while that miracle happens: we receive a note or hear from one of our recipients. “How did you know that blue was my favorite color?” “I took the shawl with me to the hospital.” “I really feel God’s presence when I’m wearing my shawl.” “I can’t believe someone made this just for me.” 

We read the notes at our gatherings: these are holy moments. What begins with a slip of yarn and a twist of a needle ends in reaffirming that God knows us, loves us, cares for us. Sometimes I can hardly believe this small soft thing has made such a big difference. In these moments I know God has used us for good, and we are the ones who have been blessed as much or more than the recipients themselves. 

I am grateful to the  women and men through the years who have supported this ministry with their time and talents and their generous gifts of yarn and donations. I don’t think God is done with us yet, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this meaningful ministry. Let me know if you’d like to join us as we knit and crochet and pray our way into our third decade.