Methodist women minister through prayer shawls

Tag : shawls

Published: November 02, 2008 09:36 pm
Methodist women minister through prayer shawls BY FRANK SOJAK
The Tribune-Democrat

Women at five United Methodist churches

in the Johnstown area are the needle and thread that God hascreated to bring his warmth to people.

The women are crocheting and knitting prayer shawls that theydonate to people facing sad times or celebrating joyous ones.

The women started their cooperative Prayer Shawl Ministry a yearago and so far have made nearly 700 of them. Most stay in thisregion but many have been delivered to people throughout the UnitedStates and other countries. Military personnel also have receivedthe shawls.

Before being delivered, the shawls are blessed by a pastor during aservice at each church – Garfield Street United Methodist inMorrellville; Albright United Methodist and Bowserdale UnitedMethodist, both in Tanneryville; Cramer United Methodist in Cramer;and Jackson-Mount Olive United Methodist in Jackson Township.

Parishioners at each church hold hands to signify that the entirecongregation supports the ministry, said Thelma Griffith, theministry’s coordinator who started the program.

The women make the shawls in various colors schemes in their homesand pray for the recipients while doing so. The recipients aremembers of all faiths, she said.

“It’s a way to reach out to people,” she said.“It’s a tangible expression of our love for otherpeople.”

Darlene Shingler, coordinator at the Cramer church, said it’samazing how the shawls benefit people.

“Some use it during their prayer time while others use it ifthey feel cold,” she said. “But everyone tells us thatwhen they put it on, they can feel God’s comfort.”

Adalee Lambing, assistant coordinator at Mount Olive, said theshawls are meaningful.

“People who believe that prayer helps in any circumstancefeel a closeness to God through the prayers that have been placedduring the making of the shawl,” she said.

She said her church’s coordinator, Sharon Allison, does afine job of organizing their role in the ministry.

Betty Adams, coordinator for the Albright church, said the shawlsshow people experiencing a difficult time that others care aboutthem.

“It not only touches the person who receives it, buteverybody in the person’s family,” she said.

Robin Rummel, coordinator at the Bowserdale church, said the shawlsalso are given to people during joyous occasions.

“It shows them that people are thinking about them and wantto share in their joy,” she said.

Shirley Wasilisian, coordinator for the Garfield Street church,said the women in all five churches are devoted to making theshawls.

“I am most humbled that God would allow us to be part of thisministry so that we could be touching lives,” she said.

For their efforts, the five, all Johnstown area residents, are thePersons of the Week.
• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.