OSL News
Prayer Cloth Ministry - A follow up to our Sharing article
The recent, Nov/Dec 2010 SHARING Journal, article on The Ministry of the Prayer Cloth was very interesting. Something seemingly as simple as a small square of ‘blessed’ cloth and the impact it has on the lives of the folks who are recipients truly does bring to light the healing ministry of our Lord. I would like to share the story of our similar outreach ministry.
Two years ago our Albemarle Chapter in Hertford, N.C., began a Hands & Heart Outreach Ministry of providing prayer shawls and lap robes to adults and small blankets and prayer bears to young children who were going through difficult times in their life (physical and emotional issues, grief, etc.). The items are prayerfully knitted or crocheted by the members of our chapter and later blessed by our local OSL chaplain. A prayer sheet accompanies each hand knitted item. The response from the recipients has been heart warming.
Our original project has expanded in outreach that touches many more people than our parish family and friends. We now also knit and crochet small ‘prayer squares’. The squares are generally 4-5 inches in size----perfect to carry in a purse, fit in a pocket or hold onto for comfort and support. The overall square size, the numbers of stitches, the color of yarn, a small wooden cross along with an attached prayer tag, all have religious significance. These small woven prayer squares symbolize the ever-present love of God…something tangible to bring awareness to the healing power of Christ still at work in the world today, and it is a reminder that friends in Christ are keeping the person in prayer for healing and wholeness.
The prayer tag:
We pray for you strength for today,
serene hope in tomorrow,
and healing in all ways.
Periodically we send “peace squares” to military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military chaplains there distribute to those active in the war zones, and to the wounded and recovering individuals in hospitals.
The prayer tag:
We pray for PEACE, your safety and well-being.
Twenty individual service personnel, who are friends and family of our parish members and for whom we pray for weekly, have all received “peace squares”, along with a copy of the prayer for the military, as found in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
We also provide “friendship squares” to our local Hospice center that are given to family members of decedents at an annual memorial service.
The prayer tag:
Blessed are the sorrowful;
they shall find consolation.
Matthew 5:4
Actually we are currently sending out more prayer squares than prayer shawls. I would estimate some 350 prayer squares are in circulation from our group in just this two year period of time.
The small prayer square that is stitched with heartfelt prayers and given with love and compassion from one to another is truly a healing ministry. We are ONE with the Divine “Master Weaver”.
The possibilities of outreach in healing ministry are endless. The Holy Spirit directs, and uses us in His service, where needed. Thanks be to God...
Liz Foster, Assistant Convener
Click here to read the original article in Sharing