Several women meet regularly at the Gilroy Presbyterian Church
to carry on a new ministry. They call it
”
Graceful Stitches,
”
and their goal is to help comfort people stricken by illness or
injury.
Several women meet regularly at the Gilroy Presbyterian Church to carry on a new ministry. They call it “Graceful Stitches,” and their goal is to help comfort people stricken by illness or injury.
This Prayer Shawl Ministry is based on the work of two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut: Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo.
“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 …”
Last November, Gilroyan Denise Dowd read about this ministry and mentioned it to other women at Gilroy Presbyterian. They formed a group, and in February of this year Graceful Stitches began meeting at 7pm on the second and fourth Thursdays each month at the church, 6000 Miller Ave.
Between eight and 20 gather, ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens. Their experience levels at knitting, crocheting and loom knitting range from months to decades. But they are united in their enthusiasm for creating beautiful handmade shawls to be given away to people who are suffering.
Often the women know in advance the person for whom the shawl is intended. Other times they begin knitting and then a name is suggested, someone who could benefit from receiving this work of compassionate art.
What makes the shawls unique is that they are created as much with prayer as with yarn. Each knitter meditates about the situation of the recipient and prays for his or her needs, including that “God’s grace will be upon this shawl, warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing.”
A variety of people have already been touched by this ministry, including a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy, a young man seriously hurt in an automobile accident, a woman pregnant with a baby who has a terminal birth defect and a hepatitis patient.
Each shawl is presented personally to the recipient along with a certificate containing the following prayer: “May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope, kept in joy, graced with peace and wrapped in love.”
Graceful Stitches is an outreach ministry to the South County community, and new members are invited to join. Members enjoy their evenings together talking, praying, supporting each other as they increase their skills. People new to knitting or crocheting will find a welcoming group which is glad to help improve abilities. Transportation can be arranged for women who need help getting to the meetings.
Also, if you know about someone who is going through a health struggle and would appreciate a tangible symbol of prayer and God’s love, call (408) 842-3000. Since members buy the yarn for these shawls, residents who would like to support this ministry through the gift of unwanted yarn are invited to call the number above.
