Fall 2009 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

From left: Sister
Ella Germain, Helen
Hostart and Marilyn
Sikorski at the monthly
Prayer Shawl Ministry
meeting.
do now, but I still like to be useful.” Mildred
acknowledges that knowing its purpose
changes her involvement with the piece
she’s working on. “There’s an intention
I put into it, knowing it will bring joy
and warmth.”
Together, residents, volunteers and staff
keep a notebook of all the shawls that have
been made, and when and to whom each
has been given. The notebook contains
thank-you notes from recipients that are
filled with words of gratitude and hope.
“We want to keep the history of this
ministry,” said Waalen. “There are so many
meaningful stories and experiences from
both the knitters and the recipients.” She
tells about several, including shawls given
to a staff member who had surgery; a local
doctor whose wife gave birth to twins; a
resident who, after enduring a terminal
illness, passed away wrapped in her shawl;
and an infant who died far too young and
was buried with the prayer shawl given by
Deerfield residents and staff.
This past summer, the knitters learned
about a PHS Management & Services staff
member in Roseville, Minnesota who was
hospitalized with a serious injury. Although
they had never met the woman, they
selected a shawl, knit by Sister Ella, to send
with their deepest prayers, and with the
request that the Hamline corporate office
staff also bless and deliver it to her.
Sister Ella gathered up the chosen shawl
to be packaged with the printed blessing.
What began as three skeins of yarn,
into which she knit prayer, talent, and
grace, was now the soft wrap resting in
her creative hands for the last time. It
would soon be a warm comfort – tangible
evidence of prayer – in the life of someone
in need.
~CYNTHIA RAY
Prayer Shawl Blessing
May you feel God’s warm embrace as you wrap this
prayer shawl around you.
May you experience the comfort, strength and
love of God encircling you in good times as
well as difficult times.
May you be lifted up in hope, surrounded by joy,
graced with peace, and wrapped in love.
...the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
- PSALM 107:1
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FALL 2009