SCI's Christmas Gift Drive - The Seamen's Church Institute

Need...Patterns?Yarn?Readyto mail?Christmas At SeaJeanette DeVitaProgram Director212-349-9090cas@seamenschurch.orghttp://blogs.seamenschurch.orgFall 2008, Published byThe Seamen’s Church Instituteof New York & New Jersey241 Water StreetNew York, NY 10038www.seamenschurch.orgThe Rev. David M. RiderExecutive DirectorDesign & Production by J F Arnold Groupat SeaBettie Rile of Ridgewood, NJ, seems to attract knitters wherever she goes.Coordinator of a popular Christmas at Sea (CAS) knitting group based outof her parish church, Christ Church Ridgewood, Bettie’s charisma draws around40 members from all over her community to participate in the project ofknitting scarves and hats for mariners around the world through TheSeamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) knitting program.Knitting for Christmas at Sea...Like good stewards of the manifoldgrace of God, serve one anotherwith whatever gift each of you has received.ChristmasGiftDriveRecently, Bettie took to the sea herself. She and her husband, Howell,embarked on a 102-day cruise around the world aboard a Princess cruise ship.Bettie knew that she would have some spare time and therefore took someknitting. “I went prepared with only enough to knit for myself,” says Bettie.“But I soon had to try to find some more needles.” The reason Bettie begansleuthing for knitting equipment is because she unwittingly had started asatellite branch of her own CAS knitting group on the cruise ship.Through the ship’s daily newsletter, Bettie was able to connect with othersonboard who were interested in knitting, needlepoint, and cross-stitch. Sheshowed up at the initial meeting to find a group of about six. The group soongrew in numbers, however. As word got out of the gathering, “kindred spiritsof talented people from all over the world began to come. In fact, we had topick up extra yarn in Sydney and in China to accommodate everyone” Bettiesays. By the end of the cruise, the group had grown to 20 people strong!Much of the reason for the growth in group size is no doubt due in partto Bettie’s own personality. She told SCI that she is constantly recruitingknitters for Christmas at Sea. “One time I went to vote,” she recalls, “anda saw woman knitting who looked like she was having trouble.” Bettie satdown and helped her fix the problem with her needles and yarn. In theprocess, Bettie garnered yet another volunteer for SCI’s Christmas at Seaknitting program.Bettie’s tutelage similarly kindled the needle skills of those onboard thePrincess cruise ship. As they worked together, Bettie shared with them thework of The Seamen’s Church Institute. She explained that she was knittinggifts for mariners – handknitted items that one day might even findtheir way to the crew of a ship like the Princess.“It is not impossible to imagine,” Bettiesaid. “The captain of the ship told methat, early on in his career, he hadreceived a gift from The Seamen’sChurch Institute atChristmastime.” Bettie addedenthusiastically that, “ThePrincess crew was thrilled oncethey learned about what wewere doing.” Bettie hopes thatthe group she helped form willstay in touch and stay interestedin participating with SCI’s Christmasat Sea program.2 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Knit Before Christmas Fall 2008