Prayer Shawl Ministry

This ministry was begun in 1998 by Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo - two graduates of the Women's Leadership Institute, a program in applied feminist spirituality at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. After spending a year exploring the feminine face of God, we answered a challenge to find a way to reach out to the people in our lives with our own talents and gifts - and continue the work that was started in the program. "The answer came in the form of knitting Prayer Shawls, based on similar inspirations, as a way to take our awareness of a Sheltering Mother God and pass on the blessings we have received.

One group knits them for an Oncology Center in Chicago. Another woman in Michigan makes them for her friend, a 79 year old woman who volunteers at a local hospital. She, in turn, gives them to the patients to whom she ministers. A church group in Hartford makes these wraps for women and men in group homes and shelters and teaches them to knit, as well. These shawls have also been given to expectant and new mothers as nursing shawls into which both mother and child are wrapped in a warm, loving embrace. A group of girls in Massachusetts makes christening shawls for their church family. There are even some men knitting!

The spiritual practice begins with selecting the color of the yarn, continues with the knitting and meditating upon its purpose, and is carried through to blessing the finished product. Sometimes this process is soft and meditative, punctuated by the click of the knitting needles; at other times, it incorporates the sound of women's voices sitting in circles talking, laughing, crying, and sharing. Both giver and receiver benefit by this gesture of love. Some of the rewards of creating these gifts are reduced stress, tranquility, creative inspiration and an overall sense of well-being.

The possibilities are endless and results can be had simply, by hand, person-to-person. One knitter remarked that, as women, we "cover" everyone, but who covers us? Who indeed? Maybe you!