Every Stitch a Prayer

"Crochet" CC BY-NC 2.0 by Pathlost. Source: Flickr

A number of years ago, I learned to crochet.
It was an inelegant effort, awkward and clumsy with stitches of substantially varied size and tension.

I’m still not very good; I like to consider new patterns and stitches, but a lizard bookmark or a simple throw seem to be the extent of my ability.

However: a simple throw can be so much more than that. Some months ago, a small but committed group of us started making prayer shawls. Sometimes we gather together at the Hall, other times we are stitching on our own from the comfort of our sofas.

And once they are ready, they are brought to the church to be blessed; on the altar, as part of the Offering of the church.

We pray for the shawl or lap quit; and we ask God to bless the people who will receive them.
I then have the immense privilege of distributing these shawls: to people in hospital or care homes, or in times of grief or to acclimatise to a new living situation.

Whatever the circumstances, the shawls are a gift of love and prayers. We hope that when the recipient touches or wears the shawl/quilt, they will feel the warmth of Christ and the comfort of the church. It is intended as a gift of love; it is received as such.

For as so many other gifts that we have to share – when they are given, the imperfect stitches don’t matter – but the act of caring does.