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Fall 2006 Annual Shawl Ministry Gathering
Sebastian's House of Bread Soup Recipe
Sauté onions in butter or olive oil until they are light brown. Add cubed diced
potatoes and
either frozen or canned corn or vegetables. Use any good can(s) of tomato soup
base,
following directions on the can. Heat through and add seasoning. For a richer
taste add
light cream instead of water!
In exchange for this recipe, please consider making a donation to the House of Bread
To learn more visit: House of Bread - Hartford, CT
Summer 2006
Clare Gallery ~ St. Patrick and St. Anthony Church - Hartford, Connecticut
Our service on Sunday, May 28, 2006 was focused on
presentation and dedication of an unusual prayer shawl for our
congregation, First
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas.
We are a small congregation, although we have experienced growth within the past
two years, with about 100 active members and about that many inactive. The shawl was knitted
to be long enough to encompass at least 100 people to start with. Its present length is about 115 feet, but it can
be added to as our membership grows. It was knitted on #35 needles, with four strands of yarn
combined. As a length of yarn ran out, another was tied on, so that there
is a continuous and overlapping change of yarn throughout. Almost all of the yarn used was donated.
Much of the donated yarn consisted of leftover lengths and, as such, the combinations of changing colors
and textures are very lively. For our dedication, Pastor Dave had the shawl unfurled and draped around the
front of the sanctuary, so that it connected the baptismal font, the communion table, and the pulpit. The morning's service included
numerous references to inclusiveness and linking together; Lois H., who organized our prayer shawl ministry, reported on the
shawls and chemo caps our knitters have made; and Janet T. (myself), who knitted the big, congregational prayer shawl, talked a bit about
how it was conceived and made. After the service, members and guests formed an open circle around the sanctuary and extended
the shawl around, until everyone had it draped around their shoulders. In his dedication, Pastor Dave talked about the
circle always being open-ended
and the shawl always being able to embrace new people.
We have been talking about different ways in which we will use the big prayer
shawl, including as a
banner, and sharing it with
others at inter-congregational meetings and conferences.
Janet T.
St. John Neumann Church - Reston, VA
On April
23, 2006, the shawl ministry of Shepherd of the Hills
Presbyterian Church in Casper, Wyoming presented 22 shawls to the
congregation for blessing. These shawls were sent to widows in Kiev
served by Music Mission Kiev. They will be taken to Kiev on the May
vision trip and delivered to the widows at that time.
The photo was taken by Nancy Weaver, a member of the congregation.
Post Script:
Music Mission Kiev sponsors the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
That group tours the US every year, and we were fortunate to house 2
members of the orchestra in our home in 2000. In May of 2005, my
husband and I went on a vision trip with Music Mission Kiev, where we
were also introduced to the orphans and widows ministry, in addition to
many other programs. MMK was formed after the break-up of the Soviet
Union. Western Christian classical music had not been performed in the
Ukraine for over 70 years. The formation of this musical group allowed
musicians a chance to receive the gospel, as well as to perform
professionally. You may find out more about the ministry at
www.musicmissionkiev.org.
Although the shawls will be presented on the 20th anniversary of
Chernobyl, that was not the reason for sending shawls. Widows in Kiev
live on about $60 a month. The Presbyterian church, an outgrowth of
MMK, provides food and Biblical studies for these widows. We sent the
shawls as an offering of love and comfort to those in need. Linda
St. Gregory the Great Church - Williamsville, NY
2nd Group Shot In Shawls (left to
right)
Corana Lisee, Sylvia Grzelak, Elizabeth Palmieri - Hospice Recipient,
Jane Oberholtzer - Hospice Recipient, Anne DePrimo and Rev. Norma Connolly
Members of Zion Lutheran Church
Aberdeen, South Dakota
St. Pauls UCC in Lincoln Park Chicago, IL
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Visit the below link for a story and photo about our
prayer shawl ministries
http://www.semnsynod.org/assembly/2005/live/06prayer.html
Photo 1 - Seminary students assigned to the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod
model their prayer shawls. (Photo by Pastor Todd Hawkins)
Photo 2 - Prayer shawls are presented to voting members
for the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly. (Photo by Pastor Todd Hawkins)
Photos 3 and 4 - Knitters create prayer shawls during the Assembly.
(Photo by Pastor Todd Hawkins)
"Knitting The Circles Together"
Photos taken by: Vicky Galo and Janet Bristow
Fall 2005
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