“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!”
Psalm 139:13-14

Whether they are called: “Prayer Shawls”, “Comfort Shawls”, “Peace Shawls” or “Mantles” just to name a few; the knitter begins each shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!

Written in 1998 by Janet Bristow © 2004

A Creative Ministry of Prayer and Care

In an atmosphere of fellowship and prayer in communion with others, the SJN Shawl Ministry creates shawls, blankets and lap robes for family, friends, and parishioners in need of comfort, healing, celebration or welcoming. We multiply our prayers for these by joining with others in an afternoon of prayer through our hands.

The ministry welcomes anyone one who knits or crochets, regardless of skill level. There are no quotas or deadlines – you work at your own pace and time. Some are able to knit a shawl every two weeks, others, one a year. We pray and create together every third Sunday of the month in the Parish Conference Room from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Meeting dates are posted in the Bulletin under the “This Week at SJN” column.

Interested in being a part of this ministry of prayer? Contact the Ministry at sjnshawlministry@yahoo.com.

To request a Shawl for someone in need email Teresa Westhues or call her at 703-969-8430.

Origins of the Shawl-Knitting Ministry

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS. Care and the love of knitting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. For more information on the ministry visit www.shawlministry.com