Prayer Shawls

Learn to make prayer shawls!

Knitting ministry began in a church in West Hartford, CT; the prayer shawl ministry began at Normandale in 2003. Knitters weave prayers for God's love and healing into the shawls and create a vessel for God's mysterious presence in the lives of the recipients. This is a simple thing that loving hearts and hands can do for those who suffer.

Knitters ask for God's love to be woven into the yarn and those who receive the shawl might know God‟s comfort and healing presence.

This past year over 50 shawls were given away to those who are ill, grieving, in transition, homeless being welcomed to an inner city church, those who we are welcoming into a mission ministry half way around the world, and more! Mission work you can do from home! We can even supply yarn and needles.

“A prayer shawl is an embrace...it is a hug. It is tangible. You knit your thoughts and prayers into the shawl and keep the one who receives it in your prayers.” The prayer shawl ministry was begun at Normandale Lutheran Church in 2003. The knitters ask for God’s love to be woven into the yarn and that those who receive the shawl might know God’s comfort and healing presence. When the prayer shawl is completed, it is blessed by one of our pastors and delivered to someone in need.

If you are a knitter and would like to replenish our supply, stop by the Center and pick up some yarn and instructions. The shawls are then blessed by our pastoral staff and given to people experiencing difficult times.

Below is a letter from our missionary, Carol Sack, who received prayer shawls recently from Normandale in response to the tsunami:

Dear Normandale Members:

I want to let you and the people of the Prayer Shawl Ministry know how much I appreciated the contribution of 20 prayer shawls from the Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness. Please convey our gratitude as possible to the Prayer Shawl ministry members.

On December 13 I'll be bringing the shawls to elementary and junior high students in the coastal fishing village of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture. This village was completely washed away in the tsunami~ homes, schools, everything. I assume that many of the kids lost their family members. They are now studying in a make-shift school set up in a gymnasium with cardboard boxes as dividing walls. As I understand, all of the students (elementary and junior high) plus their families will be present on that day and I have surprisingly been invited to offer prayer-through-music for them. The principals of these public schools informed my friends who have been arranging this that they have turned down numerous offers of professional entertainment, but they realize that this, "prayer" itself, is what is most needed. What a privilege for us to be invited. I am astounded. We will meet in that gymnasium, in the cold, and light 50 or 60 block candles to have a quiet time of "soaking prayer" (so to speak) through harp and voice. I can't imagine the stories that each child and family member must be carrying in their hearts. Leaving a tangible item like a prayer shawl will let them "feel" the touch of many prayers in the midst of their unbelievable losses, for months or years to come. Please do ask the Prayer Shawl ministers to pray that the shawls will serve to touch them powerfully with God's love and grace.

I encourage all of you to take a look at a few of the news sites regarding Ofunato Village on and after March 11. This will give the prayer shawl knitters an informed image of the need and blessing of their prayers. You can just search "Ofunato tsunami" on Google, or here are a few to see for example:

www.channel4.com/news/tsunami-japanese-fishing-town-of-ofunato-in-ruins

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T39LJJgjExk

Again, my thanks. Please keep us in prayer as we go to Ofunato on December 13, as we desire to bring God's Light into the darkest and coldest time of the year, that the Lord would truly bless those gathered with the warmth of unconditional grace as they receive prayer through music and the prayer shawls.

Gratefully, your partner in Christ,

Carol Sack
ELCA Missionary to Japan