PRAYER SHAWL BLESSING CEREMONY

I believe that I mentioned in this Blog before the prayer shawl that was given to me from the Pastoral Care Team at Franklin Square Hospital Center during one of my many stays at the hospital for in-patient chemotherapy, etc. The prayer shawl was given to me at a very difficult time in my recovery and it was very meaningful to me, but I didn't know a lot about the prayer shawl ministry and volunteers until today. Rev. Cherie Smith called last week to invite me to speak as a "prayer shawl receiver" at the 6th Annual Prayer Shawl Ministry Blessing and Celebration that was held today at the hospital. She explained to me that there were approximately 100 women (and one or two men) who knitted and/or crocheted prayer shawls and donated them to the pastoral care staff to distribute to those in need of healing at the hospital. The event was a small thank you to the volunteers and she expected about 50 people to attend. Most of the attendees were the actual makers of the prayer shawls, but there were some others from the pastoral care team there, as well as a couple of Pastors and Ministers from the community. Apparently, some of the shawl makers are nurses and others that are associated with the hospital, but many of them are from community churches and senior centers or just talented people who have been touched by tragedy and use their talent to give back to the community. Over 3,000 shawls have been distributed to the Franklin Square Hospital Community since the beginning of the prayer shawl ministry. The shawls are made and delivered to the pastoral care team and usually distributed by pastoral care, so most of the volunteers never know where their shawls go or to whom. Rev. Cherie wanted me to speak about the shawl that was given to me so that the volunteers would have a deeper uderstanding of it's physical and spiritual importance to a recipient. I was honored to share my story, but I was more honored to hear from the various volunteers and how meaningful their work is to them. The stories were truly inspirational and so were the volunteers. Most of them pray for the receiver of the shawl as they make it - yes, they pray for a person that they do not know and that may not even be ill yet! One of the volunteers told me that she had crocheted 100 shawls herself. She liked to use bold colors to keep her interest and make the needlework go faster. Another volunteer said that she listened to a tape of the rosary being prayed in her parish as she knitted - that way, extra prayers went into each stitch. Some women made them in their spare time and others made them as part of prayer groups or knitting clubs. One of the women offered to teach me how to make one, but I would have to join the class as the Senior Center and pay the admittance fee - I'm not sure if I am eligible to join the Senior Center or not, but I may just check it out! :) It was a delightful day - there was so much positive energy in the room. What an incredible group of people and very special ministry.