Praying Needles and Beads- Show and Tell - How good is this? Curious minds want to know. Upon entering the room I hear a group of men and women in prayer to bless the work of their hands. This group meets once a month except in June, July and August by popular vote, to pray, fellowship, read thank you notes from prayer shawl recipients, collect more supplies and work as an industrious group sharing prayers and love with people in need.
Insisting there is no president or dues the present organizers, Annette Youngs and Barb Gill, feel confident that anyone in the group could proceed if one of them "fell over", a sign of a well organized group ;~)
Leprosy bandages- Hanson's Disease is still a reality in some parts of the worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy New 100% cotton bandages 3" x 4' are knitted in white or ecru to wrap the wounds with love and protection over their gauze medical bandage. These leper wraps are then boiled for sanitation when needed so there is a constant need for this generous soul to keep knitting. Perfect as a carry along project she never wastes a minute that could be used for prayer and good works.
Working together @ Nativity parish since 2005 they have completed 286 shawls that go out to sick parishioners and people in nursing homes. Each shawl 24"x 52"- 60" is loving packaged then tied with a bow attaching a handmade rosary bead and prayer note.
Fellowship is an important part of this ministry though the bulk of the work is done alone in their prayer time.
Eleven revolutions of cord equals eleven rosaries measured perfectly on a wooden tool designed and handmade by one of the parishioners.
Black beads, no shine, black cord is preferred for Iraq soldiers as a precaution in night time gps scanning. Black or grey neutral pearl beads white cord are approved for prisons as a precaution against being used to as gang colors. Who knew how complicated this ministry could get ?
Each rosary is inspected by a quality control person before being packaged for shipment to prisons, over seas armed forces or hospitals or places like Haiti quake victim relief.
Supplies packaged for each maker; sign out your supplies, pray for special intention while you make the rosary, return completed product for delivery then destroy personal prayer intention. DONE !!! Prayer Shawls have been lovingly tucked into the casket along with the dearly departed to provide comfort on their journey into eternity as well as to those waiting their turn to depart.
Out of the mouths of babes; one young boy was given his prayer shawl on the occasion of his aunts death in the plane crash 3407 in Clarence, NY http://www.buffalonews.com/2009/02/12/577959/continental-flight-3407-reported.html
Upset that he had misplaced his prayer shawl he was reassured that it could be replaced. Oh NO, MY PRAYERS ARE ALL IN MY PRAYER SHAWL, I NEED TO FIND MY PRAYER SHAWL."
What happened to us after entry into this life that some people lose the power to see through the eyes of faith?
To learn more about Prayer Shawls; the symbolism of the hues selected, number of stitches in the pattern, to join or start your own ministry please see http://www.saintgeo.com/prayer_shawl_ministry.htm
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary- army of Needles and Beads, pays for there own supplies as an offering of love. They will gladly accept you support of time or money; Please contact Jernet5100@aol.com for more information.
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