Heart to Hand Knitting Ministry by Shirley Metcalf
Have you noticed some busy hands, knitting and crotcheting with beautifully soft and fuzzy yarn? Have they caught your attention at a meeting or even during Sunday morning service? If so, it’s likely that you have seen someone knitting a prayer shawl or baptism blanket for Heart to Hand, a new project at The Church of Christ, Congregational Norfolk. The project's inception is inspired and modelled after ideas in the book, Knitting into the Mystery by Jorgensen and Izard.
Participants in the project are knitting or crotcheting (weaving, quilting, or even sewing) shawls, baptism blankets and other items as gifts for a special person in their own lives or to those in the greater community who are in need of a gift of love and compassion, created in God’s spirit. The items are being created in a meditative and prayerful way, both individually and during organized circles, where we join in fellowship, prayer, creativity and learning.
So if you're an experienced knitter or crotcheter, or if you've always wanted to learn, or if you enjoy creating any type of hand-work, done in a meditative and prayerful way, please join us. Our group is growing and God’s energy is inspiring over 25 women! Heart to Hand is for everyone: male, female, young, old, experienced, or beginner! We meet monthly, the 2nd or 3rd Wed of the month, from 7-8:30 pm in the
The Christian Ed Committee, as part of the “Spirituality in the Arts” series, is sponsoring this project and have purchased two copies of Knitting into the Mystery for our church library, for anyone who’d like to borrow the book. There is also a cupboard in the “Laughs and Crafts” room with yarn and needles for purchase for anyone who’d like to get started on knitting a prayer shawl. Yarn for sale is $16 for 4 skeins. Please make checks payable to “
The book Heart to Hand was initiated by a group of spiritual women who have spread their ideas to women all over the globe. It is a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys any type of hand-work, done in a meditative and prayerful way. It can be ordered online through Amazon.com, Bn.com or your local bookstore for approximately $14.
Nels White, our Webmaster extraordinaire, has created a page on the church’s website for Heart to Hand, which has the pattern for the prayer shawls. More patterns will be forthcoming, so please be sure to check out the website for information and updates on our meetings. The address is http://www.norfolkctucc.org/PrayerShawlMinistry/ .
Thank you to everyone who has shown so much energy and creativity for this new endeavor. If you have any questions or would like to join or energetic group, please contact Shirley Metcalf (Shirley.metcalf@snet.net or 542-5365) or anyone else you see knitting or crotcheting these divinely inspired items!
