We congratulate Janet Bristow and the Prayer Shawl Ministers of SPSA on this 25th Anniversary of compassionate presence to all who would be wrapped by one of their creations.
We invite you to read the story of the ministry in Janet’s reflection:
“Twenty-five years ago, Janet Bristow and Vicky Galo, graduated from the first Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary where women explore their spirituality. We were ready to see what we could do with all that we had learned. Vicky and I wanted to reach out and validate women in the common, ordinary things. So, we started knitting shawls as a symbol of God’s comforting, motherly love that wraps around us, holding us close in good times as well as difficult ones.
When Vicky and I began knitting and giving shawls to the people in our lives, we meant the gift of a shawl to embody that time, energy, thought and prayers for the person receiving it. We wanted women to know that there is value in the work of their hands–that it is prayer and blessing. The shawl was not only a utilitarian garment but also something special from the hands of the shawl maker to the heart of the receiver. We hoped that those who took on this spiritual practice of making prayer shawls would understand the importance and value of the simple act of making something for someone with intention, no longer dismissing what they made.
When others saw the impact of the shawls, they wanted to do the same. Articles about the ministry were written in magazines and newspapers and interest came from all over the country and other parts of the world, as well. We started a website so that others could avail themselves of all the information they needed to begin. Soon we were invited to speak to church groups. The speaking engagements expanded into workshops and we became very busy, even flying to different parts of the country to get groups started.
We were even invited to write a book! The first one, The Prayer Shawl Companion was published in 2008. That was followed by The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion, The New Prayer Shawl Companion, and finally, The Prayer Shawl Journal & Guidebook. All the patterns, stories, and prayers were contributed by professional designers and everyday folks: A great mix for this grassroots movement.
Women create, whether it’s cooking or baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, painting, or crafting from the work of their hands. Many times, I’ve heard, “Oh, it’s just something I made” said dismissively about a handmade gift, as if it isn’t quite good enough not having been purchased from a store.
I know for myself that I treasure any handmade gift I have received knowing the time, energy, and thought that went into it.
Prayer shawls are tangible expressions of the shawl maker’s prayers. The intention of making a prayer shawl starts with the shawl maker. That intention goes from the act of selecting the yarn at the store or from one’s personal yarn stash, to blessing that yarn and needles or hook, to casting on or chaining the initial row, throughout the knitting or crocheting, to the binding off and finishing touches, and the final blessing. It’s called a prayer shawl because it came from the prayers of the shawl maker holding the person receiving the shawl in her or his prayers. The shawl is to be used as prayer and for prayer by the recipient. Many have said that they can feel the energy of those prayers in the shawl as they wear it. It can be a sheltering place, a comfort amid illness or sorrow, or even a celebratory space for a special time in someone’s life.
From simple gestures to bigger outreaches, through the years, shawl makers from across the country and around the world have rallied to the call for shawls in extraordinary circumstances. Their wish is to bring some comfort to others involved with tragedies; be it the mass shootings in Sandy Hook or the families who have lost loved ones in wars in far-off lands. And, more than 3,000 prayer squares were delivered to patients and nurses at Hartford Hospital during the pandemic.
This ministry has been passed on from hand to hand, and heart to heart, guided by the Spirit for 25 years, blessing everyone it touches. May it continue to be an inspiration to those who want to bring comfort and solace to the world.”