Card Ministry, Prayer Chain, & Yarnwork Ministry

Card Ministry – Sandy Benson and Steffy Sabino

In this fast-paced world of emails and texts, receiving a card is special and heartwarming. Perhaps the card celebrates your birthday or wishes you a speedy recovery from illness or simply lets you know that others are thinking of you. For whatever occasion, the volunteers for this card ministry seek to keep our parish family members feeling connected throughout the year

Prayer Chain – Sandy Benson

The prayer chain is a group of dedicated and spiritual folks who engage in very intense directed prayer for individuals rushed to the hospital, facing diagnostic tests, undergoing surgery, etc. If someone needs special prayers for whatever reason, this group is notified. One person contacts another, so the person in need is surrounded by the love and caring prayers of people they know, or perhaps have never met. Prayerful folks from all walks of life and abilities are welcomed to join this ministry.

Yarnwork Ministry: Comfort and Joy – Beth Crosby

A significant yarn project undertaken by some members of Comfort and Joy is crocheted or knitted prayer shawls. While the crocheter or knitter is working, she (or he) is infusing the shawl with prayers on behalf of anyone in need of strength while undergoing medical procedures, comfort after a loss, or peace and patience during an illness and recovery.  The shawls have also been given in celebration for events such as a marriage. These shawls are blessed by the Rector at a Sunday service and distributed free of charge to anyone who requests one, carrying the prayers and good wishes to the recipients. When the recipients wrap themselves in the shawl, they will feel the comforting arms of God.

If knitting or crocheting a prayer shawl seems a bit daunting, how about a simple scarf to help keep warm recipients of Meals on Wheels ?

Comfort and Joy members attend Holy Comforter (Lutherville) and St. Francis Episcopal Parish (Timonium). We also have some members who are not currently church members.

You don’t have to know how to knit or crochet to be a part of this special ministry. Members of this group would be happy to teach you! For more information please contact Beth Crosby at [email protected] or 410-252-2711.

Knitting Instructions & Color Meanings

Here are some simple directions for knitting a very pretty rectangular prayer shawl:

    • Use needles sized 10 1/2 to 15; the shawl will appear lacy.
    • Use medium weight yarn; worsted is a good weight to use.
    • Cast on 68 stitches and knit every row until the shawl measures 76 inches, or desired length.
    • Bind off.

When choosing a yarn color, give thought to the meanings of the colors. Below are some of them. There are also some beautiful variegated yarns you might consider.

  • Pink: friendship, compassion, sensitivity, gratitude
  • Yellow: wisdom, learning, optimism, energy, happiness, joy, gladness, goodness
  • Green: earth, healing, prosperity, fertility, clarity, sympathy, hope, renewal, health, confidence, life, permanence, peace, relaxation
  • Aqua: courage, balance, harmony, stability
  • Blue: water, healing, meditation, peace, tranquility, spirituality, self-esteem, calmness, unity
  • Violet: spirit, spirituality, intuition, truth, memory, nostalgia, humility, comfort during grief or mourning, peace
  • Beige/Tan: optimism, simplicity, calmness
  • White: spirit, light, air, innocence, protection, peace, purity, gentleness, humility
  • Grey: strength, balance, wisdom

How To Get Involved!