St. Charles’ Episcopal Church Prayer Shawl Ministry is made up of knitters and crocheters who create shawls filled with love and prayer for healing, for loss (grieving, separation) and for celebration (special birthdays, weddings, ordinations, graduations).

Our work links us to God’s grace and enables people to know God’s love and care for them. Many knit with a knit 3, purl 3 pattern--weaving the trinity into our pattern, uniting past, present, future and body, mind and spirit with faith, hope and love. Some of our knitting is done with a candle lit in meditative rhythm. Some is done in the rush of our lives--in the car, at baseball games, during meetings, by tv sets. God’s love is still in every stitch.

Each shawl is wrapped and delivered for the recipient, with information about the prayer shawl ministry and a copy of a prayer of blessing.

The wearer of the shawl is wrapped in love, support, peace and prayer. And, they feel the warmth and transforming power.

We keep a journal of the creators and the recipients, and include some photos.

We meet in Ludtke Hall at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month and at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. All are welcome to join us. We can teach or help you remember your skill. (Some knitters and crocheters cannot attend, but knit and create prayer shawls on their own.)

We begin with a Gathering Prayer.

We enjoy our fellowship together as we talk about our lives and those for whom we knit and crochet.

We move to a circle at the altar. We say a special prayer for the completed shawls. Then, we pass each shawl from person to person around the circle, as each of us blesses and prays over each shawl.

And, we end with a prayer of blessing as we head back to our own lives.

For more information we gladly share this link to the Shawl Ministry. We have found this to be a very helpful and inspirational site. When you go to the site you may duplicate the material for those without computers, as you may with our site, making sure to reprint in the original format to include any author's name and the web address.

Bless you!