The Tabernacle UMC prayer shawl ministry started in 2010 when the call came for prayer shawls to be sent to the 2010 quadrennial conference.  We meet on Wednesday afternoon at 3 PM in Room 6, with some people coming each week and some sporadically, and some creating at home and bringing their completed work into the church.  We pray over each shawl as we begin it and multiple times as we work.  During our time together we have formed new friendships, enjoying the fellowship and sharing of skills, yarn, patterns, laughter, and ideas.   

We provide shawls to those who need a tangible reminder of God’s love and the prayers of their church family whether due to health issues or loss of a loved one.  Some of our “shawls” became lap robes and afghans since those were more useful to some of our ailing members.  We create baby blankets for newborns in the extended church family and wedding afghans for newly married couples who have a connection to Tabernacle.  We also make prayer scarves for graduating high school seniors in the colors of their chosen college/university, having the scarves blessed in a church service and presenting them to the students to carry with them as they start the next phase of their lives.   

Our gifts go out into the community as well as to church members. We are very loosely organized (no officers, programs, or dues) and welcome new members to join us to knit or crochet. If you know of someone who could use a prayer shawl or want more information, please contact Dana Freeman (757-871-6965, dkjfreeman@gmail.com ) or Carol Derby (carolduckderby@aol.com).