From the "Baxter Buttetin",   used with permission





Article published Aug 4, 2007
Group knits shawls to comfort the needy
LINDA MASTERS
Bulletin Staff Writer

BULL SHOALS - "Knit three - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; purl three - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; knit three. ..." As the knitting needles click and crochet hooks fly, the sounds of softly murmured prayers waft through the Christ by the Lake Lutheran Church fellowship hall as the prayer shawl ministry works and prays.

"I'm knitting this one for my sister-in-law," said Anna Mattson. "I picked red for courage." Mattson's sister-in-law recently was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer.

The church's prayer shawl ministry began June 2, headed by member Dawn Lowe, who became interested after seeing an article about prayer shawls in the quarterly Seeds of the Parish newsletter.

"I bought a book and thought, 'I can do this,'" Lowe said. "I hadn't knitted in years, but I got some yarn and started."

Lowe's first attempt wasn't a success. She made mistake after mistake. She even had to rip out her first effort and begin again because her thoughts, as she put it, weren't exactly "pure in nature."

"You're supposed to pray while knitting, but some of my words weren't so nice," Lowe admitted. After she regained her knitting skills, she knitted, prayed and never looked back.

The group meets at 10 a.m. the last Saturday of each month, but most members work at home between meetings. They offer an opening prayer before beginning each shawl. Shawl patterns from simple to complex are provided, and each creator can choose one of his or her liking.

Each pattern contains stitches in multiples of three - a number significant in most religions. To Christians, three represents the Holy Trinity. A specific kind of yarn is recommended because of its soft, comforting feel. And, specific yarn colors represent different attributes such as blue for healing and tranquility, maroon for bravery, gray for strength and balance.

The group's first 12 shawls were blessed Sunday by Pastor David Mattson during the worship service. Then, Arlene Lueth, 91, received the first blessed prayer shawl - a bright red one for courage. Lueth's granddaughter was diagnosed with brain cancer during the preceding week, and the church wanted to envelope her in prayer during the difficult time.

The shawls are given - never sold - to anyone in need of prayer such as students heading off to college, people moving, couples getting married, new parents, the bereaved, those battling illness, soldiers and those facing trials and tribulations of any kind. They are a physical sign of God's love and the caring and compassion of the person who created the shawl, Lowe said.

"This ministry is open to anyone," she said. "Please come join us."

For information, call the church at (870) 445-4179 or e-mail cbl@bullshoals.net.