Since the summer of 2006, Montview knitters have blessed over a thousand people with hand-crafted prayer shawls. In fact, the prayer shawl register that Ellen Oakes maintains lists 1099! The register contains the name of the knitter, the color, the number of the shawl and the date.  Each shawl is accompanied by a lovely card designed by Lorraine Padilla and includes the name of the knitter.

Knitting a prayer shawl is a two-way street:  the knitter imbues the shawl with prayers and blessings as she knits; it brings hoped-for comfort, healing and peace to the wearer.  But the “warmth” and “blessings” often return to the knitter with thank you notes and letters, from new acquaintances and old.  Anyone in the congregation or with a personal connection to a member can receive a shawl.  (Mine came by way of Pete Hulac as I was being prepped for knee surgery.  I clung to it like a kid with a favorite stuffed animal!)

Each year the shawls are displayed and blessed at a litany of healing service.  Approximately 30 knitters are involved in the Prayer Shawl Ministry; pre-(and I assume post-) pandemic, they meet the third Sunday of each month after the 11:00 service.  They are planning an outdoor knit-a-thon in the near future, organized with recommended social-distancing.  In the summer when a lap-full of shawl can be mighty hot, they knit head bands and hats which go into the packets for the homeless or locally to schools and community centers and even on mission trips to Nepal.

Come join us.  It’s a peaceful, prayerful experience.  Contact Ellen Reath:  303-355-5062 magreath@ecentral.com  for knitting instructions and yarn; contact Ellen Oakes:  303-333-8991 echoot@msn.com for prayer shawls to give to friends and family in need of special comfort.

– Submitted by Carol Tierney for the Prayer Shawl Knitters