For ten years a group of women have gathered at Bound Brook UMC to minister to bodies and souls. The ministry was born of a vision of former pastor, Rev. Jean Arlea Erickson. She planted a seed that has blossomed and grown into a vibrant ministry. “We used to meet once a month, but we liked each other so much that now we meet twice a month.” One member joked.
Some members of the group have been knitting and crocheting from the beginning, while others have joined more recently.
A few have joined because they had received a shawl in the past and were moved by it. Diane Walker told the story “I’ve been a recipient of a shawl when we had a death in the family. I felt like I had their arms wrapped around me. Everyone [was] praying for me.”
Prayer is knit into every inch of this ministry. The group begins each session with a devotion that helps them reflect on the presence of God in their lives and then their fingers start moving. At the end of every session those who are gathered lay hands on the shawls and pray over them. Then every six months the shawls are laid on the altar rail and are blessed by the congregation during Sunday worship.
To date, they’ve distributed more than 565 shawls, and other comfort items. They’ve knit pocket shawls that friends in the hospital or nursing home can carry with them as a sign of God’s loving presence. They’ve crocheted hats for cancer patients and have recently begun making baby blankets to celebrate the newest little ones who have joined the church through baptism.
Their ministry has global reach. Mr. Rai, a friend of Bound Brook UMC, told the group that he was going to visit his mother in India, who was struggling with some health concerns. He asked if he might bring a shawl to his mom and was pleased to share that she wears it almost every day. The light of God’s love shines through their work even 8,000 miles away.
Sometimes we imagine that only our greatest actions produce lasting impact, but the women who gather at Bound Brook UMC show us that small things -done with great love-have the power to change the world.