Millersburg Church of God
MILLERSBURG CHURCH OF GODÂ
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRYÂ
I. Ministry Mission Statement
The mission of the Millersburg Church of God Prayer Shawl Ministry is to knit or crochet shawls and anoint them with prayer to give to persons in need comfort and blessings. We believe these comforts and blessings will come through the faith we have in the power of prayer to our Lord.
II. Purpose
A. Over the centuries shawls have come to symbolize shelter, peace, and spiritual sustenance. Since the inception of the Prayer Shawl Ministry in 1998, members of this ecumenical organization have lovingly donated their time and talents by creating hand-knitted and crocheted shawls for those in need. What started as a grass-roots movement has quickly grown into an international cause, with countless numbers of shawls being given to grateful recipients around the globe. The Prayer Shawl Ministry's message of caring is simple,universal, and enduring. Additional information about the founders can be found at www.shawlministry.com
B. The Millersburg Church of God Prayer Shawl Ministry was founded in 2012 during the re-organization of the Women's Ministry for the purpose of uniting its members in a common bond and to further the prayer shawl message of God's love and the power of prayer.
C. The information contained herein provides the necessary guidelines for the Prayer Shawl Ministry membership in order that the members pursue the prayer shawl message of love and spiritual sustenance in a meaningful Christian manner.
D. Shawls shall be knitted, crocheted, or quilted with prayers and constructed with a prayerful attitude and loving thoughts. In addition to providing comfort or support to recipients, some believe that the process of creating the shawls has a healing effect on the maker.
E. The ministry shall be under the guidance of Co-Coordinators. These Co-Coordinators shall be individuals who volunteer their time and service for the Glory of our Lord and Savior.
F. The Prayer Shawl Ministry does not charge dues for membership. The membership is open to anyone who desires
to make shawls for the Millersburg Church of God Prayer Shawl Ministry. Prayer shawls made by ministry members who are not members of Millersburg Church of God shall fall under the guidelines of this document.
G. Prayer Shawls are given free of charge; the shawl is a gift of love. However, donations are accepted. Any donation shall be made out to Millersburg Church of God Prayer Shawl Ministry. The Millersburg Church of God Financial Officer maintains the budget line for the ministry.
H. The Guidelines contained in this document shall not be changed/revised without a majority vote of the ministry membership. The Coordinator shall convene a meeting for purposes of revising this document. The proposed change/revision shall be submitted to the membership for review and questions. With a nomination for vote from the floor, the change/revision shall be accepted by majority vote of the ministry.
II. Guidelines
A. Prayer shawls made by members of the ministry may or may not have intended recipients at the time the shawl is being made. Prayer shawls are intended for those in serious circumstances and are made to bring them comfort and solace in their time of need. Individuals experiencing long-term medical treatments, difficult pregnancy, prolonged hospitalization, long recovery periods from illness or accidents, major surgery, serious illnesses, debilitating grief and/or extended personal hardship are excellent candidates for our prayer shawls. The Co-Coordinators will maintain a list of possible recipients from suggestions made by members of the church or from other sources the Lord presents to us. A Prayer Shawl Ministry member that makes a prayer shawl may designate any recipient for that prayer shawl, if the member so wishes.
B. Yarn, other materials and supplies needed are the responsibility of the member making the prayer shawl. As donations permit, the Co-Coordinators will maintain a supply of yarn and other materials to be used by those members who do not have the finances to purchase their own but have the heart and desire to participate in the ministry.
C. Although any pattern may be used for prayer shawls, the 3-stitch seed pattern is suggested as symbolic of planting peace, healing, love, comfort and hope into the shawls by the shawl maker for the receiver. It is suggested that crocheted shawls should be made using 3 double crochets and 1 single crochet, representing the Trinity. It is suggested that knitted shawls be made using 3 knits and 3 pearls, representing the Trinity. The following prayer shawl dimensions are suggested:
1. Prayer shawls for ladies should be approximately 22 - 35
inches wide and 52 - 72 inches long (length does not
include fringe).
2. Prayer shawls for gentlemen should be approximately 30
- 40 inches wide and 64 - 72 inches long (length does
not include fringe).
3. Prayer shawls for children should be approximately 36
inches long and15 - 20 inches wide for children 2-5
years, and proportionally larger for older children
4. Prayer shawls for infants, younger than 2 years, should
be made as a blanket, approximately 36 inches square.
D. The prayer shawl may be dressed (fringe, beads, charms, etc.) by the individual that made it, or the shawl may be given to the Coordinator for dressing. Infant shawls/blankets do not include beads or charms.
E. When completed, prayer shawls are to be given to one of the Coordinators along with the care label from the yarn used. When a prayer shawl is given to the coordinator, it becomes the property of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, to be gifted in love in accordance with the guidelines herein. A Millersburg Church of God Prayer Shawl Ministry label will be sewn onto all prayer shawls and packaged with the care label from the yarn used.
Millersburg Church of God ® 10643 State Route 39, Millersburg, OH 44654      330-276-7373
COLOR CHART
~ By Vicky Galo & Janet Bristow, 1998
This is a basic list of colors and some attributes associated with them. It might be helpful to use as a guideline when you are selecting a color for a particular person for whom you are knitting a Prayer Shawl.
RED - love, passion, respect, energy, enthusiasm, courage, understanding, motivation, strength, warmth, vigor
MAROON - bravery, strength
MAGENTA - spirituality, meditation, imagination, release, new beginnings
PINK - friendship, compassion, sensitivity, generosity, warm-heartedness, nurturing, soothing, admiration, gratitude, appreciation
ORANGE - thoughtfulness, vitality, attraction, creativity, energy, enthusiasm, warmth
PEACH - innocence, empathy, harmony, warmth, peace
YELLOW - wisdom, learning, optimism, intuition, faith, well-being, friendship, energizing, happiness, sociability
GREEN - earth, healing, prosperity, fertility, clarity, sympathy, hope, renewal, health, balance, confidence, abundance, growth, life; this color is mentally and physically relaxing
AQUA - courage, balance, harmony, stability, soothing
TURQUOISE - happy, relaxing, refreshing, rejuvenating
BLUE - water, healing, meditation, tranquility, honesty, loyalty, communication, peace, sincerity, wisdom, spirituality, faith, self-esteem, universal color, cool & calming
TEAL - trustworthy, devotion
INDIGO - wisdom, insight, instinct, integration, integrity, spiritual nature
VIOLET - Spirit, spirituality, intuition, truth, memory, nostalgia, humility, comfort during grief or mourning, peaceful
PURPLE - power, leadership, royalty, truth, justice, temperance, spirituality, wisdom
BROWN - wholesome, honesty, steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, down-to-earth, stability
BLACK - Self confidence, strength, protection, absorbs negativity, mature wisdom
GOLD - masculine energy, enlightenment
SILVER - feminine energy, intuition, flexibility
GRAY - strength, balance, reliable
The Prayer of Faith
"And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven."
James 5:15
WHITE - Spirit, innocence, protection, peace, purity, virtue, gentleness, perfection, illumination, reverence, humility
Call us
330-276-7373
MAY WE PRAY FOR YOU?
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Anyone interested in joining our Prayer Shawl Ministry is welcome. We work on our shawls independently and in small groups. Contact for more information:
JoAnn Myers 330-275-6219
Why make Prayer Shawls?
A Prayer Shawl is more than just a covering. Throughout the Bible are many stories of those who wore prayer shawls. Moses wore one to his funeral. David wore one on the day he fought Goliath and Daniel wore one as he went into the Lion's den. Jesus wore His prayer shawl as He went into the darkness of Gethsemane and He will wear it again when He returns. A prayer shawl is power - it is a representative of God and how much He loves us. A prayer shawl reveals the Word of God, the residence of God, and His double portion of power for miracles.
Did you know God himself designed the prayer shawl? Before there were printing presses, the Lord designed the prayer shawl as an avenue to share His Word with His people and also as a way to keep communication open.
In Numbers 15: 37-41, the Lord said to Moses, Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after, so you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.
Down the sides of the original prayer shawl were knots that stood for the 613 commandments of the Word that Jewish people memorized. Some Christians today like to point out that we are under grace now, not under law. That is true, however if you would read most of the 613 Biblical commandments in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) you will find that as Christians we keep them without thinking about it, because the laws were more than just not stealing. These laws speak about how we work out problems and issues throug faith. The making of a prayer shawl today involves stitching in the power of faith through our prayers for the intended recipient.
A prayer shawl is God's residence. Moses had a congregation of between two and six million, but the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was small (18' x 45'). There wasn't room for everyone, so every man had his own tabernacle the prayer shawl. Every Jewish man had one from the age of thirteen. He would put one on quoting Psalm 104: 1-2: Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. To wear a prayer shawl is to wrap one's self in God's presence, in His glory, and in His power.
A prayer shawl gives God's double portion of power for miracles. Original prayer shawls had four tassels, one tied to each corner. These tassles stood for a family connection, status within the tribe or community, a symbol of authority from God, and Priestly purity or power - the reminder of personal Holiness.The making of tassles are very symbolic.
4 tassels, one on each corner.Â
Although not in any particuliar order,
one for family connection
one for status within the tribe/community
one for a symbol of authority from God
one for Priestly purity or power, the reminder of personal Holiness
1 tassel + 8 strands + 5 knots + 4 windings = 18
the numeric symbolism to chai/life
1 is numeric equivalent of that is Echad
meaning the Lord YHWH, He is one God.
4 windings is numeric equivalent
of that which was taken out of the covenant name.
There is a series of 4 windings.
The 5 knots are symbolic
to the first five books of Moses (Genesis/Exodus/Leviticus/Numbers/
Deuteronomy)
(1st-7)
(2nd-8)
(3rd-11)
(4th-13)
These all add up to 39
which is the number of stripes Jesus took
Isaiah 53:5 "By His stripes we are healed
It is indicated that during Jesus' time, during the first century there was a scripture in Zechariah that talks about there is healing in His wings. Many believe that the fringe on the bottom of the prayer shawl is what is being referred to as the wings and that there would be healing in His wings.
Jesus wore His prayer shawl continually. In Mark 5:25-30 we read the story of the woman with the issue of blood. She cried out, I can touch the hem of His garment. The definition of hem in the Greek language is twisted coil. She reached for the tassel of the prayer shawl. The prayer shawl was part of the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:6-7). It was gently folded in the corner of the empty tomb. The manner in which the prayer shawl was folded was the ultimate testimony of Jesus resurrection.
The last appearance of the prayer shawl in Scripture comes in Revelation 19:11-13. Revelation 19:12 says and He had a name written that no man knew on His vesture and on His thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is the tassel.
