Sunday, September 15, 2013

As we begin a new week and look forward to our first meeting on Saturday, September 21, summer is becoming a memory. Our lives are being filled with the activities that come during a new season. It is a time for gathering the harvest, a time to prepare ourselves for the bright promise of autumn. Take time this week to also prepare for our coming together in prayer and the work of our hands.

"Imagine yourself in some quiet place, empty your mind of unsettling thoughts. Let the peace and healing of serenity flow into your soul. Feel yourself calm in the middle of a garden, surrounded by birdsong and beauty. Picture yourself being warmed by sunshine and cheered by butterflies dancing across the blue sky."        

From "Life Songs...Giving Voice to the Spirit Within

 

August 25, 2013

It's been over a month since my last posting...there have been some updates to our blog site and I've been working on installing the new features. It doesn't seem possible, but our new season will be starting on September 14th. I will be sending out an email to everyone shortly. Meanwhile, enjoy the remaining summer days!!!

"the air is different today, the wind sings with a new tone
sighing of changes coming, the harvest gathered, a flower, a nut
some mead, and bread, a candle and a prayer
returning the fruits in thanksgiving to the grove
and receiving it's blessing again"    Rhawk

Hope everyone is keeping cool this week!  Our flowers are blooming and are a delight to the senses and the soul. The shawls that we knit bring delight and solace to their recipients... the knowledge that God's enfolding love is in every  stitch, and the softness of the yarn and the beauty of it's colors delight the senses and the soul!                                         "Flowers seem intended for the solace of  humanity"        John Ruskin

The simplicity of knitting a shawl, humbly and quietly, with no thought of reward, just the knowledge that the finished garment will bring comfort and solace to someone, is summed up in this lovely quote from Saint Theresa of Lisieux...

"If all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty and the fields would no longer be decked out in little wildflowers"

After all that beneficial rain, our gardens are really blooming! Take a break to enjoy the beautiful weather and knit a few rows. Hopefully, this wonderful quote will inspire you to create an heirloom for someone who is waiting for the comfort of a shawl.

"Given good yarn, good workmanship and good care, a knitted shawl can outlive it's maker, providing warmth and pleasure to several generations of family and friends."   ...Martha Waterman

In memory

On Friday, May 24th, a Mass was offered for Norma Dufault one of our beloved knitters. The flowers beside the statue of Our Blessed Mother were donated by the Prayer Shawl Ministry in her memory. We miss you Norma!

Our May meeting

The final meeting for our 2012-2013 was held on May 11th. We were so pleased to honor Marti Page, one of the charter members of our ministry. Marti was wrapped in the beautiful yellow shawl that was the 500th shawl that Babs Donahue knit last year. Everyone extended their hands in blessing Marti as she was wrapped, and two poems that Babs had written for the occasion were recited. In addition, Marti was also informed that she had been named a "Shining Star" for the month of May...nominations were from the Prayer Shawl Ministry and St. Mary's Adult Choir. As Monsignor Mike said, Marti isn't a Shining Star, she's a whole galaxy!" After our closing prayers, we enjoyed a pot luck lunch and then departed with goodbyes and wishes for a healthy and happy summer. See you in September! Keep checking the blog...I'll be posting once a week.

Thanks to Rosemarie Morana for the great photos!

Sunday, May 12, 2013....Mother's Day

Good morning and happy Mother's Day to all of you...the following poem is dedicated to all the women of our ministry and to our Blessed Mother                                                                               

Her love is like an island in life's ocean vast and wide  
A peaceful quiet shelter from the wind, the rain and tide 
Tis bound on the North by Hope, by Patience on the West 
By tender counsel on the South, and on the East by rest 
Above it like a beacon light, shine Faith and Truth and Prayer 
And in the changing scenes of life, I find a haven there. 
                               Author unknown

                                                                                                                                        

                                               

Sunday, May 5, 2013...6th Sunday of Easter

From today's Gospel:  "Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace that the world cannot give you, this is My gift to you.Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14; 27

The words of today's Gospel are so meaningful for our ministry...with our warm garments of love, we can also give peace to those who are troubled or afraid.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Spring is finally here!  We give thanks for the beautiful weather and the color that this new season is  providing for our senses.  I found this quote from Louisa May Alcott that shows the power of love and giving to others...the purpose of our ministry.

"Love is a flower that grows in any soil..blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those receive"
                                    Louisa May Alcott  (Little Men)

Sunday, April 14, 2013....third Sunday after Easter

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks questions three of His Apostles in this way...."Do you Love Me?"
What would our answer be? Do we love Him and use our ministry to show our love to Him and to others?

Sunday, April 7, 2013

From today's responsorial psalm:

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting"

 

Our April 13th meeting is coming up! See you there!

March 31, 2013, Easter Sunday...Good morning! A  blessed and happy Easter to our knitters and wrappers, may you be uplifted by the joy of the risen Christ!

The Miracles of Easter
The sleeping earth awakens,
The robins start to sing
The flowers open wide their eyes
To tell us it is spring
The bleakness of the winter
Is melted by the sun,
The tree that looked so stark and dead
Becomes a living one
These Miracles of Easter,
Wrought with divine perfection
Are the blessed reassurance
Of our Savior's Resurrection.
                 Helen Steiner Rice

Sunday, March 24, 2013....Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

"God bestowed upon Him the name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend..of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Sunday, March 10 - Fourth Sunday of Lent

After the storm this week, I discovered this beautiful poem by Clay Harrison and thought we all could use a little sunshine, flowers, hope and faith....enjoy!

       Buried Treasure

 

Beneath the snows of Winter

Spring treasures can be found

in seeds that lie there sleeping

below the frozen ground

 

While snow falls in the meadow

the rose must get her rest

soon Spring will kiss his princess

and she must look her best

 

All earth proclaims God's glory

when Spring is in the air

each bud fulfills a promise

each rose an answered prayer

 

Spring is a resurrection

Winter's stone is rolled away

to reveal God's buried treasure

each sun-kissed spring-time day

                             Clay Harrison

 
 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

 

                  In Loving Memory of Norma Dufault

                               A Knitters Prayer

I pray when risen from the dead, I may in glory stand
Perhaps a crown upon my head, but two needles in my hand
I never learned to sing or play, so let no harp be mine
From childhood to my dying day,knitting has been my line
And so as close the trumpets call, I have not fame nor riches
But sweet contents knit in my soul in a million happy stitches

Rest in peace our dear friend!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Excerpt from the 2nd reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit. There are different forms of service but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit"

Our ministry is indeed a gift from the Spirit....a form of service given for some benefit...to bestow love, compassion and warmth to those in need.

 

Sunday, January 13, 2013  The Baptism of the Lord

Our January meeting included a discussion about the direction of our prayer shawl group, how we are going forward, changes that may be needed, how to keep the communication between knitters and wrappers open, a new storage area for the shawls.....so many things to discuss and pray over. This beautiful prayer is appropriate for today's celebration of the baptism of Christ....and one that we can say individually as we recommit ourselves to our ministry.

 

Father in Heaven, when the spirit came down upon Jesus at His Baptism in the Jordan, you revealed Him as Your own beloved Son. Keep me, your child born of water and the Spirit, faithful to my calling. May I, who share Your life as Your child through Baptism, follow in Christ's path of service to people. Let me become one in His sacrifice and hear His word with faith. May I live as Your child following the example of Jesus.

January 6, 2013....the Feast of the Epiphany

In today's 2nd reading we hear about the stewardship of God's grace, and in the reading of the Gospel we are told the story of the Magi and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh given to the Christ Child. Our prayer shawl ministry is truly a blend of stewardship and gift giving...our humble shawls... given to others in love and warmth and full of God's grace.

from the 2nd reading:  You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace
                                  Eph 3:2-3a-5-6

from today's Gospel:  They prostrated themselves and offered Him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
Mt: 2: 1-2

we offer You our humble gifts in love and stewardship

January 1, 2013...Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Happy New Year to all of our knitters and wrappers! Our first meeting of 2013 will be Saturday, January 12th at 10:30 am in Marys Room at the Pastoral Center. This would be a good time to recommit your time and talent to our wonderful ministry. If you haven't been able to attend our meetings lately, please come and join us in a discussion about our plans for the new year. Newcomers are welcome! You don't have to be an expert in knitting or crocheting. If you are preparing for your Confirmation, this would be a wonderful service project for you.

Blessings on all of you and your families for a happy, healthy and holy 2013!

From the 1st reading for Sunday, January 1, 2013 

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!  NM 6:22-27