Prayer Shawl Ministry

St. James is blessed to have a Prayer Shawl Ministry that was started in 2005 by a parish member who had been inspired by a friend's needs, and also by writings about the original Prayer Shawl Ministry in Hartford, Connecticut:

Shawls . . . made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God.

Wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify.

Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles . . ."

1998 Janet Bristow, Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl is a spiritual communion with God for both the creator of the Shawl and for the recipient. The process of making the Shawl includes a mingling of meditation, spirituality, and prayerful intentions all woven together by the Shawl Maker's hands. Each single stitch is part of a set of three that represent the Holy Trinity. The completed Shawl is made up of the intertwining of these many sets of three. At the beginning and during the making of each shawl many prayers and blessings are offered. When it is completed the recipient receives the specially blessed Shawl and a prayer card from the giver or from our Priest, Cindy Baskin. It becomes an honoring and awareness of the presence of God for both, a grace-filled moment. The occasions for presenting these beautiful Shawls, expressions of care, concern and celebration, can be as varied as bereavement, stress or illness to joyful events like weddings and baptisms. Beverly Bartolomeo (chair of the Prayer Shawl Ministry) says that they are "her hands (making the Shawls) but God's using them." Linda Pallett, the founder of the St. James Prayer Ministry reminds us that when you wear the shawl, it is as though the arms of God are holding you.

Since the program began, we have given away over 100 shawls and blankets each year, including five shawls that were sent to New Orleans as part of a nationwide effort to provide a shawl for each member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church at its meeting in September, 2007. Once all the bishops received their shawls, the extras were given to people on the Gulf Coast still recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In addition to prayer shawls, members of the ministry began the practice of knitting or crocheting blankets which are presented to infants and young children when they are baptized.

Listen to an explanation of our Prayer Shawl Ministry and blessing of new prayer shawls during our service on August 3, 2008:     (mp3)     (wma)

An article about our Prayer Shawl Ministry appeared in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington newsletter, The Window at EDOW, in February of 2006.

For more information about this ministry contact the parish office.