If you're like me, you're probably ready to jump right in and get to work! In fact, waiting can feel like the most tedious and frustrating thing in the world, but remember, the process of creating the prayer shawl is a spiritual one and should be treated as such.
Take a deep breath, pause, and say a few words to God. Thank him for allowing you to do this in his name, ask him to bless you as you begin working, and say a prayer for the receiver of the shawl, even if you're not sure who that is yet.
Your prayer can be totally spontaneous, or if you're having a day we're you're stuck, borrow one of the following prayers! :) Consider keeping your favorite prayer in a bag with your work so you'll always have it at your fingertips!
If you have a particular prayer you wrote, I encourage you to share it with the group (through comments or email) so others can be inspired by you! I will post it on our prayers page as soon as possible! :)
I also encourage you to say a quick prayer each time you pick up your work. Nothing is more valuable than quiet time with the Lord.
The following prayers are not my own work, they can be found (with many others) on the prayer page of www.shawlministry.com, the inspiration for our group. I encourage you to take a few moments to check them all out! :)
Beginning To Knit Dedication
© 2014 All Rights Reserved
By: Janet Severi Bristow - 2000
Mantle of Love, Healer of Hearts,
I light this candle as a reminder of Your presence as I begin.
I ask a
blessing from all who have come before me;
whose hands have been
instruments of creation and beauty;
who have used humble tools and
hand-spun wool in order to provide cover and warmth for
themselves and
those they loved;
who have felt, as I will feel, the yarn in their
fingers;
who have seen, as I will see, the growth of the fabric;
who
have heard, as I will hear, the click of the needles.
Guide my
attention to stay on course.
Hold me close and ground me.
Bless, also,
this yarn and these knitting needles.
May any negative energy connected
to them be cast away as I cast on;
and all positive energy bound in as I
bind off.
In their simplicity, may I find comfort and solace.
Bless my hands...
Often just appendages at the end of my arms...
workers doing their job without appreciation...looked at, yet not really
seen.
These instruments of love have done mundane tasks, yet also create
beauty.
They reach out, touch, stroke, scrub, lift, grasp, gesture and
guide.
These hands, my hands, gifts of great importance,
Blessings be
on them and in them as I begin.
May the fruits of their labor be good!
~~~~
Ariadne's Blessing
© 2014 All rights reserved.
By: Janet Severi Bristow - 1998
Holy One,
Whose womb is threaded and waiting,
guide us to pick up the thread
and
walk the spiral through the dark and
difficult passages.
Life Cord,
Who sustains us as we move to our center, give us courage
to meet our souls.
Comfort us
through our dismantling, wrapped in
Your loving embrace.
Mantle of
Love,
Rebirth us with Wisdom, as we are knitted once
again back into wholeness.
~~~~
Starting Prayer
© 2014 All rights reserved
By: Pamela Stiff
Dear Lord,
Take away all my negative thoughts and feelings as I work on this shawl of
comfort for ___________. Guide my hands as they work and keep my thoughts
positive and centered around her. I make each stitch with love and a prayer
in my heart for her comfort, hope, and healing. May __________ feel Your
loving arms around her as she wears this shawl and may it represent to her
Your power to heal any hurt. Comfort her, Bless her, Heal Her. I ask this in
Jesus name. Amen
~~~~
St. Patrick Church - Starting Prayer -
© 2014 All rights reserved
by Darcy Horon
-Siepman
Dear Lord, Bless these needles that they stay
strong and light so they don't tire the hands that wield them;
Bless this yarn with strength and softness that it will form a cloth of
warmth and comfort;
Bless these hands with strength and skill so they may make well crafted
gifts;
Bless this heart with strength and perseverance so I will see this work
through to bring comfort to those in need;
But most of all dear Lord, Bless the wearer of this cloth with strength and
comfort that
their burdens may be lightened and their hearts gladdened with the
realization that they are loved.
Psalm 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and confirm
for us the work of our
hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.
~~~~
Nine Blessings
© 2014 All rights reserved
I call nine blessings from above
In
the name of God: the creator, the giver of life, the holder of time
In
the name of Jesus: the savior, the healer, the lifter of pain.
In the
name of the Spirit: the comforter, the consoler, the sustainer of life.
I knit a mantle of caring
I knit a mantle of protection
I knit a
mantle of wholeness
I knit a mantle of strength
I knit a mantle of
healing
I knit a mantle of patience
I knit a mantle to enfold you
I knit a mantle to encircle you
I knit a mantle to empower you.
~~~~
Prayer for All -
© 2014 All rights reserved
Tish Hoar
Dear Lord, please bless these needles of mine.
That I may make a shawl of strength, faith,
health and love. Give this shawl the ability to comfort,
the ability to heal, the ability to give strength
where it is needed and of your will it to be.
May the recipient be able to know that you are with
them and that they are not alone.
That they are cared for and loved and prayed for.
That your loving arms are around them,
to protect them for whatever reason they should need,
whenever they put this shawl on.
Lord, thank-you for the
blessings that this shawl is given. Amen.
~~~~
A Shawl Maker's Prayer
© 2014 All rights reserved - By
Diane Burgess
Dear Lord; Bless my hands as I knit today. May each
twist of the yarn guide me to create a pattern of love and
comfort in my work and remind me of Your ultimate protection.
Wrap me in Your spirit so that I will be more caring towards
those in need.
Grant me patience as I create this shawl. And bless
my handiwork as it travels to bring comfort and peace
to someone in need of Your warming embrace. Amen.
~~~~
Provena St. Mary's Praying Hands Shawl
Ministry - Praying Hands Crafters
Kankakee, IL
Beginning Prayer: "God, bless the work of my hands, may it bring
joy to the wearer and
peace to the crafter. May the person who receives this shawl feel your
loving embrace. May this shawl be a tangible prayer and blessing. Amen"
© 2014 All rights reserved
Prayer Tag that is packaged with the shawl:
"This shawl was crafted with prayers for your healing-Body, Mind &
Spirit. As you wear this shawl may you feel the warm embrace of our
Heavenly Father."
© 2014 All rights reserved
~~~~
Say a Little Prayer
- © 2014 All rights reserved
Written by: Tish H.
Say a Little Prayer
As I start this shawl I say a little prayer.
In hopes this shawl will be worn,
And not thrown neatly on a chair.
I say a little prayer that the Lord grants
your intentions that only you know.
I hope this shawl gives you comfort
where ever you go.
So, when you are happy, sad or you think
no one cares.
Wrap this shawl around you and say a little prayer.
Hope, Faith and Love is in each stitch I make
from beginning to end.
And with all the prayers I pray with this shawl that I send.
I pray that you know that the Lord is always there.
As I am finished with this shawl I say a little prayer.
~~~~
Prayer Shawl Prayer
© 2014 All rights reserved
By Chuck Svihlik
Dear God, with You all things are possible
Bless these hands as they attempt to create this shawl,
may they do Your Bidding, and when complete may this shawl
give warmth and comfort to who ever receives it.
Let it be filled with Your Love. Amen
P.S. Chuck's wife Marianne uses this prayer when
making shawls with her loom.
~~~~
Prayer to be said while knitting
By: Marti Belknap- Cardiff, CA Fall 2008
Bless this shawl that it may be
filled with healing energy.
_____(name)_____ is in my heart today
as I knit and as I pray.
May each stitch be filled with care,
comfort, strength, and warmth to share.
May the love in every row
help God’s sacred healing flow.
~~~~
Beginning Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega. You know our yesterdays, todays and
tomorrows.
Be with us now as we work together to bring your comfort and strength to those
who are in need.
We lift up the names of those who have received a shawl.
We lift up the names of those will receive a shawl in progress.
We lift up the names of those who will need a shawl in the future.
Be their tower of strength.
Be by their side.
Be their peace and comfort.
Bless our work as we knit and crochet these tangible gifts that will surround
your children with your love.
Amen
Written submitted by Donna Saltzberg
Trinity Presbyterian Church Prayer Shawl Ministry
Shoreline, WA
~~~~
Grandmother’s Prayer*
May God’s grace be upon this shawl….
Warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing;
just as a Grandmother has done for all her children and Grandchildren.
May this shawl be a reminder of a safe and secure hug,
and that a Grandmother’s love is sustaining,
just like the Love from the Lord.
This shawl in three colors, or stitches or three,
is a reminder of the Trinity:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
May it also remind us of how we are “knit together” in a family,
and of the love that flows from one generation to the next.
Grandmothers are always there to hold us, guide us,
and walk by our sides, throughout our lives;
taking us down the paths that lead us to our God.
God grant you peace, hope, wisdom, a happy heart, the ability to
comfort, strength, patience, and joy.
As you wear this shawl feel the loving arms of our Lord
around your shoulders.
Grandmothers are very special teachers to the following
generations.
God Bless You.
Prayer Shawl Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Goshen, NY 2008
Submitted by: Wendy Paffenroth
*Adapted from:
Prayer Of Blessing (blessing for a
completed shawl) By: Janet SeveriBristow - 2000 © 2014 All rights reserved
~~~~
Prayer for Shawl Maker and Receiver of the Shawl
Composed by W. Paffenroth
Dear God,
As I make this shawl for one of your lambs, please….
Bless my hands – that will start with nothing and create something warm &
comforting.
Bless my mind- that I will create something useful,
Bless my imagination – that I will design something unique & beautiful,
Bless my heart – that some of it will go with this hug to let the receiver know
it was made with love,
Bless my patience – that I will continue to move forward & focused on this gift
until I am finished,
Bless my soul – that it is open to continue to make gifts for those in need,
Bless my family & friends – who encourage me to continue making these gifts that
give hope, faith & love,
Bless the one that receives this gift. May it help them to remind them of your
love each time they wrap it around their soul.
And, Thank you for blessing me with the ability to make these hugs that warm
someone.
Let it bring some healing or joy to those who need it & be a reminder that
someone cares.
Thank you for the opportunity to share your love each day.
Amen
~~~~
The Yarn’s Journey
© 2014 All Rights Reserved
By: Tish Hoar
As the yarn's journey starts,
It becomes a prayer that comes from the shawl maker's heart,
The yarn becomes a journey of silent prayer,
Through it's twists and knots, the prayer is still there,
The quiet clicking or the swish of the yarn,
Tells you the prayer is still going on,
The Shawl maker adds on another skein,
The prayer is anew and doesn't wane,
As time goes by and the shawl maker's mind sometimes wanders,
The yarn goes on and prayerfully ponders,
A prayer is said and the stitching subsides,
The yarn comes to an end and is knotted and tied,
It begins a new journey and given with prayer,
It's Hope, Faith and Love the recipient wears,
But in the silent echoes you can prayerfully hear,
The prayers, the quiet clicking, and the swish of the yarn,
The yarn never ceases and its silent prayers are still going on...
~~~~
Song Lyrics:
You knit us together though far apart,
A fabric of beauty, of warmth and art,
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
You knit us together, all shapes and size,
The fabric you make is your great Surprise
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
You knit us together, all shades and hue
The gold of our joy and our sorrow’s blue
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
You knit us together, to serve and share
The wounds that we bind show your healing care
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
You knit us together, your seamless robe
To care and to comfort, around the globe
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
You knit us together in so many ways
To live with each other, and sing your praise.
So bind us together, through time and through space
To grow into your garment of grace
To wrap the world in love’s Embrace
By Anna Briggs, South Liverpool, England
Knit & Natter Group - Knitting People Together
July 2008
Tune: Mayenziweanna
~~~~
Loving God, bless these hands. Guide them as only you can.
In my hands you have placed so much responsibility.
Bless each stitch and weave, each movement is yours.
I am your servant. I am a tool at your disposal.
Give me the strength to do right in your name.
Forgive me if I falter, or fall short. You give me comfort and warmth with your word.
Help me to comfort others with these hands, and lead my heart towards grace.
~~~~
