It appears that it takes more than one church community to keep me happily connected to my faith. Sundays Dave and I attend the one (very early) Mass at our tiny nearby parish and on Wednesdays we go to choir practice (yes, I’ve finally joined). Worship there is on a small scale, both intimate and isolating. Although we are not having difficulty in becoming involved, we are having more of a challenge in feeling connected.
On Thursdays and Fridays though, I hang with the Lutherans.
It all started when soon after moving here, my neighbor, Angela asked what I liked to do to keep busy. She mentioned that her church had a prayer shawl ministry that met on Friday mornings and asked if I’d be interested in tagging along with her. I thought it would be a great way to meet more people and to spend time doing something I love. So, a few weeks later, I met her at Peace Lutheran and became one of the prayer shawl ladies.
I’ve heard of the prayer shawl ministry before and at one time thought about getting one going at St. Marks but my time was already too full with work, home, church and friends to find the time or focus to do so. The concept is simple, you knit shawls and blankets for folks in the community who need some spiritual support. As we knit, we are updated on the sick of the community. When a project is completed, it is carefully folded and tied with a ribbon and labelled with the name of the recipient. At the end of the session, the group gathers in the sanctuary where the shawl is draped lovingly upon a cross-shaped mini quilt rack in the center of the main aisle. We join hands and offer prayers for all the sick and dedicated the new shawl. The shawls remain in the sanctuary through the weekend so that the congregation can touch them and offer prayers as they approach the table for Communion.
The idea is so simple, so loving, so meaningful. Mind you, not all of the knitters in this group are as experienced as me. For many, this is the only knitting they have ever done so each stitch is ever so carefully and intentionally placed on the needle. But the results are anything but second rate. There is no pressure to rush through a project, only words of encouragement. I can only imagine what it must feel like to receive one of these special items, so tenderly crafted for the express purpose of providing comfort, like a warm hug from the community. I am truly enjoying my time with them and find myself drawn into the greater community through the prayer and caring for its people in a way that I seem to lack in my own parish.
Yesterday, I began a Bible study with a small group of ladies at Peace Lutheran. Again, my friend Angela was the catalyst. It has been a very long time since I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a concentrated study like this and I have hungered for it. Until yesterday, I didn’t realize just how much. The name of the course is “Jesus the One and Only” by Beth Moore. My Protestant friends all seem to know of her but she is new to me. It took a while to get past the more vibrant and at times down-right sappy sentimentalism of her style but her scholarship is good. She takes great pains to going back to key Greek words and expanding the translation. I love that!
Although this is a new group of women, I already feel a part of the community because of the insight I’ve gained from my time with the Prayer Shawl ministry. I feel so drawn to the people in this church. As always, I trust there is a plan for all of this. Until the blueprints are revealed to me, I will continue in both places. After all there is only one God and if as we believe this God is present in three persons, why can’t this presence also be in more than one church? I’ll keep you posted but for now, I’ve got to grab my knitting!