| Inspirational Stories |
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This is a place for us to share stories and letters from our members. Would you like to contribute your story? Just contact us.
From Chapter 2, Community Church of Poway, Poway CA
Fom Chapter 796, Hill Haven (a skilled nursing facility) in Rochester NY
rom Chapter 639 in Wellman, Iowa; Asbury United Methodist Church
From Chapter 279 in New Orleans, LA; Grace Episcopal Church
and a recent update from them
From Chapter 319, The Prayer Quilt Ministry of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
From Chapter 562 in Spruce Pine, North Carolina; Trinity Episcopal Church
From Chapter 437 in Bowmansville, New York; Bowmansville United Methodist Church
From Chapter 327 in Chula Vista, California; St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
From Chapter 472 in Sedona, Arizona; United Methodist Church
From Chapter 500 in Richardson, Texas; Northrich Baptist Church
From Chapter 195 in Apopka, Florida; Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church
From Chapter 2 in Poway, California; Community Church of Poway, United Church of Christ
From Chapter 3 in La Mesa, California; Foothills United Methodist Church
From Chapter 334 in Escondido, California; Church of St. Timothy
From Chapter 359 in Shreveport, Louisiana; Christ United Methodist Church
From Chapter 41 in Pacific Beach, California; Christ Lutheran Church
From Chapter 378 in Harvest, Alabama; Ford's Chapel United Methodist Church
From Chapter 358 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi
From Chapter 195 in Apopka, Florida; Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church
From Chapter 32 in The Woodlands, Texas; The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church
From Chapter 3 in La Mesa, California; Foothills United Methodist Church
From Chapter 267 in Irvine, California; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
From Chapter 189 in Escondido, California; Gateway Community Church
From Chapter 224 in Janesville, Wisconsin; St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
July 1, 2008
I was attending a week-long quilting class at Asilomar in Monterey, CA just after Easter. I was waiting to hear about my 23-year old daughter's continuing health problems. Then I received the call: Chellee's doctor was scheduling her for a biopsy to confirm his diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Needless to say, I was more than a little upset. Even though we had just met, I spilled out the whole story to my roommate, Ellen. The first words out of her mouth were "Have you heard about the Prayer Quilt Ministry?" Not only have I heard about it, I started the ministry in 1992! Don't you know that God put Ellen and me together when those room assignments were made? Her friendship, advice, stability and prayers got me through a rough time until I could be with my daughter. Several other members of that quiting class belonged other Prayers & Squares chapters as well. After months of testing and surgery to remove her spleen, the doctor finally concluded that Chellee does NOT have lymphoma. Prayers answered! They are still searching for a diagnosis, but I believe the many prayers she has received, including 2 prayer quilts, will continue to be a positive, healing force in her life.
From Wendy Mathson, Chapter 2, Community Church of Poway, Poway CA
and founder of Prayers & Squares, The Prayer Quilt Ministry
June, 2008
I was beginning to question myself, "How in the world are you going to jump start this project?" But I keep reminding myself that the process is as important as the end product. I think it will be so rewarding for the nursing home residents who can participate in the praying to have something to give someone else. It is my constant ministry to convey that God does have a purpose for each of us, even when we are 92 years old, in a wheelchair, and often experiencing other deficits. When that dawns on them, the spark comes back in their eyes, they sit a bit straighter in their chair, and you know that they feel so much better deep within their heart. Priceless moments!
From Nancy Travers, Chapter 796, Hill Haven (a skilled nursing facility) in Rochester NY
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August, 2007
Churchwork (a local newspaper publication from the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana) will be printing a story about the prayer quilt ministry in their September Issue. I don't know what it will say but the journalist came to take photos of one prayer quilt we saved for Grace Child Center made by Our Reedemer Lutheran Church. It is the only prayer quilt that we kept. She also took photos of the Log Book. We thought the childcare center would be open for the day after Labor Day but it will take longer. The building looks good though and is almost finished with the major construction. Now we will have to figure out how to furnish the rooms. That will be easy compared to the building being re-constructed. You can watch a video clip taken by Trinity Wall Street of New Orleans churches after Katrina. There is a section about Grace Church in the middle of the video.
There is a site from the www.gracecanalstreet.org webpage marked for the prayer quilt ministry and also the sewing machine ministry from Wisconsin. The people there collected 300 sewing machines to take to New Orleans after the flooding. You can also click onto the YouTube video of Palm Sunday. You will hear some ladies scream and that is because they were carrying crosses or banners and didn't see the big hole in the street. They almost fell in. It is funny. (I was at another church that Sunday).
The site that says The 9th Ward Congregation and Fr. Shola is about the first new congregation in New Orleans after Katrina. It was started by Fr. Shola Falodun walking around the 9th ward with the deacons (mainly Quin Bates, Michael Hackett, and the deacon candidate, myself) when we went out with the Mobile Respite Van. God and Bishop willing I will be ordained a deacon on December 1, 2007. So far the mobile van has helped 77,475 people with distributed goods including prayer quilts and clean water/snacks. The Diocese helped 252,395 people with all their ministries since the flood.
Thanks for all your help.
Charmaine Kathmann, Deacon Candidate
Grace Episcopal Church
New Orleans, Louisiana
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August, 2007
This is an awsome ministry to be involved in. I am so glad God lead me to the web site in April. We just tied our 18th Quilt on Sunday. We are working to try to get some finished ahead, but there always seems to be a need for one which we can fill.
We have gotten hooked up with the University of Iowa Neo natal Intensive care unit. Our Bible School mission project in July was the NICU (for short). We took bleached muslin & drew a butterfly or hot air balloon with a fabric marker. Our theme was "Rising to heights with God". The children colored them with crayons & we then ironed them to set the dye. After bordering them with fabric & putting flannel on the backs, the kids tied the knots & said prayers for the babies. They are only 12 x 18 inches to cover the tiny babies when Kangarooing with their parents. We delivered 55 to them two weeks ago. They also requested small prayer square 9 patches that they can offer to the berieved parents in the unit. There is such a need - one could go in any direction with this ministry.
God Bless you for what you do for us & starting this organization.
Deb Seward, Chapter 639
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From Chapter 319, The Prayer Quilt Ministry of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Christelle (a member of our Prayer Quilt Ministry) and her husband, Richard, spend each winter in Texas and summer in Pagosa Springs. Before returning to Pagosa this year, Richard suffered a stroke and after several days in the hospital was transferred to a rehabilitation facility for speech and physical therapy. After hearing of his stroke, we called Christelle to ask if Richard would like a prayer quilt. She accepted on his behalf. Following is the moving story she wrote about Richard's quilt.
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July, 2007
Dear Quilting Friends,
Your Prayer Quilt for Richard arrived last week. I delivered it and said, "You have a package."
"Who's it from?" he asked.
"Lynne in Pagosa," I responded as I started to open one end of the package.
Immediately, he guessed what was in the package. As I pulled it out, his shoulders heaved and he started bawling like a baby - for quite a while. I didn't know what to say, so I just folded it and laid it at the foot of the bed. Of course, he would probably be embarassed if I told you that he was so overwhelmed - so I guess I won't tell you that.
An hour or so later, he suddenly blurted out, "I never thought I'd get one of those quilts."
"Yea, I know," I said lamely.
Later, as I picked up my purse to go, he said, "You know, it would look real good hanging on the back of the recliner." I folded it carefully and draped it over the recliner, which just happened to be dark green - the exact color of some of the squares in the quilt. It looked spectacular.
The next morning he called me at the ranch on his cell phone. "Everybody has commented on my quilt this morning," he said. I could see him beaming - through the phone.
When I arrived later that afternoon, I went to the gym where I found him doing physical therapy. No "Hello, glad to see you ...." He looked at me and said, "Go get the quilt." So..... I went to the room and got the quilt. He had been explaining to his two female therapists and an old lady in therapy with him what a Prayer Quilt was and they wanted to see it.
They thought it was beautiful, especially the cross on the back. They asked a lot of questions about the Prayers & Squares program and said what a wonderful program it must be. The old lady caressed the quilt and said wistfully, "I always thought about quilting - I wonder how hard it is." I assured her it's not that hard and explained how the quilt was made - and about the prayer knots. She marveled at it and caressed it.
He left the Nix Rehab today and moved to Brighton Gardens to continue the rehab until he is ready to come home. Everyone at the Nix was sorry to see him - and the quilt - leave. The quilt had become the centerpiece of the rehab and received more attention than Paris Hilton.
We'll see what adventures the quilt has at Brighton Gardens. Amazing what a few scraps of material can accomplish, when put together by loving hands. Keep on stitchin' girls . . .
God bless you all,
Christelle & Richard
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April 9, 2007
The Journey of Brian’s Quilt by Sharron Selby
Brian Shenk was chosen to be the first recipient of a prayer quilt made by Trinity’s new ministry, Prayers & Squares. Brian and his unit are stationed in Baghdad and we pray for their safe return to their families and friends.
The Prayers & Squares group successfully completed crafting the quilt which reflects not only Brian’s love of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State, but also the quiet reflection of the prayers of the people in Trinity Episcopal Church for his safety. I would like to share with you the first part of the journey of Brian’s quilt.
On Good Friday I mailed the quilt to my niece, Amy. It was late in the afternoon and I decided to send it by priority mail, hoping she would receive it early the next week.
On Sunday, I called my brother to wish them all a Happy Easter. Amy answered the phone and when she heard my voice, she broke down and tearfully told me the events of that morning.
It just so happened that Brian’s parents were visiting their daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Augusta, Georgia. During their stay they had helped Amy take down wallpaper, paint and refurbish the home they had purchased just before Brian was shipped to Iraq. Ginny and Harold were leaving the next morning to return home to Pennsylvania.
When the doorbell rang at 10:00 AM on Easter morning, Ginny answered the door and signed for the package. They immediately opened the box to find Brian’s quilt and his mother, father, wife and children wept as they touched the colorful work and felt the many prayers of people from a little church in North Carolina that love and care about their beloved Brian.
Amy, Deanna, Clayton, Ginny and Harold left an hour later to have an Easter luncheon with the rest of the family. After the blessing was asked over their meal, Amy brought the quilt out and explained to them about the ministry of the quilt. She put it in her parent’s bedroom and asked that each person go in one at a time, tie a knot and say a prayer.
God’s timing is miraculous. Brian’s wife, children, parents and many members of his extended family were together on Easter to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and were able to touch a tangible gift that will soon be in his arms. The quilt is now en route to Brian. Thanks be to God.
A special thanks to Mary Johnson, Jean Johnson, Dory D’Alleva, and Karen Walker for their time, talent and prayers in the making of Brian’s quilt. I also thank each and every one of you who also tied a knot and said a prayer.
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Jan. 23, 2007
We gave out many more prayer quilts in the lower 9th ward in New Orleans this Sat. There were some touching stories:
One man, who looked like a cowboy with boots/hat and tatoos on his arm, approached the line that formed to get the quilts. I asked him his name and explained a little bit about the hand-made quilts. I asked him if he had any prayer requests because the strings on the quilt were to be tied as we prayed. I told him that his quilt was made in Canada (Owen Sound) and that the congregation of the church there had already tied all the strings as they prayed for the recipient of the quilt (which was him.) I didn't really think that he would like something like that but I was surprised.
The man asked me to pray for his mother who was away in Texas until he could finish her house in Arabi, LA. He was worried about his mother who was very ill and he was working like the devil to fix her house. He said that he really missed her. Then he asked for a prayer for his sister and each of her children, his neices, as he tried to finish their house in Arabi. He said that one of his neices really missed her "Little Princess" room that she had before the flood and he promised to get her a new one just like the room she used to have. It was very apparent that this one man was carrying the weight of his entire family on his shoulders. So I asked for his mother's name, tied a knot and prayed for her to heal. I asked for his sister's name, tied a knot and prayed for her. Then I tied a knot and prayed for each of his neices. Finally I prayed for him as I tied a knot. He was teary-eyed and said, "I will never forget this as long as I live."
A teen-aged boy about 13 years-old received a quilt. I forgot where his quilt came from. A volunteer from Slidell,LA, who was helping me, chose the most masculine looking quilt because you know how teen-aged boys are. So I tied a knot and prayed that his family would come together when their home was completed (his prayer requiest as the people in his family were scattered in different cities). Then he said, "This is just soooo NEAT."
Another man who looked like he had been working in the muck for years came to receive a quilt. There was one quilt made out of fabric that looked like animal hide. It was very rugged looking. (I don't remember which church or city it was from). If there was ever a prayer quilt that looked like its owner - then this was it. The man and the quilt were a match made in heaven.
A beautiful young girl in 7th grade came to receive her quilt. She asked for me to pray for her health. Her mother explained that the girl has cancer and is receiving treatment. So I tied a knot and prayed for health and long life.
All total we must have distributed well over 150 hand-made quilts and countless blankets. Thank you for your help with this ministry.
Please pray for Grace Episcopal Church in this difficult time as we are recovering from being flooded by 4 to 5 feet of water in all 68,00 sq ft of the church and rectory. Recently thieves demolished one of our beautiful stained-glass windonws and stole everything worth stealing in the church. (computers and construction tools - even extensive damage to new sheetrock work)
At this time in New Orleans, thieves from all over are coming to steal copper wire and plumbing in all the houses, kitchen cabinets, counter tops, doors and building materials, generators, sinks, ceiling tiles, and the architectural details of the old homes. The police chief in New Orleans has rewired his house twice because thieves keep stealing the copper wires to sell the copper. As soon as the people rebuild part of their houses, someone comes in to rip-out all the newness. Even the cemeteries are not immune to the stealing as the urns and statues on many of the graves have been stolen.
Thanks:
Charmaine Kathmann
Grace Episcopal Church
New Orleans, LA
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December 2006
My best friend and I attended a UMW Day Apart and the keynote speaker talked about making prayer quilts, and the healing they have provided in her church community. My friend was so moved by this story, that this was one of the few things she talked about for several months after the Day Apart.
We belong to a small United Methodist church (total members about 85, average attendance on Sundays 40) with many elderly members; a church like so many others. At this time, we still had not heard of Prayers and Squares. My friend and I made our Church's first quilt last November, for a very courageous woman who was in the 5th year of her fight with breast cancer. The congregation tied the quilt and within a few weeks a prayer quilt ministry group was formed.
We meet twice a month and average about 10 people at each meeting. We have had as many as 15, as few as 6, but we always enjoy each other's fellowship as we quilt and raise people up in prayer. To date we have completed and presented 31 quilts. Most of our "quilters" do not sew, but are willing to do any other part of the process we ask them to do.
We also have been making pocket prayer quilts by the dozen. They seem to fly out of church on an ongoing basis. We leave them in a basket in the back of the sanctuary and they are there for the taking. We are located in Western New York, and I know our pocket quilts have been mailed as far away as California and Scotland. They have traveled to Poland and South America as well. I'm sure they have reached farther than I know. Our youngest recipient was 7 months old, she was born at 24 weeks and spent many months in the hospital. She finally was able to go home when she was 6 1/2 months old and had her quilt a couple days later. Our oldest recipient will be 103 this Saturday and while she doesn't see or hear well anymore, she remains very alert and sharp. The hardest part for me is watching so many of our recipients pass away. And yet, I know that the quilts have provided tremendous comfort and spiritual/emotional healing in their final days. Sadly, our first recipient passed away in October.
We learned about Prayers and Squares between our second and third quilt and joined last March. This continues to be one of the strongest ministries in our church and had truly changed me forever.
We are blessed to have a team such as yours to support and guide us and share so much information with all the chapters.
Blessings, Kathy
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December 2006
The Prayers & Squares Chapter 327 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church has had a very happy, very prayerful and very wonderful first year - we have made and given out over 100 Prayer Quilts, with more requests coming in all the time. Our first questions, doubts, and wonderings were placed in the Lord's hands for guidance - our questions received answers, our doubts were dissolved and out of our wonderings we became a group of prayerful, happy, delighted ladies discovering the talents we could use for the P & S Ministry! We have been blessed with workers, with donations, with a room to work in and store our goods, and most of all, a need we recognized that we could help to fill - with a tangible prayer!
We are so happy to be spreading the word of this beatiful Ministry. God Bless you all,
Margaret Peters
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Oct. 2006
We tied a prayer quilt for one of our senior ladies, who has had many physical/health challenges over the past several years, two weeks ago following our Sunday worship service. Many gathered to pray and tie a knot and the quilt was presented to her the following Tuesday. The next Sunday morning her husband came to me with tears in his eyes to tell me she had experienced her first full night of sleep in over seven months when she received the prayer quilt. God does hear and answer our prayers!
Sharon Teter, Contact person, Chapter 472
Sedona United Methodist Church, Sedona, AZ
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We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful organization. It is amazing how our entire congregation has embraced this ministry. Every Sunday they check out the Prayer Quilt room which is located across the hall from the Santuary, to see how many quilts we have ready for them and they eagerly enter and pray, tie their knot and sign the card.
One of the sweetest things I have seen was a young couple entered one Sunday with their two children. That particular Sunday we had four quilts on four tables. Each picked a quilt and all four prayed as they tied their knot. The mother is now one of our quilters and does beautiful work.
This past Sunday I was touched to see one of our men kneeling as he prayed and tied his knot. I was playing the organ and just got a glimpse of his feet and suit coat and am glad I didn't recognize him during his private time of prayer.
So many have told us they find themselves thinking about the people they have prayed for on Sunday and continue to pray for them during the week and ask how they are doing, make calls, visits and send cards.
To date we have completed and delivered 18 quilts and to our surprise, 4 were requests for men that are having serious health problems, 1 for a 6 year old girl that has been diagnosed with a nerve disease that has no known cure. God is using this ministry in a very special way and we all agree that praying for those in need has brought us all closer not only to God but each other too.
A special thanks to all of you who have made this much needed ministry available to church families around the world. Personally, I have found a new way to share my faith with total strangers while doing what I love most -- shopping for fabric. Everyone is interested in what I am making and I take that opportunity to share what we are all doing and how God is blessing all of us in our efforts and giving encouragement to those who receive the quilts.
In His love, Mary Quindlen
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Wendy, you will never know what this ministry has meant to me, our ladies, and our church. What a blessing!!!! In two years we have presented very nearly 200 quilts (not counting quilts we have made by pastor's request.) By quilts I mean pieced, and machine quilted and ties added for prayers. Very few quilts are alike. Our group likes to learn quilting as we progress in our ministry. I am of the belief that if there is learning and a challenge that we will keep the interest of young and old and our group will grow. I have 30 ladies now in our group with several piecing quilt tops at home. God has certainly blessed our ministry of prayer.
Jo Ann Roth, P&S Chapter 195, Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church
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"The Lesson Learned From Sean & Joanne's Prayer Quilt"; April, 2006
It was Saturday afternoon after Prayers & Squares. We had layered two quilts, so Elma and I each took one home to put on the binding before the next morning. I'd had a very busy week and I was tired. We were getting ready for a few days of camping, had a lot to organize and Easter plans to make. I certainly didn't have time to spend two/three hours hand sewing binding! So I tried machine stitching along one side. But it just didn't look right. I tore it all out and started again. Same result! More "unsewing" and frustration! Finally I realized I was not going to be happy with it unless it was done "right". And my priorities had been all wrong! I had let my own "stuff" take priority over God's ministry. How could I have forgotten the unimaginable pain Sean and Joanne were experiencing following the tragic death of their son? Or the precarious pregnancy they were dealing with. I sat down right then with needle and thread and started to sew and pray. The repetition of needle and thread going in and out was interrupted only when the thread came to an end. The needle was rethreaded and the "in and out" went on. Time passed in a haze of thought, prayer, and stitching. And then it was finished. A job done right IS it's own satisfaction. But here's the plus! I was relaxed and at peace! And suddenly all the lists of camping stuff, groceries, clothes, Easter plans and finances had all fallen into place. Instead of running around frantically for a few hours, God "sat me down", "put me to work" and sorted out my problems for me. Why do we fight it?
Peace,
Carol Neville
P&S Chapter 2, Poway CA
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February, 2006 (from an email sent to Kathy Cueva, Prayers & Squares' President
Chapter 3, Foothills Methodist Church, La Mesa California
Hi Kathy,
I just wanted to let you know of the amazing experience I had last night.
This past week has been a tough one on me. I've been internalizing a lot of emotions for several weeks now. The emotions ranged from deep sadness over my hearing loss, to anger regarding my previous employment situation.
Feelings of concern for my future employment abilities. It just all had been building for some time and I had been doing a very good job of suppressing it. Until last night, when it just was more than I could deal with. I literally broke down in tears. Luckily my wife was there to listen and to share. Just as I was going to sleep, she came in with the Prayer Quilt you made and put it over me. I slept all night, with a deep sense of peace. She told me she checked on me a couple of times during the night and told me I never moved the Prayer Quilt off of me and was holding on to it tight the entire night.
It was the first time, I used it. Not sure why.....perhaps I was saving it for a special occasion like last night. The power of the prayers, that were prayed over that quilt were released last night and a blessing was poured out over me. I awoke with a new sense of peace and comfort. It was as though I became surrounded by an army of Angels and was renewed and strengthened by the sheer power of prayer. I find it hard to articulate exactly the presence of power I felt from the Lord, but it was amazing. I'm looking forward to wrapping myself in the Prayer Quilt every night from this point forward and allowing the prayers that were prayed over that quilt to do the work in my life.
Again, thank you so much.
-T.
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February, 2006
We made a quilt for little 18 month old Sophie who had suffered scalding burns to her lower legs and feet requiring many skin graftings. She came home but was extremely shaky and unsteady. Physical therapy was ongoing but she was in pain and would only walk on her tiptoes. She didn't cry but her little voice would be saying "Owie" with every step. When the quilt arrived she loved it and her parents took her for an outing. They wrapped her in the quilt and she stayed cuddled in it through the evening and slept with it that night. The next day she began to crawl toward a new toy. All of a sudden she pulled herself up and began playing and walking flatfooted without any sign of pain. By Sunday she was walking and acting like her old self and slept through the night in comfort.
Sophie's grandmother is certain the power of prayer and surrounding her with it was the turning point for her. Praise the Lord!!!
Sophie's grandmother wants to start up a P & S ministry in her church.
Ruth Lovison Smith, St. Tims Church,
P&S Chapter 334, Escondidio CA
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February, 2006
This is the best thing that has happened in our church for a very long time. We have so many women invloved with this ministry that have not been involved in anything for years. We have given over 40 quilts and many prayer squares. We have a room (previously a sunday school room) that is called "Prayers & Squares Quilt Ministry". We leave sewing machines, ironing boards up, two cutting tables, chairs with a small table in front for women working on quilts have shelves with labels as to what needs to be done on quilts such as needs material measured and cut, quilt needs top stiching, pressed and label applied, quilt need ties, etc. The room is available anytime of the week so if someone has an hour or two to work they can go in, look on the shelf and see what needs to be done and DO IT! It's working really good. Every first and third Friday we have work day 9-2 and different ones prepare a small lunch.
As you can tell I'm still on a high just like when I saw my first Prayer Quilt!!
Blessings to All,
Monique (Nickie) Johnson
P&S Chapter 359 in Shreveport, LA
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January, 2006
Dear Ms. Mealey,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you with sincere gratitude for the beautiful frog quilt that was sent to my son. We recently lost our home and all our belongings in Hurricane Katrina. We have all had to start our lives over again. My son, William is four years old. He was very sad for several weeks after the storm. He knew that all of his toys and belongings were lost. When I sat down with him and showed him the quilt, I explained to him that each knot in the quilt was a prayer that someone prayed for him. He was so excited that he started jumping up and down and said, "Wow! That sure is a lot of prayers". I told him that we have special friends that are praying for us while we get back on our feet. My son then said, "Mom, I don't want to leave this quilt for another hurricane to get it. I want to keep it with me forever." As a parent and Christian, I broke down and cried. God has blessed my family so much. We are alive and God is alive in us. I thank you so much for touching our lives in a very special way. This means so much to us. My son now sleeps with the quilt at the foot of his bed and will never leave it behind.
Thank you so much,
Sean, Kim,and William Murphy
Ocean Spring, MS |
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December, 2005
From P&S Chapter 378 in Harvest, Alabama
Here are photos of some of the Katrina survivor children who received the prayer quilts you all so graciously made. 7 prayer quilts from St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in San Diego (Chapter 187), 7 prayer quilts + 3 prayer bears from The Alliance Church in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada (Chapter 251) and the remainder from Ford's Chapel United Methodist Church in Harvest, Alabama (Chapter 378) and quilting friends in the area for a total of 38 prayer quilts and 3 prayer bears.
The pictures are from a group of 16 children who are being housed in camper trailers at the state park in Huntsville. They were very proud of the quilts and I was able to explain about Prayers & Squares and the meaning of the quilts to the children and their parents at a dinner given by the local community on the mountain. It was such a joy to see their faces and watch them wrap themselves in your love and prayers. I thank all of you who helped with this project. Know that you have made a difference in the lives of these children.
Four quilts were distributed to children housed in Hazel Green, Alabama and 21 will be distributed to children here in Huntsville, through a church called The Rock that renovated a motel for Katrina survivors to live in. I am hoping to have some pictures of that distibution, but am having to get 5 more quilts made so that no one has to be left out of that group. The Lord has answered my prayers through your generosity and we will have distributed 38 prayer quilts and 3 prayer bears by Christmas. What a special blessing this project has been to me and to the others touched by this effort. I had no idea that it would be possible to gather this many quilts in 2 months time!!
Praise be to the Lord,
Deborah Fields
p.s. The last picture is of me (the blond on the left) and my friend Patsy who helped distribute at Monte Santo. |
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December, 2005
P&S Chapter #358 Update from the Middle East
Sorry it's taken so long to update you all at HQ but we've been BUSY which is great!
The concept of prayer quilts was completely foreign here when we announced it but when they understood it, you could see eyes lighting up and some filling with tears as they fell in love with the idea. Everyone was so eager to get involved, a majority never having sewn before! We've been blessed with an overabundance of volunteers who take me to task if I go a week without giving them anything to work on! LOL We've broken up the work into teams (purchase/wash/iron, kit production, top piecing, assembly, binding and cross/label affixing, tying chaperones, historian, info board preparation). It is working beautifully and in the seven weeks since we announced it to the congregation, we've completed seven quilts. In working together we've forged new friendships and stronger fellowship and a heartfelt connection to those in need through prayer.
We've had two requests which I think are unique as far as I can tell. They've been for babies who were going to be born two or more months premature and the mothers wanted the quilt to be able to be draped over the incubators. Thus, a prayer square was too small but a crib quilt was too large. We took four 12" blocks and assembled them into a 2 x 2 layout which was the perfect size for the need. Introducing incubator quilts!!
Working on the quilts while waiting in line, in lobbies and waiting rooms around town has brought many opportunities to witness to complete strangers! What an ice breaker a quilt can be.
We are so proud to be a part of this international ministry and pray that it brings honor and glory to Him.
Many blessings,
Christie Eckardt and Chapter #358
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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May, 2005
I am an early riser and I usually spend the early morning hours reading my Bible and in study. But, this morning for some reason I decided to sit down at the computer and check on "Prayers and Squares." I was curious to see how many chapters you have now.
Praise God, for what He is doing with this ministry.
I am going to ask the publisher of our church paper "Southern Tidings" to forward you a copy of an article that was in this magazine regarding our ministry at Forest Lake Church. (Click to download a pdf file of this article.) This article was published in November of 2004 and quite honestly, it never occurred to me to send it to you. We have been blessed by donations and prayer quilt requests due to this article. In fact I went to Ohio for my class reunion three weeks ago and some of my classmates had seen the article and commented on the ministry. It gave me a real chance to witness for what God is doing in our church with this ministry.
I can't tell you have many notes and comments I have received regarding what a "blessing" this ministry has been to our church. It has also been a blessing to those of us who work on the quilts. I have about 22 ladies that have come but we usually have 11-12 there on Tuesday's when we work. Some have to work, or on out of town, etc. you know all those things that keep us busy.
We have made over 50 quilts in our first year. This does not count the "special" quilts we have made or all of the baby quilts. A baby quilts is presented to every child that is dedicated in our church and that has been quite a few lately. We do not baptize our little ones until they are around 12. But, we want them covered so they are dedicated to the Lord soon after their birth or actually at any time the parents choose.
We have 3 experienced quilters in our group and the others are at several stages of learning. Some have never sewn before so we are also a "teaching" ministry.
I have talked to several churches that are exploring starting this ministry. I will be speaking to a very large group in another week. I will be talking to the "Women's Ministries" leaders of our church in the entire state of Florida. I pray that God will help me share the wonderful blessing that can come from this ministry. Hopefully, we will have several new chapters in Florida soon.
As I read some of the articles regarding this ministry I would have to say we are experiencing the same things. People just can't seem to believe that we would make a quilt for them and "give" it to them. It is very heart touching to hear the stories and to know what it means to them.
We do something a little different, or at least I didn't read anything about this. When possible, we ask the person to be present to receive the quilt from the pastor. At the appropriate time in the service the individual and their family and usually a member of the quilting ministry are invited forward. The pastor talks about the quilt, and the person who is receiving it and what their prayer request is for. Following this, the pastor invites all to bow in prayer and he and the recipient and family tie knots in the quilt as the pastor prayers specifically for that person. It is a very touching time. They are then presented with the quilt which has been tied in the foyer of the church preceding the service. We also place a picture of the individual in one picture frame and the printed prayer request is placed in another frame. These sit on the quilt while it is being tied. The picture adds a lot. People like to see who they are praying for. It gives a mental picture to carry with them as they continue to pray during the days ahead.
All of our quilts are sandwiched with batting and are machine quilted. We put about 60 ties in each quilt for symbolic tieing in prayer. We felt the ties were not adequate to hold the quilt for multiple washing and general care. We desire the quilts to last a long time.
Just recently a lady died that had received a quilt from our Ministry. She lives in Ohio and a friend told her about this ministry and she wanted a quilt....she got one.... Helen was not going to get well except for a miracle. Helen loved her quilt and kept it close to her at all times. Everyone that came into her room signed the back of the quilt and tied a knot. She has 11 brothers and sisters. When Helen died this past week. I was called and told that hanging at the end of her casket was her quilt. Her daughter wanted it close to her mother and she wanted those attending to also sign the quilt. Karen was very touched that we would do this for her mother. Karen was given the quilt by her mother before she died. This quilt will go on minister to Karen and then perhaps to her children along with the story of Prayers and Squares.
God is so very good. I could go on and on with stories of our quilts but I won't....just wanted to let you know we are very active in our ministry here at Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church.
God Bless.
Jo Ann Roth
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May, 2005
Thought you might like to see this about one of our recent prayer quilts.
Ron's prayer quilt has been with him since Debby brought it over. It even went into surgery when he had the porta-cath inserted. His surgeon prayed out loud and tied a knot, two other special visitors before surgery prayed and tied knots, and all who cared for him when he got his first round of chemo prayed and tied knots. Thanks for providing such a wonderful tangible symbol of God's love.
Peg Van Dolson
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May, 2005
Dear Quilters,
Our daughter, Carol Perata, was the recipient of one of your beautiful quilts. My husband Ron and I stayed in Boise from 1-1-04 until our daughter’s death on 1-3-05. We cared for her and our 3 grandchildren, ages 15, 10 and 2 years, as she was a single parent.
She was so honored to receive the quilt and proudly showed it to her home health care nurses and hospice nurses. During the time she was able to have bedclothes on; she found comfort in touching each knot. Her 2 yr. old also enjoyed being on the bed and looking at the quilt. In the later days of her illness, when she couldn’t withstand the pain of anything touching her skin, she had the quilt within eyesight by her bed.
After Carol’s passing, as Ron and I struggled with all that happened during 2004 – Ron’s emergency abdominal surgery and my congestive heart failure, we received 2 more lovely prayer quilts.
This outreach is so very touching and meaningful. We look at our quilts every day and give thanks for the prayers that accompanied them. We take comfort in knowing we’re surrounded by prayers.
Our heartfelt thanks to you for thinking of us.
Sincerely,
Sharon and Ron Eaton
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Jan., 2005
Today we made a presentation explaining to our congregation about the new Ministry of Prayers & Squares that is having its big beginning on Feb. 15th.... The Lord is working throughout our church for this beautiful ministry to be successful and we are very grateful... the response has been overwhelming... At all four of our services we presented different quilts to members in our congregation who asked for them and were in need of special prayers... some of the people receiving the quilts were there along with their families... it was a time that we all felt filled with God's love. Four quilts in total were tied today....As people left the church after service they stopped at table where the quilts were and we showed them how to tie the knots... they tied knots and said silent prayers... What a blessing to see families... men and women and children come up to the table and tie the knots and say prayers... to hear parents tell their children what a prayer is for and how it helps someone in need...
To raise funds for Prayers and Squares our church is having a Valentine Dance and at that time we are having a Silent Auction to help fund us... We are hoping to get a good start with this...
We are so grateful to know about your Prayer Quilt Ministry and for us to be part of it is a great blessing for us! It truly is God's work in action...
Thank you very much...
Nancy R. Bressler
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Nov., 2004
I wanted you to know what we are doing. First of all, we are so very thankful for this ministry! This weekend we will tie two more quilts and this brings it up to 21 I think. I am trying to do as directed and keep a book with the requests, pictures etc. It is just amazing to see it grow.
Our church made a video clip that was shown to the whole congregation to explain Prayers & Squares. Also we now have a picture on our website and will be adding more with the help of one of our members. (http://www.gatewaycommunitychurch.net/quilt.htm)
God has provided so much and willing hearts and hands. But most of all the prayers and seeing how this is a blessing to GOD. It is truly amazing and we are so very thankful for the opportunity to be part of this ministry.
God Bless You Both!
Donna Pitt & Sandy Northrup
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October, 2004
Just wanted to let you know that we are up and running. Our first project was sending 200 Prayer and Squares to Iraq. Two brothers from Milton were written up in the newspaper about them volunteering to serve in Iraq because the felt that was where God wanted them to be. Since I had just written and form our chapter I thought this would be a good place to start.
We are now working on the second phase. Our church is doing "the Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren. We are going to have a mission fair so I'm hoping God send more angels for the ministry. I have just a few ladies helping right now, but I know it is going to grow.
In fact I have given your information to two ladies: one from Elkhorn, Wis (Jackie Thelen) and
the brother's mother (Arlene Koniecki) both ladies are wanting to start a chapter with their churches.
This such a wonderful ministry. God definitely is in charge.
Your sister in Christ
Maddy McCaslin
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