Mennonite Women Canada Ministries

Opportunities for Giving

• Project Descriptions of Mennonite Women Canada

Pennies & Prayer

• Pennies and Prayers Inheritance Fund

Stories of Prayer Shawl Ministry

Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg began a prayer shawl ministry in January of 2007. We have seven older women and had (one man) who meet once a month, to share stories and prayers as we knit and crochet prayer shawls. The rest of the month we knit and crochet in our homes, and feel blessed being able to use our skills and our desire to share a gift of Love and Prayer with those who may be discouraged or sick, or just need to feel remembered prayerfully. We have gifted 21 men and women with these prayer shawls thus far.

One prayer shawl recipient said, “I truly felt warmth and love as the prayer shawl was placed over my shoulders. It is so very special and I thank God for the willing hearts and hands that make them”.
Irene Suderman

My first experience with a prayer shawl ministry started at Native Assembly 2006 at Atmore, Alabama. Each group represented at the assembly received a few prayer shawls to take back to their home communities. My husband Walter and I were pastoring the Riverton Fellowship Circle at the time. Our group decided to give the shawls we received to two members from our group who were struggling with serious health issues. Seeing how meaningful this was to the recipients, prompted me to make a personal commitment to make a shawl for each of the other women in the group. Having done that, I continue to knit, and pray, and give shawls as I feel led. Shortly after my husband’s death, I received a prayer shawl from a very special niece. As I wrapped its comforting warmth around me, I reflected on all the prayer support we experienced during my husband’s prolonged illness and through the subsequent months of grieving and adjustment. Psalm 125:2 took on new meaning: ”As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time on and forever”. Prayers are the walls of comfort and protection with which we surround each other.
Hilda Franz

For Prayer Shawls knitting and crocheting instructions send an email to elgood@dejazzd.com.