Yarn Ministry

Yarn MinistryAre you looking for a ministry of prayer and care for others? You might consider a unique way to serve as “the hands … of Christ, reaching out as He did.” 

The Yarn Ministries are a special way to reach out with love and care to others who are hurting; to comfort those in need of healing; to console those who are grieving; to bring hope to those in despair or in transition; to thank someone in a special way; to celebrate a significant milestone, or to provide for someone in need of a special blessing.

Our ministry makes shawls and blankets for those in need of prayers and those hurting in body, mind, or spirit. In the construction of the prayer shawl, blanket,or afghan, let God enter your mind and heart as you weave your thoughts and prayers into each stitch you make. When finished, the shawl is filled with prayer for the individual or baby who will receive it.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

* March 12, April 9, & May 14 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the St. Gabriel Council Room (enter through the main door to the church)

* April 2, & May 7 from 6 - 8 p.m. in the St. Gabriel Parish Hall (enter from outside door of the parish hall)

Please contact Linda Helvick at lhelvick@gmail.com or 262-501-3814 for questions regarding the upcoming evening meetings, guidelines for making items, to find out which items are most needed to best meet the needs of the parish and community, and to provide information on parishioners or local organizations that need knit or crochet blankets, scarves, hats or mittens, 

Please contact Louise at 262-628-3404 for any questions regarding the upcoming afternoon meetings 

 


St. Gabriel currently is supporting the following Yarn Ministries:

  • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Prayer shawls are donated to the recipients receiving the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or Shut-In.  Prayer shawls can be any shape, size, pattern, and color.  If you would like to see suggestions for prayer shawl instructions for knitting or crocheting and have access to prayers for the shawls, please visit:  https://shawlministry.com/
  • Blanket Ministry
    • Baptismal blankets are donated to St. Gabriel families at the time of Baptism to let the parents know their children are prayed for.  The recommended sizes are 30 x 38 inches or 36 x 40 inches.  The blankets do not need to be an exact size, these sizes are a guide.  The color, yarn, and pattern are left up to the individual.  The color is recommended to either be white or pastel colors.  It is recommended to select a yarn that is soft and easy to care for.  A soft acrylic or an acrylic blend would be recommended, but there is no limitation on what yarn to use.  The pattern is recommended to be something that is tight-stitched and does not contain large holes.  Holes in the blanket pattern one inch in diameter or less are recommended.
    • Additional blankets are donated to the parishioners of St. Gabriel upon request and outside the St. Gabriel Parish to The Congregation of the Great Spirit and other community organizations in need.  Donations of 12-inch by 12-inch knit or crochet squares are assembled by our volunteers into blankets for donation.  The following are blanket size guidelines for donation:
        • Lapghan:  36x48 inches (3x4 12-inch squares)
        • Small throw:  48x60 inches (4x5 12-inch squares)
        • large throw: 60x72 inches (5x6 12-inch squares)
        • Twin XL: 60x96 inches (5x8 12-inch squares)
  • Hats, Scarves, Mitten, and Cotton Cloths Ministry
    • Hats, Scarves, Mitten, and Cotton Cloths of all sizes are accepted as donations.  The Congregation of the Great Spirit states they are usually in greatest need of men's hats and children's mittens.  Any size, color, and pattern can be made for donation.  It is requested that donations be made in easy-to-care-for yarn.  Cotton cloths are used for dishes or bathing. These can be any size, however, the average size or guideline is 7x7 inches.

If you currently knit or crochet and make blankets, shawls, scarves, hats, or mittens, if you want to learn how,  if you or someone you know would like to receive a prayer shawl/blanket, or if you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact the parish office at 262-628-1141.  

Already completed baptismal blankets, shawls, hats, scarves, mittens, or blankets of any size and 12 inches by 12 inches knit or crochet squares or donations of yarn, knitting or crocheting supplies can be dropped off at the St. Gabriel Parish Office during office hours.

If you or someone you know would like to receive a prayer shawl/blanket, or if you would like to become a crafter for this ministry, please contact the parish office at 262-628-1141.

While praying for someone we don’t know is a different experience than intercessory prayers offered for a specific individual, prayer for a stranger helps us to learn to trust the truth that God works through us when we care for friends and strangers.