Sew a lot of fun: Quilters share ideas, fellowship – leaven.com

by Mark and Julie Anderson
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Topeka – The most important thing to remember is: “It’s not about a quilt. S S S It’s about prayers and evangelization. “

This is what Betty Henderson told a group of 30 members of the six other parishes of Topeka during a collection held in the St. Matthew parish on January 18th. Henderson is a member of the group of St. Matthew’s prayer blanket.

Titled Tea Party, the event was the idea of ​​Dale Rose, a coordinator of the Ministry of Prayer blanket in St. Matthew. She thought it would be fun to collect all the different ministries for sewing and prayer blankets from other parishes together to share resources, learn different skills and see some of the different instruments used by St. Matthew to create their prayers blankets.

Short sessions in small groups included border quilts, sandwich techniques, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, hands quilling and 3D blocking. The sessions were made in rotation and lasted about five to six minutes each. In this way, all participants can participate in all sessions.

In order to launch the activities of the morning, Rose led the Quilter prayer gathered, dedicating both their time and the seams as a prayer to those who ultimately receive their ready -made prayer blankets. One of the lines states: “Let this activity be not just a hobby, but also a dedicated time of petition, where our thoughts and prayers are woven into the fabric of each quilt, carrying warmth, comfort and hope of all who are covered by it.”

Typical prayers include the rosary and the hat of divine mercy, but others just come from the heart.

“The prayers are on the lips, while the mind is sewing,” Henderson said, adding that one of her loved ones is simple: “Lord, please don’t let me confuse this!”

Prayer is vital for every parish blanket. In the last 15-20 years, St. Matthew has spread hundreds of blankets around the city, state, region, nation and at least 15 other countries. The boxes have found a way to the sick, to those in hospitals and nursing homes and for those who have suffered pernicious losses. In some cases, people have experienced physical or spiritual healing.

The healing that has occurred should not really surprise anyone, Henderson said. In the end, the use of prayer towels dates from biblical times and can be found in both the old and New Testaments.

For example, in Acts 19: 11-12, a book that is usually attributed to St. Luke is written: “And God performed unusual wonders of Paul’s hands, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, And the diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. “

A well -known example of a fabric involved in at least one healing is Torino’s cover, Henderson said, adding that he could tell dozens of stories of people cured or comforted by the prayer blankets spread by the prayer service of St. Matthew.

This may be one of the reasons the ministry was so excited to share its ideas and resources with the other parishes of Topeka, a fact appreciated by the participants themselves.

Pat Hipene, a member of the King’s quilt group, said she was present at the Tea Part For cutting.

Shelley Barton of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish said he was glad he came. She also registers to learn “some tips and tricks” as well as “enjoy communion with others”. Her head is now full of ideas, ideas that she can hardly wait to share with her parish.