Since starting our Prayer Shawl Ministry in July of 2008 we have now shared over 110 shawls, at no cost, with those needing comfort or support for any reason (illness, stress, ill family member, any difficult challenge) and also with those celebrating the highlights of life (ie. wedding shawls & baby shawls, etc).  To give you a perspective -  that is an average of 3-4 shawls distributed every month over the past 2 and a half years.

 This ministry is dedicated in loving memory of Vaile Henry.

Please contact the Coordinator or the Church office for requests, more information or any donations of yarn, needles or cardstock:
Jennifer Craig     jenncraig_43@yahoo.ca        519-780-0359 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            519-780-0359      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Church office       stmatthias@rogers.com         519-767-2212 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            519-767-2212      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Our shawls have been shared with people of St. Matt’s community, their family and friends and also with complete strangers…. whenever and wherever the request is found. 

When the recipient wraps into their shawl, we hope they can imagine the arms of God wrapped around them.   However, we hold no requirement of certain faiths, beliefs or other affiliations of the receiver or the person requesting the shawl.  If you do not believe in the power of prayer, simply enjoy the gift of warmth that the shawl provides.

It can be picked up by the person requesting it to personally deliver, or arrangements can be made for it to be mailed (or possibly hand-delivered).  Some of the destinations that they have traveled to: in Ontario – Guelph, Kitchener, Whitby, London, Ottawa, Barrie, Hamilton, Durham, Mississauga, Sudbury, Toronto, Milton, Peterborough and Simcoe to name a few; as well as New Brunswick, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, Florida  and other areas of the US, England, Australia and various other places too.

Each shawl is unique.  Many prayers and blessings are intertwined into every shawl as it is lovingly prepared.  A small tag to acknowledge the Shawl Ministry of St. Matthias is sewn onto the shawl and a handmade card of verse(s) & prayer(s) can be chosen to accompany the shawl. We aim to have a monthly blessing of the newly completed shawls and cards as this completes the preparation stage for its forthcoming service.  We aim to have a constant supply available to be able to immediately meet all requests. 

Our group of shawl/card makers consists of members of St. Matthias, friends and local residents who share their time and talent.  We can provide to you, all the supplies needed so the only "cost" incurred is your time.  You can work at home to provide the completed shawl(s) or card(s) or feel welcome to join a twice monthly meeting at St. Matthias of crafters who donate their goods to non-profit organizations.

Current schedule:
Blessing during Sunday service (10am) - 1st Sunday of the month (beginning February 2011)

Meeting dates:  2nd Tuesday of each month 6:30-8:30pm
                        4th Friday of each month 6:30-8:30pm