Readers have bestowed many kindnesses on the Eicher family this year, and it has been a tough year with their house fire and Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis in the family. A group of women with the St. Paul's Presbyterian Church Prayer Shawl Ministry in Somerset, PA took the time to make shawls for the Eicher girls. It was a very special gift for each and we thank them for their thoughtfulness! A bit of background about the Prayer Shawl Ministry from Janice Forry of St. Paul's:
The ministry began in Hartford, Connecticut in 1998 with the knitting and crocheting of shawls for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. The ministry has grown and is worldwide. Shawls are now being made not only for comfort and need but also for celebrating occasions such as a wedding, the birth of a child, graduation, retirement and persons who have achieved promotions on the job, etc. We encourage everyone to use a stitch or pattern of three symbolizing the Trinity. Also as the shawl is being made, we pray for the recipient. Our group meets every other week and there are approximately six to nine persons present. As the meeting begins, we light a candle representing the presence of the Holy Spirit and pray for the work of our hands and the recipients of our labor of love. We also have a special blessing for the completed shawls. So many recipients have expressed appreciation for the shawls and use them when they have their daily prayers. Crocheting goes faster than knitting and so the time to complete a shawl varies but some of the women are able to make one in a week's time.
Thanks again to the women at St. Paul's for such a kind gesture. Click here to watch a video of the Eicher girls opening the package (the hand occasionally darting into the photo is Benjamin Eicher's)
Emmy O.
Oh it says the video has been removed 🙁
Karen Dulin
Hi Kevin, It says the video has been removed by the owner? Wondered if you knew about it.
Christy
Awesome video! I loved hearing the children's voices. You did a good job, Kevin. Thank you for making the video.
Kevin
Thanks, Christy!
Linda from KY
The shawls are so beautiful! What a kind, thoughtful, and beautiful gift from the ladies at St. Paul's Presbyterian! Thanks for sharing the excitment with us as the Eicher family opened their gift. That was fun and very touching!
Marilyn from NY
I think those shawls are beautiful. In our church the ladies make up shawls they call prayer shawls and they go to people who are ill, or difficult times . The shawl is for the person to wrap around them and let them know that God is with them even through the worse times. Also to know that the people of our church is praying for them. I would like to make one, but all the patterns are for crocheting and I am looking for a fairly easy one in knitting-if anyone has one they would like to share.
Vanessa Z
I was able to open the video. They are pretty shawls. I'm sure the girls will enjoy them.
lorraine stoddard
I liked the video! Nice to hear the children talking. The shawls are beautiful! So nice of the ladies to make them. God Bless them all!!
Kathleen
How thoughtful for the ladies of the church, what I could see the shaws are gorgeous. Makes me wish I knew how to do hand work.
Christine
It was so nice of the church ladies to do this for the Eicher girls.