About The Shawls

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.

Care and the love of knitting (and crochet and sewing) have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are incorporated into every shawl.  The crafter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Prayers are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way.

As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need.

Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!

Recipients of the Shawls

Recipients may be undergoing medical procedures; need comfort after a loss or during bereavement; to celebrate a commitment or marriage ceremonies, birth, or nursing a baby; as a bridal shower gift; during an illness and recovery; or for ministering to others.

Our shawls are presented to the recipient in a ceremony with an additional blessing from one of our pastoral staff.

Shawls… made for centuries
universal and embracing,
symbolic of an inclusive,
unconditionally loving, God.

They wrap, enfold,
comfort, cover, give
solace, mother, hug,
shelter and beautify.

Those who have
received these shawls
have been uplifted and affirmed,
as if given wings to fly
above their troubles…

 Janet Bristow -1998
©Copyright 2008