Sat., May 27, 2023

Loving Craft

Wrapped in Love Ministry

As we come upon the end of another program year together, we pause to behold the different ministries that thrived in our midst over the past months. Thank you for the love, care, time, and energy given to SJC ministries this year. Throughout June, we will highlight ministries and their leadership, culminating to "Gratitude Sunday" on July 2nd in the garden at Strawbery Banke.

Wrapped in Love Blanket Ministry was started last September. Its mission is to provide blankets for sick, injured, or traumatized children ages newborn through high school. All blankets must have something done by hand to show the love and care being gifted to each child. The majority are quilts or afghans, but one could also embellish a store-bought blanket with ribbon, embroidery, or crocheting around the edges.

All blankets are donated to the Seacoast chapter of Project Linus, a national non-profit begun by one woman about 30 years ago in Colorado. Our blankets stay here in the coastal NH community, being given to hospitals, shelters, foster care programs, police and fire chiefs, EMT's, and others. The largest need is for grade school and high school age children (large size throws and twin size blankets).

All materials are provided to our "blanketeers" by our ministry or by the blanketeers themselves. Fabric, yarn, batting, thread, patterns, as well as lessons on how to make these items should someone wish to learn, are available. Please consider joining us or offering a monetary donation to our ministry. We do have expenses and are trying to be a self-supporting ministry. Contact Joyce Hoelzer to give or get involved.

These donations were made by members of our parish, friends and co-workers, and by employees of St. Mary’s Bank Knit & Crochet Groups. We thank everyone for their generosity and commitment. About 20 afghans and quilts in a variety of sizes were displayed in the front of the church on Sunday, May 21.