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 the program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS. Care and the love of knitting (and crochet) have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final prayer before being sent along its way. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, loving God!

The Prayer Shawl Ministry at Wilderness Community Church is led by Janet Humphreys. For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click on these links to view or download directions for a Knitted Prayer Shawl or a Crocheted Prayer Shawl.