Congregational Care

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Caring For Aging Parents - September 13th (back to top)

Caring for Aging Parents can be stressful and tiring during the best of times and downright overwhelming and exhausting at other times. Our parents cared for and nurtured us for so long and we want to do them the honor of lovingly caring for them when they need us. Some need a little help around the house and keeping track of the bills while others need full time care. We have a large group of parishioners who are in the midst of caring for an elderly loved one. Wherever you are in this journey we welcome you to join us as we kick off this year of Caring for Aging Parents on Monday, September 13th, from 7:00 - 8:15 PM in the Yellow Room. We will meet on the second Monday of the month though May 2011. For more information contact Lynne LeBlanc, RN, Parish Nurse at 704-714-6968 orleblancl@christchurchcharlotte.org.

Job Connection (back to top)

Did you know we have a job bank on this website? If you become aware of a job opening and want to pass on the job description and a contact for that job, please send your job connection to Christy Letanosky, at letanoskyc@christchurchcharlotte.org. To check out the current listings on our job bank, click here.

Knit One, Pray Too - First and Third Monday of each month (back to top)

by Caroline Wilson
On one of my visits home, I was introduced to the Prayer Shawl Ministry, as my mother was knitting a beautiful shawl to give to a sick parishioner in her church. I was immediately drawn to the idea of merging my love of handiwork and my desire to find a calling or ministry at church. When I returned to Charlotte, I asked Aimee Norman if Christ Church had a Prayer Shawl Ministry, and she said, “No, why don’t you start one?!” So off I went!

After a bit of publicity, I discovered that many women shared my passion for knitting and also wanted to find a place to share in fellowship while doing what we enjoy. Our group began with a wide variety of abilities from those who had knitted for years to those who had never picked up a needle. We have truly bonded over our needles and all different colors of yarn! We now have 25 members of all levels. Some knit a shawl in 2 weeks while others (like me) might take 6 months!

I have heard from many recipients of prayer shawls that they have been a comfort to them in times of need. One of our newest members was one such recipient! She wanted to join the group because receiving her shawl meant so much to her and she wanted to pass on the gift.

Another prayer shawl story is recounted by Lynne McAdams, whose college-aged daughter was in the hospital for several weeks. She tells her story this way: “This fall our daughter, Rebecca, was hospitalized in critical condition. I was staying in the hospital around the clock and one day Lisa brought me a prayer shawl. At night while I was alone or very early in the morning, I would wrap myself in the shawl and pray. As I prayed, I was comforted not only by the warmth of the shawl but, also by the love that I knew had gone into the knitting of the shawl and the knowledge that so many people all over the world were praying for Rebecca at the same time that I was. Later, we learned that Joan Hitchens knit the shawl and then it was even more special to us because Joan is the mother of Holly Patton, and Holly is Rebecca’s godmother. Through the grace of God and her wonderful medical team, today Rebecca is completely healed and back living and loving college life.”

The Knit One, Pray Too group meets on the first and third Monday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in St. Francis D. Come join us!

The pattern for the shawls comes from the Prayer Shawl Ministry formed in 1998 and was written and developed by Victoria Galo and Janet Bristow. Many churches throughout the world are now embracing this ministry. The original pattern for the shawls uses the symbolic “Trinity Stitch” of Knit 3, Purl 3 to encourage the knitters to pray as they knit. Many prayers are woven into each shawl, and all shawls are blessed at a service of worship at Christ Church before being passed on to a parishioner. Shawls can be given for many reasons: during an illness and recovery, to those undergoing medical procedures, as a comfort after a loss, or as a symbol of Christ Church’s love for a parishioner.