Prayer Cloth Ministry

​Our Prayer Cloth Ministry is inspired by Acts 19:11-12.

Prayer cloths originated as an old practice of spreading prayers that can be found throughout Christian history and in the Bible. Traditionally prayer cloths were taken from the clothing of the saints and apostles, even Jesus Himself. These prayer cloths or "handkerchiefs" were believed to have the power of Jesus flowing through them. In other scriptural references, sick and diseased people were healed simply by touching a part of Jesus’ clothing.   Luke 8:40-48 tells of a sick lady who approaches Jesus, thinking "If I but touch the hem of His garment I shall be cured." And that’s exactly what happened as Jesus felt His miraculous power flow through His clothing to cure the woman. 

Of course, it is not the cloth that is responsible for the healing. Prayer cloths themselves are powerless. It is the faith of the believer who receives the cloth that brings healing and comfort. That faith is in the power of prayer and ultimately in the healing power of God, symbolized by the cloth. Like Prayer Shawls, they are knitted in prayer and are intended to make the receiver feel embraced in prayer.  The three-stitch pattern may be interpreted in many ways but is often believed to reference the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and/or the mind, body, and spirit focus for healing.  Their smaller size makes it possible to tuck them into a pocket or purse as a constant reminder of the prayers being offered on the receiver’s behalf.

You may choose to knit on your own, or you may choose to get together with a friend or friends to create shawl(s).

 

Shawl Instructions:

• Use size 10 ½ needles and 3 or more skeins of yarn (a synthetic will be washable).

• Cast-on 60 stitches. Alternate “knit three” with “purl three” across the row; ending and beginning each row with “knit three” for a length of 54 inches. Cast –off.

• Half way through your last skein, you may want to cast off so you will have sufficient yarn left to create an optional fringe on each end.

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Cloth Instructions:

• Use Size 5 needles and leftover yarn (a synthetic will be washable).

• Cast on 15 stitches. 

• Row 1 - knit 3 with purl 3 across the row; ending and beginning with knit 3.

• Row 2 - purl 3, knit 3 across the row.

• Row 3 – knit 3 purl 3 across the row.

• Row 4 – knit 3, purl 3 across the row.

• Row 5 - purl 3, knit 3 across the row.

• Row 6 - knit 3, purl 3 across the row.

• Repeat this checkerboard pattern formed by Rows 1-5 for 2 additional sections.

• Repeat Rows 1-3 and cast off.

• This will leave you with a 3x3” checkerboard square.

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To get involved, please contact Jan Tempest (481-5275) or

Caryl Felty (839-1813) from the Outreach Commission.  When not under COVID restrictions, the Knit Wits meet on the third Tuesday of each month in the Library from 10:00 – 12:00.

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