LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS The Prayer Shawl Ministry recently received a donation of yarn that was collected by needleworkers and congregation members who attend Flemington’s First Church of Christ. Shown in this photo, from left, are Prayer Shawl Ministry members Donna Barton, Brenda Bottort, Pastor Susan Champion, Esther Kramer, Sandy Wilson, Alison Kramer and Shalu Mishra.

MILL HALL — The Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers met on Wednesday, May 6, at noon, at the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church, 111 Main St., Mill Hall, for their monthly meeting. The public is invited to come and meet the needleworkers and see the many items that have been created over the last month. A light lunch is provided for those who attend.

They were pleased to have several visitors — Kathy Shortledge, Cindy White, Alma Seyler, Laura Tarantella, Pastor Laura Gilbert and her dog, Muncy, and Brenda Johnson — with them for this month’s meeting, and are hoping they become regular needleworkers with the group.

It was wonderful to have Pastor Laura Gilbert from Pathway to Christ Church in McElhattan with us this month. Pastor Laura crocheted the cutest baby items that she donated for the Prayer Shawl Ministry outreach. Pastor Laura also brought her mother, Brenda Johnson, along to the meeting.

It was also great to welcome back Dee Hines, one of the original five members who came to the very first PSM meeting in 2007.

“God has blessed our ministry over the years, from those days of having only five members, to now having more than 50 members,” said Pastor Susan Champion, of BEUP Church. “We are thankful for each one of our needleworkers who are dedicated to carrying on our mission by crocheting or knitting things each month for us.”

A large assortment of items were brought in by the needleworkers this month. Needleworkers are given yarn each month to take home and create projects that are then given to more than 25 organizations in the area. The needleworkers vary in different skill levels and there is always an abundance of beautiful items (hats, scarves, mittens, handwarmers, prayer shawls, lap robes and afghans) that are brought in each month.

“This month Shalu, one of our seasoned needleworkers, crocheted the most beautiful afghans with matching pillows that will be given to those in need,” said Champion.

If you are wanting to learn to crochet or knit, come out to the next meeting and some of the skilled crafters will help you get started.

The ministry is so thankful for the congregation at Flemington First Church of Christ for their yarn collection drive held for them. Several of the needleworkers attend church there and a nice selection of yarn was collected and donated. Thank you to everyone at the church who contributed to the yarn drive.

“We were also fortunate to receive other donations of yarn that were brought to the church for our needleworkers to use over the last several days. We can use it all, as long as it is clean and smoke-free,” said Pastor Champion.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry’s commitment to make 600 hats and wash cloths for shoe boxes that will be going to Africa through Operation Christmas Child is well on the way to being fulfilled. “We’ve already brought in more than 260 hats and more than 200 wash cloths,” said Champion. The wash cloths must be made using cotton yarn so they don’t shrink when they are wet. Donations of cotton yarn (or money to purchase cotton yarn) would be gratefully accepted at the church anytime.

“We see these hats and wash cloths as being an annual project that we can do and have completed by November when the shoe boxes are shipped overseas for Christmastime.”

“We would also love to get some donations of red, white and blue yarn (size 4 skeins) that we can turn into patriotic lap-afghans or larger afghans for our veterans who will be receiving them in October and November,” Champion said.

If you can donate yarn or make a monetary donation for the Prayer Shawl Ministry to buy yarn, please call Pastor Susan at the church office for a time to drop off or for more info at 570-726-4112.

The public is invited to come to the ministry’s next meeting on Wednesday, June 3, beginning at noon, to see the beautiful creations that our needleworkers have made and to have lunch.