A Tight-Knit Group: HPUMC Prayer Blanket Ministry

Join this amazing group! Knit, crochet, tie fleece, or quilt blankets or scarves for those in crisis every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 pm! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Knitters may also knit from home and bring blankets to the front desk. Contact Arang Cistulli, HPUMC Serving Coordinator, at cistullia@hpumc.org to learn more and sign up.

There’s something for everyone within the walls of Highland Park United Methodist Church. When walking through the halls to get to a service, a class, or an event, one might not be aware of the many other happenings in rooms around the campus. One such group is the Prayer Blanket Ministry, which has existed at HPUMC for over 16 years.

Walking into Room 218 on one of the two Tuesdays a month that the group meets, you’ll see knitting patterns and yarn filling tables with color and women you might also find in a Sunday Morning Class knitting and chatting amicably with friends beside them about life and faith, kids and grandkids.

Blankets, shawls, and scarves knit by this group are given to HPUMC Pastoral Care to distribute on hospital visits and to others in need. Betty Vaughan, who often attends Rev. Walt Marcum’s classes and Bible studies at HPUMC, enjoys making scarves for CitySquare to help those suffering from poverty and homelessness stay warm during colder months.

FRONT ROW: Bonnie Blackman, Meg Hillert, Nancy Loehr, Peggy Wing BACK ROW: Sue Irish, Betty Vaughan, Kay Stephens, Ann Brown, Clair Krizov NOT PICTURED: Bertha Matthews, Lois McMorran, Martha Eubanks, Lee Anne Smalley, Bette Kiser, Gloria Jones

“I am mindful that I’m making it for somebody that’s going to have it and wrap it around themselves,” Betty said. “I think it’s meaningful to them that somebody would think of them and make something for them. It’s made with love.”

Some group members have been knitting since childhood, while others learned later in life through classes and groups. Many find knitting a relaxing hobby and say that even outside the group, they knit while doing other activities, such as traveling on a plane or watching TV.

First-year group member Bonnie Blackman has been knitting since she was ten years old. She was once part of a group that knitted hats for infants and has always given away her creations as gifts. After getting connected with Ann Brown, an active group member and point of contact, Bonnie is now able to serve through the Prayer Blanket Ministry of HPUMC, where she has been a church member for decades.

The knitting group mainly relies on word-of-mouth to recruit new people. Clair Krizov, for example, invited another group member—Nancy Loehr—to join the ministry after seeing her knitting in the church lobby. Clair, who joined the group in 2011, is also accompanied by her friend of 15 years, Kay Stephens, who became a part of the ministry six months ago.

“You learn everyone’s stories,” Clair said. “It’s a community and a nice group of friends. You see them at church, and you may not do anything else with them, but this brings us together. It’s a dynamic group.”

Many women in the Prayer Blanket Ministry have experienced challenging times throughout their lives and know the importance of providing comfort during these difficult seasons.

“My mother is in independent living, and someone from the church came by to visit and gave her a blanket,” Clair said. “It was very important to know that someone cared. This hobby can contribute to someone’s life and make it a better day for them.”

The Prayer Blanket Ministry of HPUMC brings women across Sunday Morning Classes and Sunday services together for a common goal: utilizing their knitting hobby to help those in need.