The little white church at the corner of First Street North and Second Avenue in Niverville is a landmark. In fact, it was the first church built in Niverville, dating back to 1907. It became the Niverville United Church in 1925 and is now well-known in recent years for its Prayer Shawl Ministry.
The ministry, in which people donate crocheted or knitted prayer shawls upon request, was started in 2012 by Betty Koop.
A core group of nine ladies produce the shawls, and so far 380 have been distributed to cities as far away as North and South Carolina, including major centres like Chicago, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.
“Our prayer shawls are visible and tangible gifts of love that do wonders for people,” says Koop. “One gentleman told us that his wife could not sleep due to her illness, but when he placed our shawl around her shoulders, she immediately fell asleep.”
Indeed, the church’s bulletin board currently features thank-you notes including heartfelt sentiments like “We are in awe of how many prayers have been said for our little family” and “It is so kind and touching of you all to think of me after my accident.”
The congregation of 120 participates by blessing the shawls at each week’s Sunday morning worship service. The shawls are then distributed to persons who are ill, grieving, or in personal crisis. The prayer shawls are also used to celebrate joyous events such as a baptism or marriage.
With the leftover yarn, Koop crochets colourful lap shawls that are also given away. The church has held fundraisers to purchase supplies, such as at soup-and-sandwich events and craft sales.
The shawls are made of variegated (multi-coloured) and solid-coloured yarn, and each shawl takes three skeins of yarn.
Currently, 15 shawls are packaged and awaiting requests, so the ministry team is well-prepared.
Although the cupboard is currently full, more knitters are most welcome.
Koop has said that she hopes the ministry will continue beyond her own involvement, well into the future. Koop herself says that she was inspired by a former parishioner, long since passed away, who would knit shawls to comfort those who might be in need of encouragement.
“This work is very satisfying, as people feel comfort and the love of God,” she says. “After all, that is the bottom line.”
