Guide to FPCA Craft Groups Second in a series on places to connect with the life of the church


You’ll find plenty of opportunities for service and fellowship in FPCA groups—though you may not be familiar with all of them. This series presents descriptions of groups you can join, written by participants. They’d love to welcome you! Through the following groups, you can use craft skills for ministry and fellowship.


PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY


Tis FPCA ministry began in the fall of 2006 with a small group of 10 women. Since that time it has expanded to two groups that meet once a month. One group gathers on first Tuesdays in Room 115. Te other group meets in a member’s home on Saturday mornings.


We do this as a way of sharing God’s love with others. Sometimes when you make a shawl it takes months. When you know the person it is for, along with the trials or joys they are experiencing, a shawl can fly off your needles in a week or two.


Te person making the shawl often purchases the yarn. Other times yarn or funds to buy yarn are donated.


Our ministry does not sell prayer shawls. Tey are gifts that we share with friends and strangers, members and neighbors. Since we began there have been hundreds of shawls completed, blessed, and given away.


Te Prayer Shawl Ministry is not exclusive to any age or gender—anyone interested is encouraged to ask questions or visit to find out more. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at knitting@fpcallentown.org or stop by during a gathering to meet us.


—Claudia Norris QUILTING, CRAFT, AND SEWING MINISTRY GROUP


Tis association of people who meet weekly for creativity and fellowship has a long history within our church, starting in 1962.


While our stated purpose is mission work, we have become a family of people who not only share similar interests and concerns but also care about one another and provide support, fellowship, and friendship. Members have a wide range of skills, and everyone who wants to help is valued.


Among our numerous local mission projects are making quilts for the Sixth Street Shelter and providing financial support for the Westminster Auxiliary, funded mainly through periodic craft sales at Westminster Village and at FPCA.


Quilting is the activity that has been going on the longest, perpetuating a long tradition. People from all over the community may submit a quilt top that has been pieced, either new or vintage. Contributions for the work of the hand quilters fund local missions. You may have noticed the quilt frame in Room 115 containing the latest project.


Tose who prefer more varied activities can create handcrafted items to be sold at spring and fall sales. Te crafters have steadily worked to improve the quality and variety of these items.


Te newest project to be added is card ministry. Members create and repurpose beautiful greeting cards from recycled cards and other materials. Many of these creations outshine those available in stores. Cards are now available all year in the church library for $1 each.


New members are always welcome. Even if you don’t sew, quilt, or craft, you can still help us do our mission work. Donations are accepted: We have many needs, and your God-given gifts will be appreciated.


We meet in Room 115 every Wednesday at 9 a.m. Te group remains for lunch and eats together.


Drop in anytime to see what we are doing—we love to have visitors. For information, contact Sandy Meenen, smeenen@ptd.net.


—Nancy Johnson 5


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