Trinity Episcopal Church

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Saturday

9 am

"OPERATION COMFORT" QUILTS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS WAS THOUGHT UP BY PARISHIONER SUSAN MARENGO (US MARINE MOM) WHO, A QUILTER HERSELF, SAID WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN AN ACTIVE WAY TO SUPPORT OUR WOUNDED MILITARY WITH THE HELP OF OTHER QUILTERS AND NON QUILTERS. IN TOTAL TRINITY HAS 4 ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, 2 US MARINES, 1 ARMY AND 1 AIR FORCE, THREE ARE CURRENTY DEPLOYED IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE 4TH WILL BE DEPLOYED MID NOVEMBER 2008.

"OPERATION COMPFORT" PROVIDES QUILTS TO OUR WOUNDED HERO'S IN LANDSTUL REGIONAL MEDICAL FACILITY IN GERMANY. LANDSTUL TAKES AMERICAN AND ALLIED WOUNDED FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE, MOST WOUNDED ARRIVE WITH NO PERSONAL POSSESSTIONS AND SOME MISSING THEIR CLOTHES, A QUILT MADE AND SENT FROM HOME CAN DO WONDERS FOR MORALE.

OUR START UP FUNDS CAME FROM THE BLUE WATER CONVOCATION AND HAVE BEEN LONG SINCE SPENT, WE NOW RELY ON THE GOOD WILL OF THE COMMUNITY. QUILTERS FROM AREA GROUPS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT AND DONATED FABRIC TO MAKE THE HERO'S QUILTS.

PER THE REQUEST OF THE CHAPLAINS AT LANDSTUL WHO DISTRIBUTE THE QUILTS, THEY NEED TO BE TWIN SIZE AND PATRIOTIC IN NATURE. INCLUDED WITH THE QUILTS IS A LABEL CARD WITH A PRAYER AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF WHERE THE QUILTS COME FROM. THE QUILTS ARE THE HERO'S TO KEEP AND WE HAVE HEARD OF HOW WELL RECEIVED THE EFFORT HAS BEEN.

BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, INC., BLUE WATER CHAPTER 180 HAVE PAID FOR THE SHIPPING TO LANSTUL. THE QUILTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AS LONG AS WE HAVE WOUNDED HERO'S WHO NEED A PIECE OF HOME TO COMFORT THEM. THUS FAR 30 QUILTS HAVE BEEN SENT ABROAD SINCE JUNE 2008.

We gather together for an informal service with about 20 residents.
Our service begins with about 10 minutes of one on one visiting, then we sing lots of songs with guitar music and sometimes the organ in the chapel, we have prayers, readings, and then some more songs.

One of the volunteers usually shares a little story or brings some visual aid in to help communicate our Christian hope. Then we spend about 10 minutes saying good bye as the residents leave. Our ministry is about being there, giving folks our time and attention, and the most powerful expression of God’s love---a mere touch of the hand, a smile, and a couple of words of encouragement.

"Community Prayer Shawl Ministry"

We formed our prayer shawl group in January, 2006. I am pleased to inform you, this week we reached the completion of four-hundred prayer shawls and lap-robes. Thank you to the members of the community who have donated yarn, knitted and crocheted, and cut yards of fleece. Also thank you to the Blue Water Convocation of the Episcopal Church for their generous grants to our ministry.

As the women in our group knit or crochet, prayers are said for the individual who will receive the prayer shawl or lap robe. Upon completion, Father Rick Schark blesses the items before they are distributed to McKenzie Hospital, Regency Nursing Home, Veteran Hospitals of MI, and to anyone who would like to have one. We also include a special, printed prayer for the individual receiving the prayer shawl.

Prayer shawls and lap robes are given to someone who needs comforting, illness, grieving, appreciation or celebration to name a few examples. The response from the individuals who have received the prayer shawls has been positive and heart warming.

The "Community Prayer Shawl Ministry Group" shall be meeting the first and third Wednesday of each month, beginning September 3, 2008, from 1-3 pm. Beginning and advanced knitters and crochetters are welcome. Yarn and patterns for the prayer shawls will be furnished. For further information contact Vi Wydrynski or Sharon Walters.