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    An old friend who lived close enough to our place that a path was worn through the fields, lost her mother recently. Her mother had been suffering with Alzheimer's for about 6-7 years and had not seemed to recognize the children for the last two years or so. Our friend told us that she thought she was prepared for the loss of her Mother but when her Mother's death actually happened, it was like losing her all over again. A week or so after I gave her the Prayer Shawl, she told me she was very appreciative of the gift. She said that it was like having her Mother's arms around her when she wore it. Isabel Kempton

    The people who have received prayer shawls from our program, report that they truly feel the love of the congregation when they place the shawl on their shoulders. Several people have shared with me that a wonderful feeling of peace comes over them when they wrap the prayer shawl around their shoulders. Pam Miller

    Living in a nursing home is such a lonely experience. I kept my prayer shawl always close. If left the room in my wheel chair, the shawl was always on the back of the chair. At night when I went to bed, the nurses covered me with the shawl. I had my blankets wrapped around me and on top of them was the shawl. If it should ever slip off, the nurses were sure to tuck it all back in around me. Such comfort it brought. Judy Thorp

    Album I was in the choir when the first prayer shawl was presented during a worship service and I could see the whole thing. As I watched, I knew how special this program is going to be for all of us. Jodi Gabert

    My mother is in the hospital and she has her prayer shawl around her shoulders all the time. She even takes it to x-ray with her. Thank you so much for this gift. Jayne Schmidt

    While at St. Andrews, I took a sabbatical during the summer one year. The Sunday we were to leave, the parish gave prayer shawls to both Sherm and me. We were so grateful and they reminded us of home and our parish through out our entire sabbatical. That prayer shawl was wonderful and it went with me everywhere - especially when I took my two retreats at the convents. The prayer shawl ministry was such a positive program. I was always so touched when I was able to present a shawl to someone. I am aware of people who have worn their prayer shawls throughout entire visitations and funerals and of people who wouldn't allow nurses to remove their prayer shawls when they were taken to radiology. Pam Miller

    One day while I was at work in the annex at St. Andrews, a man I had never met came in and asked to meet with me. He told me he was here in town visiting but really needed someone to pray with him. He had lost his wife a few months ago and was having a difficult time adjusting. He and I went into the church to say a few prayers by the altar and we talked a little. I began to tell him about our prayer shawl program and he explained that his wife had a prayer shawl and it had been with her in the car when she had her fatal accident. He had wanted to save the shawl but it was too badly damaged by all the glass. I took him to the closet where we keep the shawls and told him to pick one out. He was so happy to have one of his own. Pam Miller