Over 100 "Prayer Shawls" Have Been Delivered

​By Kathy Sonnenfelt
kathy@mylocalcountynews.com

Community Prayer Shawl is a group of Bloomfield church members who either knit, crochet, or tie fleece blankets to present too those who are sick, having surgery, new people to town, baptisms, confirmations, graduations, and weddings.
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Joyce Bertschinger, President said, “Each shawl is prayed over while being made, and when received by the group before placing into storage. “Approximately 100 prayer shawls are delivered each year, including shawls that have been donated to the Orphan Grain Train, Bloomfield Ambulance, and community boxes.” According to Bertschinger, the group works entirely from donations and appreciate what they have received from the community.

A member from each church is selected to deliver a prayer shawl. Members include: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Carol Nelson, Kathryn Zeber, Marge Stottler, Pat Hilfiker, and Joyce Bertschinger; First Trinity Lutheran Church, Karen Stelling, and Connie Nickels; Christ Memorial United Methodist Church, Erma Kriz, Ann Walling, and Trudy Hoffman; and St. Andrew Catholic Church, Bernice Schneider, Denise Koertje, and Carolyn Oltjenbruns.
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The group meets the second Saturday of each month except December, May and August.

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