Faithful Fingers members share love through handmade gifts

It began as a spiritual discipline. It is now a ministry that literally reaches around the world.

A few years ago, some of the members of Covenant United Methodist Church were looking for a way they could celebrate Lent. Instead of giving up a special food or activity, they elected to do something that would meet a need in their church. Through that, the Faithful Fingers group was created.

“Three years ago, several of the ladies of the church wanted to do something as a spiritual discipline for Lent,” said Carole Lee as she explained the beginning of a group that shares its collective talents with those in need. “We decided to make prayer shawls. When the 40 days of Lent were over, no one wanted to quit.”

That first meeting, Mrs. Lee noted, drew 38 participants. Twenty-two members continue to faithfully serve in this unique ministry.

“It started as a busy fingers group,” Mrs. Lee said. “But, a lot of time, we found we needed the companionship of other women. We have members ranging in age from their 40s to 87. Our 87-year-old (Doris Etchberger) knits like a machine. She’s really a great asset to the group.”

Fellowship, companionship and meeting special needs all play a role in keeping the group together.

“We make prayer shawls for people needing comfort and prayer,” Mrs. Lee continued. “Every shawl that we make has a card that reads: ‘Every stitch with love; every stitch a prayer.’ Then, we started making baby quilts tied with knots. Their cards read: ‘Every knot a prayer for you. Faithful Fingers.’”

While the members use their talents to knit, stitch and crochet, there is much more meaning to the ministry.

“As we are knitting or piecing a quilt, the idea is to pray for the person who may receive this gift,” Mrs. Lee said. “The main thing is that we are not doing this for ourselves. We’re doing it for the recipients. They have no idea who made the gift.”

Mrs. Lee says the ministry has been blessed in many ways, and, she notes, the group always manages to have a gift ready when a need comes up.

“It’s interesting in that, when a need arises, someone in our group is usually finishing something,” Mrs. Lee said. “That’s really an interesting part of this. We can be knitting and praying for someone we don’t know and, when we finish, a need arises. It’s really a rewarding act.”

“Our original purpose was to do prayer shawls and lap quilts for people who were in need,” said Sue Bradshaw. “For example, one lady we know of is having chemotherapy every two weeks. She has her prayer shawl with her (for those treatments) that we had given to her while she was in the hospital. She takes it with her to every treatment.”

The handiwork of the Faithful Fingers has also made its way to American armed forces serving around the world. Sometimes, those gifts have arrived in unusual ways.

“Last week, I had done a gaiter (a knitted protective garment worn over the head and neck),” Margaret Hall said as she discussed an unusual encounter at Bradshaw’s Jewelers. “Two guys walked into the shop. Wayne and Sue had given a donation, a piece of jewelry, to the Wounded Warriors. Sue asked if they knew if anyone would be deployed soon. One of the soldiers said he was going. You should have seen the look on his face (when the knitted gift was given to him). He told us it was such a special thing. He said, ‘I’ll bring it back to you.’ Sue told him to come back and to leave the gaiter with another soldier. The timing of it was perfect.”

Doris Etchberger added her own special story about these knitted gifts.

“My daughter-in-law and I had made a bunch of gaiters to send overseas,” Mrs. Etchberger said. “I also gave her some to give to her nephew. Several of the fellows (who were deployed in Iraq) wrote us. Among the notes was one from a young fellow who got one. He had pulled it over his head. In the note he told us that he got hit by shrapnel. The fact that he was wearing it saved his life.”

“The mission of this group goes great distances,” Ann Jacobs added.

Mrs. Etchberger noted that Nancy Walker, city of Dothan horticulturist who has made numerous visits to Afghanistan, received one of the prayer shawls. She intends to take it with her on her next trip.

While their gifts have literally made it around the world, the work of the Faithful Fingers is primarily used to help those closer to home. In fact, the group holds an annual bazaar that helps them keep their projects going. This year is no exception.

“This year, our project is to hang a piece of artwork made from the kneelers that were originally done for the first sanctuary of the church,” Mrs. Lee said. “J&H Frames is doing it for us. They are using 22 salvageable symbols of the covenant that were done by hand in needlepoint. Mrs. Harmon Stokes did the original patterns.

“Most of the time. Our money goes to buy something for the church, like the kneelers that were put in the new sanctuary.”

The bazaar will be held November 19-20 in the church’s Christian Life Center.

The activities on November 19, which is a preview sale, will be held from 5-7 p.m. There is a $5 fee to attend. Chili and chicken noodle soup will be served, while supplies last. There is no admission fee to attend the bazaar on Saturday, November 20, which will be held from 9 a.m. until noon.

“Saturday’s activities will include a bake sale held by the United Methodist Church Women’s group,” said Julie Bishop. “That’s a great event, because there are some good cooks in this church.”

Shopping will be the order of the day.

“People have enjoyed coming to the bazaar,” Ms. Bishop continued. “Shoppers will have the opportunity to buy gifts for Christmas.”

“We will have stocking stuffers and other inexpensive items, too,” added Gayla Adams.

“We will have something for children through adults,” Mrs. Lee said. “The stocking stuffer table will be full.”

All items for sale at the bazaar were handmade by the members of Faithful Fingers.