In 2016, a member of Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ came to the pastor with an idea. She had received a prayer blanket from a Western Pennsylvania church when she went through chemotherapy treatments. Since the infusion can often make one cold, the blanket has a practical application as well as a spiritual one.
There were a few practical questions which had to be answered. Where would we get the material? Who would tie the blankets together (they are the fleece double blankets that you often see in the craft store)? Would we be swamped with requests? Would there be not enough requests? But the Holy Spirit was behind this ministry and led us to reach out in faith.
Four years later, a dedicated group of volunteers have sought out material, picked prints which matched the recipients’ hobbies and interests, prayed over each blanket, and either hand delivered them or posted them. They’ve gone to both coasts and as far south as Florida. Sometimes the recipient is well known to the church. At other times, we have heard about the person through the grapevine. As of today, September 30, 2020, we have made 92 prayer blankets!!!!! With each one we’ve sent a card explaining the process and our well wishes to the recipient. We’ve never had trouble raising funds for the blankets or getting material donated.
What a great way for a little church on God’s hill to be mighty in deeds of power and love! Don’t ever think you are too small, too insignificant. Where God is honored, mighty things can be done in the name of God!
But God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. — 2 Cor. 12:9
Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ 