12 December, 2014

Loving Hearts and Hands

Our church's Quilt Ministry gathered here yesterday for the fourteenth time to celebrate with food and fellowship at Christmastime, all served up over piping hot tea. Four of us pictured above have been a part of the group from the beginning. I was able to share history and some fun facts about the Quilt Ministry with everyone before we ate yesterday, having recently found the original sign-in sheet that included an early summary of the group's accomplishments.  Our Quilt Ministry began meeting on January 25, 2001, the average attendance back then was between 9 and 10. By April of that year we had completed, and gifted, eleven quilts; at that time we worked where we could find the space and begged for, borrowed and/or shared storage area for our (then) meager supplies. Fast forward to now: the average attendance is about the same, and these ladies with their loving hearts and hands have completed somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 quilts! We now have a dedicated work space and two large closets (holding a treasure trove of donated supplies) from which we operate on a weekly basis. Some of the names and faces may have changed throughout the years, we mourn the loss of a few dear friends and warmly welcome new ones; through it all the mission and purpose has remained the same: to make and give away quilts that will warm bodies and souls. At Christmastime we pause, reflect and give thanks; we're carrying on a tradition...oh, and we drink tea!
Life is Good!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Such a wonderful ministry.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Marvelous - on every level!

Karen said...

Very inspiring. Merry Christmas.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Beautiful and spirit driven good women, all of you!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

What a blessing that group is ... to the quilt recipients and to each other. We're looking to find a new home church, and I'd love to find one that has an active quilting ministry.

Janet O. said...

What a great think to be part of. I applaud what you have accomplished. I am sure you have warmed many hearts, too.

Teatime Creations said...

What a lovely group and blessimgs for sharing your gifts.

JudyCinNC said...

What an up-lifting ministry and group ... I would join for sure if I lived there just because of all the love and light you give off. Judy C