First United Methodist Church (FUMC) will hold the Prayers& Squares Annual Fall Retreat from Friday to Saturday, Oct. 21 to 22.
The church’s announcement noted that it would be a two-day getaway for building friendship, motivation, and sewing. They explained that participants would learn how to put pieces together to create an awesome quilt from leftover fabric.
As further mentioned, the members will make strip quilts or string quilts. They said it is part of their tradition to create quilts from extra fabrics. The FUMC emphasized that the process would be easy and appropriate for beginners.
Retreat Program
The same website announced that on Friday's first part of the program, they will welcome their newest clergy, Reverend Brittany Julliette Hanlin, teaching Pastor at Water’s Edge.
The next day, the church encouraged everyone to bring their old or newer quilt for some “show and tell.”
Prayer Quilt Ministry
According to the Prayer Quilt section, Prayers & Squares is an interfaith outreach program. They integrate the power of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt. They seek to promote prayer by using quilts rather than making and distributing them, as stressed on the website.
The church noted that it is not simply a gift of a quilt but a present of love and prayer. They explained that they believe that it is proof of their faith in God and their belief in God’s sovereignty to comfort, empower and redeem.
Prayer Quilt
The same website demonstrates how the prayer quilt works. They said they use a heavy thread to take stitches through the quilt layers, leaving the ends free to be tied. The church members would finish these quilts by tying knots in the quilt after each worship service.
Moreover, as further explained on the website, the congregation would give a silent prayer for someone with special needs who would receive the finished quilt.
In addition, FUMC noted that anyone who needs prayer is a suitable recipient of the prayer quilt. They said they pray for each other during sickness, injury, or mourning. The members also ask God for deliverance and guidance in times of significant change in their lives.
The church stated that they allow anyone to request a quilt for others. They explained that the one who requested for quilt would be the quilt’s sponsor.
Testimony about Prayer Quilt
Austin Reagan, a ten-year-old girl from FUMC, shared her testimony about the prayer quilt in their YouTube video. She said her uncle, grandmother, and all received a prayer quilt. She said that she also tied knots for other prayer quilts.
She said baby Riley received the first quilts that she made. Reagan explained that baby Riley needed a liver transplant at months old.
Reagan also noted that she received one quilt because she got diagnosed with a disease while her grandmother underwent a heart operation. Her uncle died from an illness that his whole family had experienced then.
She emphasized that she had fun tying knots and knew how to do it, but the hard part is doing it while being emotional.
“But I know each knot gets me to share God’s love,” Reagan stressed in the video.
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