CREATIVE SEWING MINISTRY
The Creative Sewing Ministry (CSM) began as a group of ladies who
made
decorations, gifts, artwork and handouts for the entire parish family.
That group
evolved into a group of dedicated sewists who now concentrate
on
liturgical items.
The group’s primary objective is to provide the white garments (bibs) that are
presented to each baby baptized here at Holy Family Catholic Community.
Older children receive a white stole. These white garments include decorative
gold thread borders and embroidered cross designs. CSM members
affectionately refer to themselves as the "BIBS ladies." Early in 2007, they
made BIBS an acronym for Be Inspired By Sewing and created a logo to
match.
The embroidered cross designs are done mostly by machine now, but we
also have sewists who lovingly embroider by hand. Each item includes
our signature label: Made with Loving Stitches by Holy
Family Catholic
Community .
Another significant group project involves the beautiful altar cloth used at
Easter when adults are received into our church community through
the
RCIA/Footsteps program.
Dating back to the first group in the 1980’s, each
new member’s name is
hand embroidered onto the linen cloth. The group learns
of this special altar cloth
at the initiation practice on Holy Thursday. Many are
moved to tears
(as are we!) to learn that their names are a permanent part of
our
parish’s Easter liturgies.
In 2007, we approached the Pastoral Care director with a new idea.
We
suggested a project focusing on the sick among us - to machine
embroider
the words
Lay Your Head Upon our Prayers onto pillow slips that
we proposed
be given to the seriously ill of our parish.
The idea was wholeheartedly
embraced
and we began work on our
first twelve pillow slips. The first recipient
received a
special note from
us indicating that he received our first slip, and we
wished him
well in his
efforts to regain his health. In 2008, we expanded the project
to also include
fleece blankets with the embroidered words Feel the Warmth of our
Prayers.
In 2009, we called on knitters and crocheters to join us and work on
prayer shawls.
These shawls are given to sick and homebound parishioners. A talented
member of
our group
designed cards and gift tags and provided bags so that we
might present
our gifts
beautifully wrapped.
The CSM BIBS group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from
1-4 pm in Lower
Level 1.
We do not meet in July, August and December.
Our remaining 2009 dates
include, September 22, October 27 and November 24.
We typically end the year in
December
with
a luncheon to celebrate another successful year.
We welcome new members
with open arms, appreciative of whatever
gift they bring:
hand sewers, sewing machine
sewers, fabric cutters,
pressers, knitters and crocheters!
If you don’t sew, knit or crochet and
would like to learn, we are here to help get you started.
Please call the parish office at (847) 359-0042 and leave
your name and phone number.
One of our group leaders will return the call. We’re anxious to hear from
you and welcome
your gifts to our ministry.
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