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West and East combine prayers with quilt


Members of Fancy Creek UMC, in the Kansas East Conference, tie knots on a Prayers and Squares quilt, originally made by members of Clay Center UMC. (photo by Linda Cunningham)

Written: 10/29/2009

By Linda Cunningham
CLAY CENTER—When Rev. Mike Graber was assigned to the Fact, Green and Morganville United Methodist churches in July 1997, his wife, Sharlan, was a pastor-in-training at the Ebenezer and Hayes UMCs. I was a member at Hayes and came to know and appreciate Sharlan.

When Bishop Fritz Mutti ordained Sharlan at the 2002 Kansas West Annual Conference, we rejoiced with her.

It also was announced that Mike and Sharlan would begin their new appointments in the Kansas East Conference. We sent them off with tears and hugs.

This past June, Hayes UMC held its final service, and most of the members joined Clay Center UMC. That is where I came to know Frances Benson.

Frances and several o


Frances Benson, right, presents the Prayers and Squares quilt to Rev. Sharlan Graber at Fancy Creek UMC.
ther nimble-fingered Clay Center UMC women make up Chapter #736 of Prayers and Squares, a ministry that “provides personal quilts for people in special need of prayer, primarily due to serious illness or injury, or challenging life circumstances.”

Recently the Prayers and Squares women made a quilt for Sharlan, who is taking treatments for cancer. On Sept. 20, the Clay Center UMC members tied knots on the quilt as they said prayers for Sharlan.

The Grabers are appointed to serve Randolph, Leonardville, Fancy Creek and Swede United Methodist churches in the Kansas East Conference.

Frances brought the quilt to the Randolph and Leonardville UMCs Sept. 27. Frances told the congregations about the prayer quilt ministry and gave them the opportunity to tie knots and pray.

I joined Frances Oct. 3 as she again went to the Kansas East Conference, this time worshipping with Swede Creek UMC, then Fancy Creek UMC, with both congregations tying knots in the quilt and praying.

After the final knot was tied, Frances presented Sharlan with that very special Prayers and Squares quilt, a combined effort by members of the Kansas East and West conferences that will be a physical reminder to Sharlan of all the love and prayers that have been bestowed upon her.

For more information about the Prayers and Squares quilt ministry, visit www.prayerquilt.org.

Linda Cunningham is a member of Clay Center UMC.