Craftswomen of Compassion—and a Few Men Too!

St. John Lutheran Church in Darien, IL celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday, October 18, 2009. More than five years ago, prior to my joining Lutheran World Relief, St. John invited me to speak for this event. Bev Grimme, the anniversary chairwoman, must have a special prophetic gift to plan in advance this superbly—to have me, a speaker from an organization with a mission to end hunger, speaking in a congregation that undertakes dynamically so many mission projects that do the same.

One group within St. John that enacts this gracious compassion is the quilters. Taking scraps of fabric and strips of otherwise castaway material, they make beautiful and life-giving blankets. And such is the case in hundreds and hundreds of church basements and workrooms like this one all over the United States; craftswomen (and a few men, too!), from their hearts overflowing with Jesus’ love, work with their hands to create tangible symbols of hope.

LWR will deliver nearly half a million quilts this year to those in crisis or poverty to function as flooring, walls, blankets, baby bedding, or as a way to wrap earthly possessions when oppressed people are driven into refugee situations. There are many other uses as well. What remains remarkable to me is the amount of background work that goes on in advance of this quilt-making. Supplies must be secured. Material needs to be sorted, categorized and stored.

And check out how well-ordered is this quilting room at St. John, with two pastors’ wives standing alongside: Monique, my wife, and Gerry Kirst, the wife of the emeritus pastor of St. John, Donald Kirst.