A tradition of missions; Church members work to send goods to those in need
Published 11:11 am Thursday, February 19, 2015
Nancy Walker knits hats Wednesday morning at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The ladies were sewing various articles of clothing for various causes. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Westminster Presbyterian Church is continuing a 30-plus year tradition of doing missions work.
Men and women gathered Wednesday in the church’s fellowship hall for the annual PWC Mission Workshop to do a variety of projects. Some members start working in early January and continue for weeks after the workshop.
“We’re actually doing a variety of projects, you know, some are paper, some are yarn, some are cutting out shoe pieces,” said Gloria Aanonson, the workshop coordinator.
Westminister Prebysterian Church volunteers take part in their annual workshop Wednesday at the church.
They complete projects such as cutting fabric to make shoes for children in Africa; sewing, knitting and crocheting hats, mittens, scarves and blankets for local school children as well as the Seafarers in Duluth and orphans in Romania; sewing walker caddies for residents at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center in Austin; sewing baby items like little girl’s dresses and boy’s pants for children in Haiti; and up-cycling old greeting cards to make new cards and treat bags for home-bound church members or members in care centers.
“There’s all kinds of things to meet anybody’s talents or things they’d like to learn,” Aanonson said.
A knitted hat lays completed atop a pile of yard and fabric.
The group has changed over the years, moving from one type of ministry to another, according to Ozzie Earl, a group member who helped start the workshop more than 30 years ago.
“We do a lot of mission things,” Earl said. “And we don’t always do the same thing, but it’s always for whatever mission is pertinent at the time.”
She noted the church is known for its work in missions and the members have always been very willing to help out. Aanonson was excited about the donations the group received this year.
“We’re so thankful for such a generous congregation too, that we have donations like, some of the things that we make are from scraps of fabric or pillow cases, things that they no longer need,” Aanonson said.
Earl was glad to see members at the event. She was working with the food that day, and many members came and went as their schedule allowed. She said giving to others has been a part of the church for many years.
“I think we just all get a lot of satisfaction from doing mission work, because we are so mission-oriented,” she said. “Our church has a reputation for being involved in missions.”