ST. STEPHEN CHURCH BLESSES AND DONATES WARM CLOTHING TO SEAFARERS

Members of the St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough, Knit-Wits group with a basket of some of the hand-made items that will be sent to Seafarers International House as Christmas gifts. From left, Elaine Recklet, Marlea Dutt, Melanie Whapham, Norma DuBois, Jane Woolsey, and Jan Conlin.

A special blessing took place last Sunday at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough, as a representative basket of hand knitted hats and scarves, as well as sweatshirts, socks and chocolate bars was placed on the altar, earmarked for Christmastime delivery to Seafarers International House in New York City. The hand-made items were produced by the Knit-Wits, the church’s knitting group, and the additional purchased items were made possible by a Thrivent Action Team grant.
    Last Christmas, the knitters produced  five sets of items that will be holiday packages; this year, their busy hands made up ten sets.
    Seafarers International House is an ecumenical mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to seafarers and sojourners, as well as people who are distressed, disadvantaged, and displaced. Seafarers are often isolated and lonely, sometimes without the means to contact family frequently, or purchase needed items while in port. Typical contracts put most at sea for 10 months a year, and they remain a largely forgotten population at the holidays.
    Their needs include warm clothing, and the Knit-Wits decided seafarers should be the recipients of their efforts, which also includes making prayer shawls and lap blankets for others in need.
    For more information about the church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com  or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) . The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton.