Needle & Thread

Calvary Quilters is a small group of people in Fergus Falls, Minn., who love to sew quilts and make other items for people in need. A handmade gift tells a person, “We see you, and we care about you.” In 2023, Calvary Quilters distributed 142 quilts; 17 fleece, crocheted, and knitted hats; 14 knitted and crocheted scarves; 7 appliqued dishtowels; and 22 sundresses made from pillowcases.

Calvary’s WMF program provides shipping costs to mail quilts, hats, and dishtowels to the AFLC Home Mission’s Alaska Mission in Naknek, Alaska, and the quilts help the AFLC missionaries there connect with remote villages. One member of Calvary Quilters, a snowbird who migrates to Texas in the winter, also takes children’s quilts and pillowcase sundresses to Border Missions in Hidalgo, Texas.

Calvary Quilters partner with other churches as well. For example, in conjunction with New Life Church in Alexandria, Minn., Calvary Quilters makes quilts for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe through the Diamond Willow Ministry in Fort Thompson, S.D. They are hand-delivered in October, when New Life members travel to do work projects at the mission.

Calvary Quilters provides quilts for local and regional ministries. For instance, quilts, hats, and scarves are made for foster care children in Otter Tail County. Foster families get items free from The Connection Closet at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. Patriotic quilts are also made for the Red Cross in west central and northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. The quilts are given to veterans in hospitals and assisted living facilities.

Calvary Quilters usually meet twice a month at the church, but much of their handiwork is done in their homes. They could not do this mission outreach without the help of others. In addition to shipping contributions from our local WMF, we have received grants from other sources to help purchase batting and specialty fabrics. A lot of fabric is donated by congregation members or family and friends of members of the congregation. Each person involved follows the teaching found in Proverbs 31:20: “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” We share a quilt, a hat, and a scarf—tunics—to say, “We see you, and we care about you.”

—Linda Lein is a member of Calvary Free Lutheran, Fergus Falls, Minn.