Comforter Ministry Contacts:

St. Patrick’s Church, Catherine Hochstein 592-3680 and Mary Ellen Ruesch 592-4155; First Lutheran Church, Jo Ann DeLap; 592-3507; Presbyterian Church, Vonda Schmidt 592-3270; and, United Methodist Church, Dotty Sotfin 592-4139

Eleven quilts were made this year.  Ten quilts in nine churches were blessed and prayed over and then taken to the VA Hospital in Madison.  One of the quilts was given earlier to a local vet who is battling cancer.  The Chaplain we met with wished to convey a gracious "THANK YOU" to all.  These quilts, because they were blessed and prayed over, are used in the last rites ceremony and then presented to families.  The Chaplain said, "I wish you could see and feel the impact they have, it is truly awesome.  We are so grateful for your ministry and community support.  God bless all."

On behalf of the Lodi Comforters I would like to extend a heartfelt "THANK YOU" for your support.  The quilts have a great impact on the recipients and I would like to share a couple of stories I have heard.  One quilt recipient said "You may think I'm crazy, but I wrap the quilt around my shoulders and I can feel all the prayers and it's like I have a glow around me and I have an angel sitting on each of my shoulders."

A quilt was requested for a terminal ill lady.  When I arrived home, a call came that she had passed away.  I picked up a floral quilt for her and had a choice of roses or sunflowers.  I picked the rose quilt and at second thought, changed my mind as I felt the sunflowers would be better.  The family was informed that the quilt would be at the funeral home but nothing was discussed about the quilt design.  After greeting the family, I proceeded to the viewing - the casket flowers had sunflowers as the main flower.

A lady was taking turns sitting with a loved one during their final hours of life.  She lay down on the sofa to rest.  She felt chilly.  The back of the sofa had a Comfort Quilt laid across the back.  She reached up and pulled down the quilt.  She said, "I cannot believe how warm it felt and the feeling of peace that came over me."

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who

comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

(2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4)