A ministry that reaches people in need of solace and comfort offers a retreat July 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Oswego.

In the Prayer Shawl Ministry in the Archdiocese of Portland, a love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful service and spiritual practice that results in shawls given to the frail, sick and grieving. Along with the warm garment comes a comforting figurative blanket of prayer and love.

Many parishes conduct the ministry.

The retreat, called “Threads of Comfort,” will be led by Father Gregg Bronsema, pastor of churches in the Sandy area. The priest is a former evangelical minister, able to quote long Scripture passages from memory. Also helping lead will be Karl Hein, choral director at Our Lady of the Lake.

Registration is required by July 11 to michelle.z.mosgrove@gmail.com.

Attendees should bring their needles and yarn to start a shawl or bring a current knit/crochet project. Those who don’t know how to start will get a lesson. Groups will be asked to tell a story of wrapping someone in a prayer shawl.

A sharing table will be provided for groups who want to donate supplies to other ministries.