Founded in 1834,

SCI is a voluntary,

ecumenical agency

affiliated with the

Episcopal Church that

provides pastoral care,

maritime education, and

legal advocacy services

for mariners.

The newsletter of the

Seamen’s Church Institute’s

Christmas at Sea Program

In this Issue

The Seamen’s Church Institute seamenschurch.org

SPRING 2011 VOLUME 5/NUMBER 1

READYTO MAIL?118 EXPORT STPORT NEWARK, NJ 07114

CHRISTMASAT SEA

seamensch

urch.org

This Lent, “Commit to Knit!”During the season of Lent, many churches invite us to turn inward—a spiritual practice of self-examination. Some followers start pilgrimages, others adopt a certain discipline (like giving up chocolate), while others “take on” a new routine to focus their energies. This Lent, SCI asks you to consider ways you might fi nd fulfi lling in which to include Christmas at Sea as part of your Lenten practice.

MeditationFor many knitters, the act of knitting gives opportunity to do something relaxing. Blogger Mary of Meditation Oasis says she fi nds it impossible to worry when knitting. She picked up knitting during a particularly stressful period of her life, and she found that “the use of [her] hands and the sight of the stitches being formed” broke the pattern of her wandering, anxious mind. Many others echo Mary’s sentiment. A simple Google search of “knitting as meditation” yields about 838,000 results.

CreationKnitting also involves creation. Knitters create structure from a single, continuous strand. By making a series of knots in the yarn, knitters transform two dimensions simply and

beautifully into three. Imagine the yarn as a timeline, a continuous thread endlessly connecting present knitters to the knitters who have gone before and the community of seafarers past and present. Each knitter adds his or her own expression, creating order where there was none before.

Self-DisciplineIn addition to transforming the yarn, knitting also transforms the knitter. Knitters must exercise a certain amount of discipline—both to take the time to knit and to follow the pattern of the garment they intend to create. This focusing of the mind might have something to do with why Mary says she cannot worry while knitting. Some say they feel refreshed, somehow calmer after knitting.

If you are looking for something to augment your spiritual practice

this Lent, SCI invites you to “Commit to Knit!” The beauty of this practice lies in its lack of a “how-to” manual for the meditation. It does not require a special pattern or stitch nor does it necessitate that you travel anywhere special. Simply set aside a time this year to knit, choose a certain number of minutes each day or each week, and the rest will take care of itself.

How Can I Do More?In this newsletter you will fi nd a donation envelope you can use to help others knit this Lent and throughout the year. Christmas at Sea serves not just seafarers but also its knitting volunteers. SCI provides yarn for individual knitters and knitting groups who request it at no cost, allowing those who are housebound, on a fi xed income, or just starting a volunteer knitting circle to participate in knitting for Christmas at Sea. If you are able, please support this service so that others may happily participate.

A commitment to knit for Christmas at Seathis Lent offers:

A chance to step out of the world of continual distractions

Time to focus and create

The possibility that you will fi nd yourself transformed in the end

Read about Paige’s commitment to knit on the back page of this newsletter.

This Lent, “Commit to Knit!” 1

Home Sweet Home 2

A New Blog 2

Thank Yous from Seafarers 3

A Chaplain’s Perspective: Christmas on the River 2010 4

SCI–Bay Area: Where the Sun Shines, Even During the Winter! 4

Simple Sewing 5

Knitters Survey 5

Letter from Paige + My Commitment to Knit 6

mind might have something mind might have something

2 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2011

Christmas at SeaPaige Sato Program Manager973-589-5828cas@seamenschurch.orghttp://blogs.seamenschurch.org

Spring 2011, Published by The Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey241 Water StreetNew York, NY 10038www.seamenschurch.orgThe Rev. David M. RiderExecutive Director

Editor, Oliver BrewerAssistant Editor, Margaret LeeDesign & Production by BlissDesignThis newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

Need...Patterns?

Yarn?

Ready to mail?

I n November 2010, Christmas at Sea offi cially moved to Port Newark, NJ. Now, after nearly 3 months in our new space, it truly feels like home, with volunteers working, seafarers visiting, and daily shipments of hats

and scarves arriving.

Moving Christmas at Sea to Port Newark from our old space in New York (where our Development Team and corporate offi cers still work) put the program in the heart

of the action—much like the days of yesteryear. When the original Christmas at Sea volunteers fi nished their hats and scarves, they hand-delivered them to the wharves. With Christmas at Sea in Port Newark, volunteers connect again with seafarers who regularly visit the knitting room, excited (and very impressed) to see the volume of yarn, knitted goods, and work done for their well-being.

Stop by our new space in Port Newark any time you are in the neighborhood. You are welcome to sit and knit, help with other ongoing volunteer opportunities, or socialize with seafarers. Come alone, or with a group of friends. We hope to see you soon!

A New BlogPlus a Facebook and Flickr pageWith over 4,000 knitters and crocheters representing all 50 states, sometimes it can be diffi cult to connect with each other. Lucky for us, the Internet lends itself to sharing photos and stories of our beautiful creations in a multitude of ways.

The new Christmas at Sea blog (at the old address, blogs.seamenschurch.org and also accessible at cas.seamenschurch.org) provides a great way to learn more about the program and our knitters.

It contains links to all the Christmas at Sea patterns and highlights items of interest found throughout both the real world … and the virtual one. Visit often (you can subscribe to the feed) and share your comments!

Christmas at Sea also has a Facebook and Flickr page. You will fi nd these two sites ideal for uploading your own pictures of fi nished projects. Share your voice and see your handknits! Easily fi nd us at www.facebook.com (search for Christmas at Sea) and www.fl ickr.com/groups/christmasatsea.

Home Sweet Home

Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.Don’t forget, knitters, you can fi nd us on Ravelry, too.

The Tuesday Ladies, SCI’s faithful volunteers who meet in New York to help Christmas at Sea, took a trip out to the renovated Center in Port Newark, the new headquarters for the volunteer knitting program.

seamenschurch.org The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2011 • 3

Thank Yous from SeafarersThe letters from seafarers and mariners keep pouring in, thanking our volunteers for the gifts they received at Christmastime. Look where your hard work has landed!

I would like to thank you and all your wonderful volunteers for the Christmas presents delivered to our vessel, the Sealand Meteor. It

was not only very thoughtful of all your volunteer knitters but timely as well. Our vessel is currently in the shipyard in Gdansk, Poland and the temperatures are not expected to be above freezing at any time during our stay. The knitted hats and scarves are being well used.

On a personal note, I received a Christmas at Sea knitted hat and scarf set almost 20 years ago and still wear it at home to this day. It brings me a warm memory every time I put it on.

Thank you for your keeping all of us seamen in your thoughts and prayers and please pass on our heartfelt thanks to all of your hardworking volunteers.

Best Regards, David Splaine Chief Engineer Sealand Meteor

I would like to give thanks to all volunteer knitters throughout U.S.A. and all SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE members, thank you so

much for the gifts we received onboard last Christmas and for their prayers...

Our Captain gave the said packages to the crew in times of our CHRISTMAS PARTY Dec. 25, 2010. We are all really enjoyed on that occasion especially when we received the packages and it will really help us especially this winter season. It’s so great for us, especially as now we are in Northern China where the temperature is only 10 degrees.

Again thank you very very much for the gift...We are really, really happy even though we are apart from our own FAMILY, that someone out there cares us. I hope and pray for the continuity of your service.

from Bosun and All Crew Onboard of Rio Cardiff, Belated Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year!!!

Dear Chaplain Baldridge,

I would like to thank you and Seamen’s Church for the gift packages that you have delivered for all of our vessel crews. This time of year is

very diffi cult for all crew members as they celebrate Christmas away from their families. I appreciate the care and giving that you and Seamen’s Church have provided for each of our crews with these packages that will help make this Christmas a little brighter. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this Christmas Season.

Marathon Marine looks forward to working with you and Seamen’s Church in 2011.

Thank you,

Greg Herold,Manager of Marine OperationsMarathon Petroleum Co. LP

SCI–BAY AREA:

Where the Sun Shines, Even During the Winter!by Adrienne Yee, SCI–Bay Area Development Coordinator

During 2010’s holiday season, SCI–Bay Area’s International Maritime Center (IMC) warmed the hearts of over 2,180 mariners arriving by cargo ships into the Port of Oakland. Churches, organizations, clubs, and individuals spanning the Golden State of sunny California knitted and crocheted hats and scarves throughout the year to support Christmas at Sea. In fact, what we thought were fi refl ies lighting up the skies were really sparks fl ying from knitting needles!

Those who love to sew made ditty bags (read more about these in the newsletter article “Simple Sewing” —Ed.), using colorful material—from

stripes to solids, from western cowboy prints to paisleys, to polka-dots and beautiful Polynesian fl orals! And, to top things off, some bags came already fi lled with treasures such as a toothbrush & toothpaste, hand lotion, lip balm, a pack of tissues, sweet treats, and more!

In October, truck loads of donated items to fi ll the bags rolled in day after day. Volunteers came to the IMC to fi ll the bags and a joyful noise could be heard throughout, as they fi lled the Center with holiday cheer.

Every day of the year is a blessing, knowing that we are able to provide a safe and relaxing “home away from home” environment for mariners far away from their homeland. And when the holiday season approaches, it is even more of a blessing to know that we have touched and warmed the hearts of so many men and women with the Christmas at Sea gifts—gifts that are generously donated by our volunteers who give from the heart.

4 • The Seamen’s Church Institute The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2011

A Chaplain’s Perspective: Christmas on the River 2010by the Rev. Kempton Baldridge, Chaplain, Ministry on the River

Let me start by saying Advent and Christmas 2010 (aka the month preceding “Christmas on

the River”) were quite unlike any holiday seasons I’ve ever experienced as well as very different from what I expected.

It took many people working long and hard to make Christmas on the River a reality. And for all the extra hours and extra miles I logged, I can’t explain how we did as much as we clearly did. I’m still amazed.

So, I thought I’d write a few words on why I believe Christmas on the River is so important.

As a 21-year old theology student at the Uni-versity of Berlin, Dietrich Bonhoeffer declared boldly, “Christ is really present only in com-munity (of the Church),” adding, “the Church is the presence of Christ, just as Christ is the presence of God.”

It got me thinking about what this might mean in the context of Ministry on the River.

If Bonhoeffer is correct, does it follow that Christ is not “really present” in the industrial setting of our chaplaincy, so clearly outside the community of the Church?

And how should chaplains interpret this? As ordained priests and ministers of the Church, we are charged to bring Christ to the world and bring the world to Christ. Yet people in the world we serve spend half their lives away from home, far from their communities of faith and churches. We all know working on a towboat is tough on family life, but does it also mean forgoing the peace, comfort and joy known when Christ is “really present”?

Then I realized “the community” of the Church existed long before church buildings and, like the Holy Spirit, it cannot be con-strained by four walls or the absence thereof.

Out on the river, there are thousands of tiny threads which connect towboat crews to “the community” of the Church and so to the presence of Christ. While no one would mistake a 6,500 horsepower line haul towboat for a church, evidence of the Church and its

community are plain to see on most vessels I’ve seen. Towboaters rarely leave their faith at home. Many deepen their faith, making daily prayer or scripture reading part of their routine on the river.

I’ve had an incredibly receptive audience on every towboat I’ve visited largely because all had received Christmas on the River/Easter on the River boxes in years past. They may not know me, but they know and trust SCI because of the goodwill COR/EOR created.

Frankly, life on the river can seem more like an alternate universe than a mere work-place. It’s a 24-hour-a-day “lifestyle,” a self-contained world quite distinct from the

one ashore. Thus, whenever the Church and its community acknowledges the mariners with holiday boxes, Bibles or used books, the impact is magnifi ed considerably. And the cumulative effect from initiatives such

as Christmas on the River is seen in towboaters’ remarkable openness to the Church and its ministry, whether afl oat or ashore.

It’s neither possible nor practical to place an SCI chaplain onboard every vessel working on the river. There are so many towboats, dredges, harbor tows, ferries and buoy tenders on the Western Rivers, a chaplain would need more than 10 years to personally visit them all, and that’s assuming getting on a different vessel every day, 365 days a year, nonstop.

And yet, SCI’s Ministry on the River is publicly committed “to share God’s love on our inland waterways and provide pastoral care to mari-ners and their families.” How can we even hope to “share God’s love” with 30,000 inland mariners scattered across two thousand miles of river on 3,500+ towboats from over fi fty different companies?

Christmas on the River is big part of the an-swer. And I thank all who helped make it so.

Chaplain Kempton Baldridge talks with a towboat captain who received a handknit Christmas at Sea scarf for Christmas.

www.seamenschurch.org The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2011 • 5

Simple SewingDitty bags from Oakland, CA

C hristmas at Sea is chock full of knitters who take creative license with the standard patterns … to be expected from artistic minds, of course! Knitters and crocheters display their creativity in each item we receive at SCI.

At SCI’s center in Oakland, CA, some knitting groups have gone one step further. They make their own decorative packaging for mariners’ gifts at Christmastime. Often referred to as “ditty bags,” these sewn containers gorgeously hold a scarf and hat along with other useful items. As a display of added creativity, the creators craft these from cloth representative of the knitters who sewed them. For example, a Polynesian group picked a brightly patterned cloth for their ditty bags. Mariners can use the cloth bags to hold special items, wrap their own gifts, or as a laundry bag.

The use of ditty bags at SCI began in the Bay Area, where gift distribution operates on a smaller scale, but with wider participation in their creation, more of SCI’s holiday gifts could be distributed in these reusable bags.

Sound fun? If you are inclined to sew, feel free! If you cannot sew yourself but know someone who does, team up to knit and sew a complete gift set! If we can collect bags in multiples of 25, then sets for an entire crew can be wrapped in cloth ditty bags, instead of the disposable bags we currently use.

Here’s the pattern:

DITTY BAG PATTERNMaterials:

• 1 yard sturdy, brightly colored cloth• One pair 30" shoelaces, or two 30"

lengths of twill tape, cording or macrame braid or seam binding tape

Directions:Cut according to width of material

45" wide ... cut 4 ... 11 1⁄4" x 36"

36" wide ... cut 3 ... 12" x 36"

60" wide ... cut 5 ... 12" X 36"

Finished Size is approximately 12" by 15"

Fold material in half, right sides together. Stitch 18" side seams.

Fold top down 2". Turn raw edge under 1⁄4", and stitch hem.

Place another row of stitching 1" above hem, making a casing of 1" and a heading of 3⁄4".

Turn bag right side out. With seam ripper or razor blade, cut stitches to open 1" casing at each side. Insert 1 shoelace in one seam opening. Bring completely around inside casing and exit at the same spot. Knot ends together. Repeat in other seam opening with second shoelace. Laces should emerge from outside of bag, and when pulled simultaneously, should close bag.

Note: Bag may be made from different pieces of material.

Note: Please keep ditty bags exactly to the size of the pattern. If they are too big the gifts get lost. If they are too small, the bags are not usable. We try to make all of the gifts of similar value and size. Please help us by making all of the bags the same size.

Knitters SurveyKnitters SurveyKnitters SurveyKnitters SurveySCI wants to gain a better understanding of our SCI wants to gain a better understanding of our knitting volunteers—what they like, what they do knitting volunteers—what they like, what they do not like, and what we can do for them. Some of you not like, and what we can do for them. Some of you call or write, but many knit silently. We want to keep call or write, but many knit silently. We want to keep our faithful knitters happy. our faithful knitters happy.

Please complete this survey (you can leave blanks if you like), and return it to 118 Export St., Newark, NJ 07114. Attach an extra page if necessary. If you’d like to fi ll it out online, please visit our blog.

NameName ___________________________________ ___________________________________

AddressAddress _________________________________ _________________________________

City, State, ZipCity, State, Zip ____________________________ ____________________________

PhonePhone __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

EmailEmail ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course)Date of Birth (optional, of course) _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for How long have you been knitting for CASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASCAS??????CASCAS?CASCASCASCAS?CASCASCASCAS?CASCAS ______ ______

What got you started?What got you started? ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed?Why have you stayed? ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit?What’s your favorite pattern to knit? ___________ ___________

Your least?Your least? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________

What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? What patterns have you not tried? ____________ ____________

Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not?Why not? ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about What do you like about CASCAS??CASCAS?CASCAS ________________ ________________

What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved?What could be improved? ___________________ ___________________

Do you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’sDo you knit with a group? If yes, what’s the group’s

name?name? __________________________________ __________________________________

Where do you buy your yarn? at a craft store, orWhere do you buy your yarn? at a craft store, or

local yarn store?local yarn store? __________________________ __________________________

What yarn brands do you use? What yarn brands do you use? _______________ _______________

What yarn brands do you like to use for personalWhat yarn brands do you like to use for personal

knitting?knitting? _________________________________ _________________________________

Are you comfortable going online and using theAre you comfortable going online and using the

computer?computer? _______________________________ _______________________________

Do you volunteer with other organizations? If yes,Do you volunteer with other organizations? If yes,

which ones?which ones? _____________________________ _____________________________

Thank you for your time. We will share some Thank you for your time. We will share some general statistics in the next newsletter as well as general statistics in the next newsletter as well as our blog.our blog.

Non-ProfitU.S Postage

PAIDNewtown, CT

Permit No. 100

Christmas at SeaSCI–PORT NEWARK CENTER118 Export StreetPort Newark, NJ 07114SCI

seamenschurch.org

GOur Garter Stitch RootsGarter stitch … the fi rst “pattern” every knitter learns—whether you started at your grandmother’s knee or followed along with a YouTube video. As our skills grow and confi dence increases, garter stitch sometimes gets left in the wake of its fancier brethren (like stockinette, ribbing, seed stitch, cables, and lace), but it pays to revisit the garter stitch. I think it symbolizes the ideals and goals of Christmas at Sea.

In its simplicity, a knitter can beautifully execute garter stitch, and the results can be stunning. Likewise, the Christmas at Sea program espouses a simple, yet beautiful premise: remember and thank—through knitting—those who make our lives more comfortable. And Christmas at Sea knitters are stunningly effective, knitting over 19,000 items in 2011.

As knitting’s fi rst pattern, garter stitch is historical—yet fresh and modern. By moving the Christmas at Sea headquarters (the place where our volunteers prepare and pack boxes) to Port Newark, we return to our “garter stitch” roots. Over 100 years ago, the founding Christmas at Sea knitters understood the needs of their seafarers because they knew their ports and were familiar with that work environment. With the Christmas at Sea HQ back in the port, SCI puts volunteers closer to the seafarers we serve.

Most importantly, garter stitch is all about commitment. A garter stitch project includes row after row of plain ol’ knitting, and, sadly, some often refer to it as “mindless.” I argue that the ease of replicating row after row of knit stitches frees your mind to go beyond the task at hand. This Lenten season, as we work at our garter stitch projects, we have an opportunity to focus on the greater good. Read about “Commit to Knit!” in this newsletter and join those of us who will make knitting part of our devotion this year. Or, if you prefer, consider sponsoring a knitter through a donation.

As we approach a spring which can’t come early enough (!), let’s take our garter stitch basics: simplicity, freshness, and commitment and apply them to our own lives.

My Commitment to KnitGrowing up, Lent always seemed to be a time of sacrifi ce (No chocolate! No Coca Cola! Fishsticks on Friday!!). As an adult, I much prefer to be positive in my actions (Yes, to eating healthy foods!) which is why the “Commit to Knit!” idea appeals to me.

A commitment to knit (for me, every day for forty days) represents positive action, without the pressure of a number. If you want to join me in this commitment, make it work for you—set aside time to knit. I think we’ll all surprise ourselves with our output.

To mark our collective commitment, I will post photos of my knitting every day on the Christmas at Sea blog. I make an additional commitment to show my progress daily for the entire 40 days.

Join me! Take photos (cell phone pics are a-okay), and send them along. I’ll add them to our Flickr page and our blog. Show us your journey to those completed projects!

Send your photos to: cas@seamenschurch.orgOr our blog: cas.seamenschurch.org

Or our Flickr page: www.fl ickr.com/groups/christmasatsea

And if you need help posting online, give me a call (973-589-5828), and I’ll walk you through the process.

Paige SatoProgram Manager