The Women’s Missionary Society (1904-2012)
The Women’s Missionary Society is a community of Christians whose purpose,
in response to the love of God in Jesus Christ, is to encourage one another and
all the people of the church to be involved in local and world mission through
prayer, study, service and fellowship.
The Women’s Missionary Society of Knox Crieff was organized in 1904 under the leadership of Mrs. Robertson, the minister’s wife and Mrs. Watt of the Guelph Presbyterial. In 2004 we celebrated 100 years of WMS here at Crieff. In November, 2012, due to declining membership the Knox Crieff W.M.S. decided to disband. In January 2013 a special service will be held to mark the important contribution of this group to our congregation.
Within the Waterloo Wellington Presbyterial Knox WMS had been a responsible member over the years, Miss Margaret Scott was Home Helper Secretary 1956-58 and Mrs. Margaret Griesbach was Recording Secretary 1969-74 and she served as Presbyterial President 1983-86.
The ladies of Knox Crieff have hosted the Presbyterial at their rally on different occasions and have also hosted Presbyterial Executive meetings.
As well as sending monies to Presbyterial which supports international needs (for example Jobat Christian School and Jobat Hospital), Knox Crieff’ supported many local organizations: Cairn-Synod Camping, Sleeping Children Around the World – providing bed kits to children of any race and/or religion who will benefit the most; Argus Residence for Young People – an emergency shelter for youth between the ages of 16-24 experiencing homeless in the Cambridge Community; Autism Society – which provides information and education, supports research and advocates for programs and servicesfor the autism community; Armagh – a shelter for abused women in the Peel region; Masai Centre (Bracelet of Hope) – a charitable organization that raises funds to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa; Welcome In Drop in Centre – Sister Christine and a group of local volunteers who provide nutritious meals, friendship, support andguidance to hundreds of Guelph’s neediest residents every day; Lisaard House in Cambridge which provides care free of charge for individuals with cancer who are facing a limited life expectancy; Michael House – a crisis pregnancy home located in Guelph dedicated to providing housing and services to young women who need support during their pregnancy or early parenting years.
Over the years, we collected Zehrs tapes which provided some of the funds used for these
local needs. Used postage stamps were also collected and sent to Dog Guides of Canada.
As well as this , a Prayer Shawl ministry was begun a few years ago. Shawls were knit by
members and provided to congregation or community members in times of stress, if they have a serious illness or are undergoing medical treatment, experiencing bereavement or at any time when comfort and prayer are needed.
Members had also busy knitting “Izzy” comfort dolls over the years. I Cross Canada sends medical supplies to people in developing countries, the little knit dolls are placed in the box as packing to protect the valuable medical supplies. The dolls have become one of the most popular donations.
The WMS members also knitted or crochet pneumonia prevention vests and baby caps both used in developing countries to help keep children warm.
Locally, one of our mission projects had been the collection of small personal hygiene items to be donated to the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank for use in their Outreach Program.
The W.M.S. has left us with a wonderful legacy of caring and outreach.
THE STORY OF THE IZZY (COMFORT) DOLLS
“ICROSS” stands for the International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering. It started as a small Irish-based charity, working with doctors in Africa. When a couple from Victoria, B.C, visited Kenya to lay a wreath to honour Canadian
Peacekeepers that had died in the Congo, they were so appalled by the poverty and disease they saw that when they arrived home they founded the Canadian chapter of ICROSS, using their own money to send children’s medications and painkillers to Africa. They were interviewed by a local newspaper, and as the word spread about what they were doing, it grew and grew. They heard about the doll campaign and asked for knitters to make small basic dolls to be used as packing materials to protect the fragile medicines during overseas container shipments. When the containers were emptied, the dolls were given to the local children, often sick or orphaned little children who had nothing.
The doll campaign started in British Columbia with the mother of a member of the Canadian Military Engineers, Master Corporal Mark Isfeld, Izzy to his friends, who was on his second United Nations peacekeeping mission from October until April 1993. Mark’s mom, Carol, always knitted socks, toques and gloves for him to give to the local people, adults and children, when he was on tour. He loved to do this, and Carol kept him well stocked. On one particular mission, Mark passed through a village that had been badly damaged by mortar and artillery. Lying in top of one pile of rubble was a child’s doll. Deeply saddened, Mark took a photo of the doll and sent it to his family, saying “a doll has lost her little girl, and a little girl her doll”. His mother was so moved that she started making small peacekeeping dolls for Mark to take and add to the things he gave to the children. When he told her they were a big hit, she made them as fast as she could.
In 1994, Mark was killed clearing land mines in Croatia. At his funeral, peacekeepers told Carol of the happiness the little dolls she made brought to so many children. She made a promise that Mark’s memory would live on in the dolls. So they are called Izzy dolls, and the idea grew until hundreds of people were making them. Often these Izzy dolls are the only possession these children have ever had of their very own. They are only a few yards of brightly colored yarn, but in the hands of a caring knitter it becomes magic for a child who has never been given a gift in his or her short life.
Comfort Doll Patterns — Click the link Below for the Pattern
Knitting Patterns for Pneumonia Prevention Vests and Baby Caps
Crochet Version Pneumonia Prevention Vests
Knitted Pneumonia Prevention Vests and Baby Caps