We recently received word from the members of St. Tabitha’s Guild at St. Bart’s that they have made another large gift of needlecrafts to Jamaica Hospital. You’ll find some photographs of their beautiful and colorful offerings below. For those who aren’t already familiar with the work of the St. Tabitha’s Guild, they are a fellowship of knitters and crocheters who gather to create hats, blankets, sweaters, and scarves for newborns and adults. Their needlecrafts are then distributed to Jamaica Hospital, Crossroads, and the Seaman’s Institute to provide warm clothes to those who need them.
The Guild takes their name from St. Tabitha, who is mentioned in the Book of Acts (9:36-43) as we will hear this Sunday. St. Tabitha’s story isn’t terribly well known and is often overlooked in favor of the much longer story of Cornelius that immediately follows hers (10:1-48). It’s no wonder that Tabitha’s story has been overshadowed. The public conversion of the Gentile Cornelius, a powerful Roman centurion, is extremely important in the history of the early church. Plus, the account of his conversion is filled with action, drama, suspense, supernatural visions, and a big party at the end. Tabitha’s story is much quieter. So quiet, in fact, that when we first meet her, she is dead.
Tabitha was one of countless women, often unnamed and mostly unacknowledged, who did the essential behind-the-scenes work in the church. She was a disciple “devoted to good works and acts of charity,” who made clothes for the destitute widows in her town. After Tabitha dies, Peter is called to her bedside, and he sees that she is being mourned by all the widows she had helped. Peter prays over Tabitha’s body. He calls out “Tabitha, get up” and raises her from the dead. We never actually hear from Tabitha herself, but we can imagine that her life was forever changed by this encounter. And so were the lives of the widows who loved her, who would not only continue to benefit from her good works, but were witnesses to the power of faith.
Not all of us are called to make big, dramatic, statements like Cornelius. Not all of us are called to a public ministry like Peter. Some of us prefer to serve in quieter ways, behind the scenes, like St. Tabitha, whose acts of service were just as important and absolutely essential to the work of the church and building up the body of Christ.
There are many ways to serve God at St. Bart’s. The St. Tabitha’s Guild is just one of them. How might God be calling you to serve? If you are interested in joining a wonderful fellowship of knitters and crocheters whose ministry serves the most vulnerable among us, visit their table in the back of the church this Sunday to find out more. They could use your help and they would love to have you join them.
