The City of Noblesville was recently bombed – by warm, handmade scarves and good intentions.
The congregation of Roots of Life Lutheran Community placed scarves around the Courthouse Square, on bike racks, light poles, benches, trees and signs.
“We try to do a community outreach once a month,” Pastor Teri Ditslear said. “In February, we wanted to do a random act of kindness for the community. The tags on the scarves said, ‘Take this scarf if you need it or want it.’ On Sunday before they were distributed they were prayed over by the kids and people of Roots of Life.”
The project was seen by a congregation member in the Lutheran magazine and how it was done in another community. Ditslear said the scarf creation began in January in preparation for the bombing.
Ditslear said scarves also were taken the Riverview Health chapel, laundry mats around town, Seminary Park, Southside Park, a little independent grocery store on South 10th Street and in places where they know there might be homeless.
“We were just targeting anyone who had a need to keep warm or needed a bright spot in their life,” she said. “All in all we distributed about 120 scarves. Some were hand knit or croqueted, some were made from fleece.”
Remaining scarves were donated to the Noblesville Trustees office, which the church is working to create homeless packages with pillow cases, hand warmers and toiletry items for its March outreach project.
“We hope we made a difference in lives, even if it was just a small thing,” she said.
Ditslear started the church with a small group of people, who she said are dedicated to hospitality and welcoming all people and those who want something different in a community of faith. She said Roots of Life is “nested” in the Logan Street Sanctuary, 1274 Logan St., Noblesville. Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.rolcommunity.com.
