The Common Thread knitting group at Rapid City Canyon Lake United Methodist Church set a goal to knit 50 scarves for the Lydia Project.  So far 100 scarves have been made. "We have been having fun with it," said Grace Stucke, who is a member of the Common Threads group. "We hope to have the scarves blessed during worship." 

Rita Lepp, a member of Bismarck Legacy UMC, is coordinating efforts to make 150 scarves. "We are well on the way. We currently have more than 100 made, and there is a lot of yarn out there," she says. "I am sure we will get to 200. When the Spirit says go, you go!"

Rita purchased 270 sceins of yarn. It is available to anyone who is interested in knitting or crocheting a scarf. "People pick up the yarn and directions. They bring the completed scarf to the church when done. It is just that simple. We have people from throughout the Bismarck community, who are not members of Legacy, participate. All we ask is that they pray when they are kitting or crocheting," Rita says. 

United Methodists in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota are knitting or crocheting 10,000 purple scarves. The initiative is called the Lydia Project, after Lydia in Acts 16. 

The United Methodist General Conference will be coming to Minneapolis in 2020. The intent is to greet every delegate, dignitary, bishop, and spouse with a handmade scarf, to serve not only as a memento of General Conference but also as a practical solution to drafty, air-conditioned rooms.  

Churches like Bismarck McCabe have been busy creating scarves. McCabe UMC set a goal to knit 100 scarves. Each church can set their own goal and is asked to designate a contact person for this project. The contact person will be responsible for coming up with an estimated number of scarves your congregation can commit to making.  Get more details and resources here. You can also watch this video to get more information.

The Lydia Project