Several weeks ago, Travis and I had the opportunity to lead worship at HSHC’s new home, First Presbyterian Church in Wooster, Ohio. After the service, as we were greeting people, one of the congregants gave us a super soft, creamy white, crocheted prayer shawl, complete with dragonflies woven into the pattern – symbolizing joy, healing, courage, strength, and encouragement.
The moment I touched it, I was instantly transported back to my childhood, holding my “soft blanket” – the blanket my mother crocheted for me before I was born that I carried everywhere for years. I still have “soft blanket,” though it doesn’t go on excursions anymore! The texture of the prayer shawl felt remarkably similar – calming, comforting, and bringing a deep sense of peace.
That moment reminded me once again of the power of touch. Long before we speak our first word, we understand our surroundings through touch; it is our primary way of communicating with the world, and the world with us.
Scripture is full of profound examples of this truth. In his final sermon as associate pastor at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church (PA) on June 28, 2026 – before transitioning to his new call as Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at The College of Wooster (OH) – HSHC Co-founder Travis Webster reflected on this theme in a message titled “Touching Stories.”
Using readings from 1 Kings 19 and Mark 5, Travis explored how physical touch in the Bible is never just physical – it carries profound emotional and spiritual consequences that shape our lives and relationships. He highlighted how compassionate contact breaks through isolation and fear: from an angel gently touching a despondent Elijah in the wilderness to offer sustenance, to Jesus defying social and religious barriers to offer life-giving touch to both a hemorrhaging woman and Jarius’ dying daughter.
These narratives remind us that our lives are deeply interconnected and that we are called to navigate our own “touching stories” with intentional love, healing, and grace.
As for the new prayer shawl, I look forward to wrapping myself in this adult version of “soft blanket” in the cold months ahead – resting in comfort, peace, and joy, all thanks to a generous congregant whose touching action welcomed us so warmly to Wooster.
Ways to access Travis’ message:
Ways to Reflect: Consider one or more of the following:
- How does a familiar texture or gentle touch from your past still comfort you today? What physical spaces or objects bring you an immediate sense of calming peace?
- Where in your life do you need to experience the gentle, grounding touch of God’s grace right now? How can you honor your body’s need for physical grounding and soothing sensory input this season?
- In a world that often feels isolated or distant, how can you offer a “touching story” to someone else this week – such as through a warm hug, a hand on a shoulder, a handwritten note, or a hand-crafted gift?
Upward and onward together,
Karen and Travis Webster
HSHC Co-founders
