St. John of the Cross said, “Put love where there is none.” I like a little take on this quote that basically says the same thing, “Put beauty where there is none.” This is what our ministry is about, inspired by the quote of the great Russian novelist Fydor Dotoyevsky, “Beauty will save the world.” We believe that by putting beauty where is none, that beauty can  redeem and save the world. This monthly blog will update you on the newest outreach projects of the ministry. For further information on our ministry, or how you can be involved, please visit our web site: www.themuteswan.org.

During April we began our newest outreach project  “The Beautiful Baby Project”. In January of this year we created and printed our first 50 sets of laminated children’s prayer cards. Each set contains 6 large cards with rounded corners: cygnets, a bunny, bears, angels on clouds, fish, and a puppy and cat playing together. Along with selling the cards (to fund the project) on our gift web site, we included them in Easter baskets for sick children and young mothers who have little support for their unborn child. The baskets were decorated with silk daffodils and tied in a bow to include; a baby blanket, a stuffed bunny, the prayer cards, and a board book. Ten baskets were delivered to sick children at Rainbow’s Children Hospital in Cleveland, three baskets to young pregnant women at Hanna’s House, and twelve baskets to Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey. (You can also see the baskets on our site, and order them as a baby gift).

At the end of April we shipped 500 Mother’s Day cards to prisoners at Sing Sing, to mail home to their mothers on May 8^th. This is the third year for this important project. We will be expanding this ministry's outreach to those grieving on Mother's Day (those who are post-abortion, infertile, lost a child, lost a mother, estranged from their mother or their child....). Mother's day cards along with prayer cards will be mailed out to those experiencing loss on this day.

Upcoming for June we will be printing new prayer cards of the art : the woman at the well. The three paintings will include: the woman approaching the well anxious and worried, the woman at the well meeting Jesus, and the woman gloriously transfigured by her time with the Lord. These cards will be available with beautiful poetry by Megan Furman, and on our web site in June. The proceeds will fund our fall outreach projects. They make great gift enclosure or card enclosures for many occasions.