Kairos Placemats
Kairos Placemats
Kairos Prison Ministry at Polunsky placemats are handcrafted artworks created by community members, especially children, to provide encouragement and a message of God's love to incarcerated individuals during the ministry's weekends. These colorful, message-filled placemats are placed at each meal setting and are highly treasured by recipients, who often keep them as personal mementos. They are a simple yet powerful way for outside communities to express support and connect with participants through the spiritual gift of "agape" love.
What They Are
Handmade Gifts:
Placemats are made by people in the community, such as individuals, families, church groups, and school classes.
Visual Reminders:
They are decorated with drawings and simple messages of God's love, often including the name of the child or person who made it and their age.
Agape Love:
Placemats are a form of "agape" (unconditional love) that reinforces the message that God loves and cares for the incarcerated individuals.
How They Are Used
During Meals:
Placemats are placed at each meal setting on tables in the prison during a Kairos weekend.
Cherished Keepsakes:
Incarcerated individuals at the Polunsky Unit often do not eat on them but carefully keep them to hang in their cells as a reminder of the outside support and love.
Personal Connections:
Seeing a child's name on a placemat can create a personal connection for the recipient, reminding them of their own children or grandchildren.
How to Make One
Follow Guidelines:
Utilize the preprinted place mats and color them with markers or colored pencils. No stickers , bling, glitter or glue can be used.
Message of Love:
Decorate with drawings and messages conveying God's love and Jesus Christ's joy.
Include Name and Age:
For placemats made by children, include their first name and age only.
Materials:
Use simple materials like markers or colored pencils. Avoid glitter, glue, stickers, or paste.
Deliver to Your Agape Coordinator:
Deliver the completed placemats to your Kairos "agape" team coordinator by the specified deadline before the weekend.