PC(USA) - PHEWA - PDC - Access Sunday Worship Celebration Packet Archives

PHEWA - Presbyterians Health Education and Welfare Association


	Access Sunday worship celebration packets

	2008 focus: providing pastoral care with and for people with disabilities Worship suggestions “Caring,” a poem Download 2008 Access Sunday Liturgical Elements Sermon, “God’s Heart for Wholeness” Sermon, “Follow the Light” Bulletin inserts: Color or Black and White Hearing personal stories The Cares of My Heart A young person with disabilities writes about how she was helped when asking questions about her life … from the theological to the practical. Created in the Image of God Breaking the silence about a mental illness leads to a trusting relationship between a person living with serious mental illness and also leads to leadership possibilities. Inclusion: A Church’s Quest A church and parents of a child with Down syndrome learn how to work in partnership to provide opportunities for one family to worship, fellowship, grow and serve. Where Were the People of God? The road to acceptance of a disability can be rough, but the journey provided venues to service and support. Articles for thought, reflection and action The Fix, Cure and Kill Syndrome of Life with a Disability No one denies that living with a disability can be difficult, but please don’t tell me I’m not whole just the way I am! Healing vs. Curing: Reflections for Pastoral Caregivers In the Gospels, healing was never limited to a physical cure. Healing involved the whole person and the sense of being in community. A Word for Professional Chaplains Bill Gaventa, in accepting the prestigious COMISS Medal for his significant contribution to pastoral care over thirty years, addresses the issue of community building in his acceptance speech. Living with Tough Questions We may not be able to answer all the challenging questions that arise from a person who lives with a disability, but we can be present with them, as they are voiced. A Ministry of Presence A ministry of presence communicates a person’s infinite worth and value. It is rooted in “being” not “fixing.” Circles of Friends A Circle of Friends can bring a meaningful connection between a person with a disability and others in the congregation. It is a way to break down the barriers of isolation and loneliness often experienced by persons. Practical Guidelines for Starting a Circle of Friends A detailed map for creating a Circle of Friends in your congregation. Helping Persons with Developmental Disabilities Deal with Death Persons with developmental disabilities need to understand the reality of death or pending death. They need to talk, to tell stories, to be listened to and to memorialize. Stephen Ministry and Deacons Expand the ministries provided by Stephen Ministers and Deacons by including information about disabilities. The Access Packet can help. Speak Out! Read “snippets” from persons with disabilities or their family members about the pastoral care they receive.


	2007 theme is Our Spirits Cry Out for Justice Our spirits cry out for wholeness Download 2007 Access Sunday Worship Resources. Download a Litany: We Are God’s Work of Art. Download a Children’s Sermon: You’ve Got Trouble! Based on Luke 4:16-20 Download a Hymn: It’s Sad When We Exclude Them. Baptism, only for those who understand the mystery of baptism? Read stories about the sacrament of baptism really beccoming an entrance into the life of the church. The first task in developing a liberating theology of disability is to identify and confront the key aspects of the church’s disabling theology, beginning with its biblical roots. Download Nancy L. Eiesland's article "Encountering the Disabled God." One family, worried about acceptance of their son, finds a congregation that welcomes them into their life. Read "The honor of their presence." Download a Bulletin Insert: Access Sunday 2007. Our spirits cry out for belonging Springdale Presbyterian celebrates Access Sunday every year, but strives to create a culture of belonging every Sunday of the year. Read "A Culture of Belonging at Springdale Church." What can we learn from just one young man who is fully part of the life of his congregation — moving from “being nice” to genuine integration? Read "Lost and Found: An Integration Story." Sarah knows that she needs to be a self advocate, and she also wants others to learn to advocate with her not for her or, as the saying goes,“nothing about me without me.” Read "Advocacy: A Young Person’s Perspective." Susan, Sarah’s mother, shares some ideas on how a congregation can share the yoke of parents of infants, children and young adults with disabilities. Read "Advocacy: A Mother’s Perspective." A fifth grader shares what it is like to have Aspergers syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder. Read "Aspergers Syndrome." Author Ellen Notbohm speaks with a child’s voice, a voice not often heard, to give very practical advice that any adult working or living with a child with austism can benefit from. Read "Ten Things Your Student With Autism Wishes You Knew." Providing materials in alternative formats to persons who are blind or who have low vision is crucial for full inclusion into a congregation’s life. Read "Alternative Formats: A Tool for Inclusion." Our spirits cry out for a just society Cheerleading from a motorized wheelchair! That does call for cheers. Read "Cheers from Anna." Hurricane Katrina taught us all that when emergencies occur, all people need to be ready. Could this be a new ministry for your congregation? Read "When Emergency Strikes — A Call to Care." The Red Cross suggests many ways that persons with disabilities can prepare for a disaster. Developing a personal plan and trusting relationships is the key to readiness. Read "Creating a Personal Support Network." Having emergency information for all congregation members can enable your congregation to assist your members when disasters occur. Download the Personal Support Network (Emergency Contacts) for your congregation. It may be difficult to have conversations around end-of-life planning, but the church is the perfect loving, caring community to encourage this dialogue. Read "It’s Time to Talk About Dying." Two congregations commit leadership and financial resources to make a significant impact on affordable housing in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read "Shared Mission: Affordable Housing." The women at Lydia Women’s Empowerment Ministries learn to sew beautiful liturgical vestments and banners and share their stories of abuse. As they stitch, their “pain leaks out.” Read "Domestic Violence: The Secret Disabler." Although churches are not bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are held to a higher calling, one of modeling the meaning of social justice. Read "Modeling Justice in the Workplace." Hear some thoughts that come from persons with disabilities themselves. Read "People with Disabilities Speak Out!" Four consultants are available to help with questions about welcoming persons with disabilities. Download a brochure to share with your congregation about the Disability Consultants.


	2006 focus: The Household of God — One Body, One Spirit, a celebration of the gifts that persons with disabilities bring to the church. The packet focuses on children with disabilities as the PC(USA) participates in the Decade of the Child.

	Welcoming letter Varieties of gifts - one body, one spirit (Introduction) Varieties of gifts - one body, one spirit (Part 1) Varieties of gifts - one body, one spirit (Part 2) Varieties of gifts - one body, one spirit (Part 3) Varieties of gifts - one body, one spirit (Part 4) The household of God: practicing God’s economy Building relationships of mutuality Who is Sarah? How God has touched me 10 Reasons congregations must become accessible to persons with disabilities Friends at home The word in action Worship resources Bulletin insert (Color) Bulletin insert (Grayscale) Litany of Thanksgiving A Prayer of vision for community Sing to our God a song of cheer A time with the children A moment for mission Open doors, open hearts Disability Concerns Consultants Disability resources Special loan rates for accessibility projects PDC membership brochure Sunday Access promotional flyer (black & white) \| (color) Membership form Packet label logo - JPEG. To save the file to your computer: right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select " save target as" and save the document to your desktop. File size 900k.


	2005 focus: Don’t I belong? The packet focuses on children with disabilities as the PC(USA) participates in the Decade of the Child.

	Welcoming letter Worship resources Children's moment: a lesson from my kitchen drawer Music: it's you I like Education ideas: developing dwareness vs. similarity awareness Education ideas: developing awareness about persons with disabilities in children, youth or adults Education ideas: accessing the word: special approaches for individual needs A parent's journey: religious inclusion: one pilgrim's learnings A congregational story: arms opened wide Bring on the church coach! Disability Concerns Consultants Disability resources Accessibility project loans PDC membership brochure Sunday Access Promotional Flyer (black & white) \| (color) Membership form Packet label - 110k JPEG. To save the file to your computer: right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select " save target as" and save the document to your desktop.


	2004 focus: Claiming our place at the table This packet contains worship resources, curriculum adaptation ideas and a book study.

	Cover letter Worship resources Sermon Music: "When hands reach out" Music by Fred Rogers: "Its you I like" Poems by Sarah Nettleton Circle of friends - A congregational model of care Disability consultants information Ideas for curriculum adaptation What do you know about deaf culture? People first language (accessible) Redefining disability Book study: Adam, God's Beloved by Henri Nouwen Video: The Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilites Book review: Healing Homiletic disability resource


	2003 focus: Claiming our place at the table This packet contains worship resources as well as resources for offering hospitality to persons with disabilities and “People first Language.

	Cover letter Sample sermon Liturgical resources In different ways we praise you When hands reach out Welcoming people with mental or developmental disabilities Welcoming people with physical disabilities Removing attitudinal barriers People first language


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