One Body, Many Parts -
This excellent video from the Lutheran Church has the message that Jesus wants His church to have open doors, welcoming all people to worship.
On Becoming Fully a Fully Accessible Congregation Many years ago, a wise man declared, “The ramp is not enough”, and he was right. Although architecturally accessible may be a good beginning for some congregations, it is only a first step, and in my opinion, not the most important step. As the author of the letter to the Ephesians stressed: Christ came to tear down the walls (Eph 2:14). Whenever we consider the ways in which to respond to issues of disability, we do well to remember the walls that we have set up. All of these walls are so human, yet they contradict Christ’s ministry of reconciliation; walls that shut people in or shut people out; walls that prevent people from meeting and talking to others. In days gone by, people with disabilities were actually kept behind walls, inside institutions. Now we are all a part of mainstream society. It is estimated that some 600 million people are persons with disabilities. Yet people, especially persons with disabilities, still find themselves isolated. Now there are walls of shame; walls of prejudice; walls of hatred; walls of competition; walls of fear; walls of ignorance; walls of theological prejudice and cultural misunderstanding. The Church is called to be an inclusive community, to tear down the walls. This interim statement is an invitation to journey towards making that more of a reality. It has been written by disabled people, parents and others who experience life alongside them in various ways. continued at http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments2003.nsf/index/plen-1.1-en.html A Report on Access and Disability from the Christian Churches in Massachusetts. The Grace of Being a Minority By Thierry Delay, Reflections from the United Church of Canada General Council on French Speaking Communities within the UCC.  This children story by Oscar Wilde is wonderful for many reasons. those who grew up in the seventies and watch TV will remember it was played every Christmas. It the story of a Giant who learns the value of community. He helps a child, smaller then all the others, and unable to climb a tree. He later discovers that the child was the risen Christ.
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