A Threadletter of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
MARCH 2013
Greetings!

Disability & Accessibility: A Pastoral Care Concern
 

This issue of the Pastoral Care Threadletter presents articles on how to reach out to Friends with physical disabilities.  Our identity as an inclusive and gathered community is often tested when it comes to welcoming persons challenged by physical limitations.  The articles below describe how meetings can become more inviting to disabled persons and the richness to be found in responding to this concern. 

Peace be with you,
George Schaefer
Care and Aging Coordinator

Message from the Field
Ideas for Retaining Physically Challenged
Members of Meeting


Assume that during your own life, you will almost certainly experience a time of physical impairment or limitation: severe back pain, joint replacement or other surgery. This assumption becomes even more likely as increases in longevity advance with each decade. How can Meeting help each of us during our times of physical limitation?
Reflection from Experience
Beyond Appearances: Seeing That of God More Clearly 

Terry Christensen was a professional mariner based in Astoria, Oregon. Today, after losing his sight as the result of a degenerative optic disorder, he serves Yardley Friends as clerk of meeting. His spirited tenacity and determination to pursue his passion as a teacher and his profound faith in the power of spirit to cope with adversity is an inspiration to everyone he meets. 

Resource
All Are Welcome

 An Individual's spiritual journey is an important part of his or her life.  Having a disability does not take that away.  Unfortunately, many families affected by a physical disability or other impairments or learning differences feel unwelcomed in their faith community.

 All Are Welcome provides resources for communities of faith and those in positions of leadership to welcome disabled persons, their families and friends into community.  After all, if our faith communities are not places of inclusion and acceptance, what change is there for the rest of society to welcome difference and diversity? 
Pastoral Care Newsletter Archive
Pastoral Care to People with Disabilities

Accessibility is not only a matter of nuts and bolts, of ramps and bathrooms.  It is also a question of our love and commitment to one another, and of our identity as a caring and gathered people.  If this is true then questions of disability access are a pastoral care concern.

 


Pastoral Care Calendar

calendar
 
Walk Humbly, Serve Boldly: Prophetic Ministry among Friends Today, March 31 to April 4 at Pendle Hill


The Refuge of Awakening:
A Seven Day Mindfulness Retreat
April 21 to 28 at Pendle Hill  

 

Return to Communitas: The Love Awakened Community
May 17 to 19 at Pendle Hill
With Ken and Irene Jacobsen  

   

Come Away and Rest Awhile
May 31 to June 2 at Pendle Hill

  

Thirty Paths to Healing Mind, Body, and Spirit
July 14-18, 2013 at Pendle Hill

  

Inquirers' Weekend: An Introduction to Basic Quakerism
July 19-21, 2013 at Pendle Hill  

   

The Sacred Art of Spiritual Discernment
July 21-25, 2013 at Pendle Hill     

Bulletin Board
Share news, events and resources.  To suggest a posting send details to [email protected].
 
Faith Inclusion Network
offers a website and an annual conference to support people with disabilities in faith communities



Support Care In The Congregation by Mennonite Publishing covers the subject of supporting individuals with disabilities and their families in the meeting community providing a model for care and advocacy.
After We're Gone provides clearly laid out chapters on topics like establishing a trust and guardianship for the care of a disabled child or an adult child.

Anabaptist Disabilities Network: Faith communities are transformed when individuals with disabilities and their God-given gifts and experiences enjoy full inclusion in the Body of Christ. ADNet supports Anabaptist congregations, families, and persons touched by disabilities to nurture inclusive communities.

John Yungblut, shares the experience of contemplative prayer in facing many forms of diminishment.

Center for Courage & Renewal offers  unique opportunities to align your inner truth with your outer life, helping you reconnect who you are with what you do. Find out about "The Journey Toward an Undivided Life: A Courage & Renewal Retreats".    

 

Thank you Friend!

PYM Pastoral Care is published bi-monthly to help strengthen our faith community through communication, connections and relationships.


Please forward this newsletter to friends and families in your meeting so that information about the Yearly Meeting programs can reach them directly. Just click the Forward to a Friend button in the column to the right of this message.


 
 Journey of a Lifetime
 

Faith & Spiritual Affairs 7th Annual Conference
Journey of a Lifetime

 

Wednesday, April 24

Philadelphia

Free to the Public   

   

The 7th Annual Faith & Spiritual Affairs: Journey of a Lifetime conference will help to create awareness about the spiritual, emotional and physical wellness experience throughout one's life journey. 

 
The Threadletter
Family

 

Pastoral Care Threadletter
is a member of a family of e-newsletters. There are additional threadletters for Friends who care for the following concerns:

Youth Programs
First Day School
Worship & Ministry
Peace & Social Concerns
Finance

To read or subscribe to any of these threadletters, go to the thread newsletter webpage 

 

 
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