Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

Read

Reflect

I serve as chaplain at a personal care home for men with different abilities.  In churches that have attendees with different abilities, the best way to work with them is to work with them.  Include them in your scripture readings, liturgy, and other at the same rate you include regular ed people, not only to be able to say, “We include John, so we are doing good,” but also, to put it bluntly, because they have gifts and talents that many regular ed people do not have.  Doing prayers is a great example of inclusion, and I include them in my services.

We open with prayer, and the men read the scripture taken from the New International Reader’s Version.  After our discussion-type sermon, our man Mike leads us in the Lord’s Prayer, which he memorized as a child.  Sometimes I remind him to slow down, but he leads it clearly and reverently.   After my charge and benediction, Mike and I Pass the Peace.

“Peace of Christ be with you, Ms. Lee,” he says as he gives me a fist bump.

“And also with you, Mike” I reply as I return his fist bump.

Mike and I pass the peace to the others, some who grew up with it like Mike did and others who didn’t, and the peace and joy in the dining room is overflowing.  And I am so thankful!

Doing worship and Bible study with Mike instead of to Mike and the other men, honors the gifts and talents they bring to the table.

Pray

Lord, give us peace as we work together for the glory of Your name!
Amen

Go with God!