Changing Attitudes

Latest posts

Immanuel: God with Us
God is with us in our pain, suffering, and isolation. Jesus's incarnation brings us hope.
The Kin-dom of Heaven
Sarah Werner provides an eloquent imagining of what it feels like to be wholly welcomed into God's Community
Wounded and Whole
Why does the Resurrected Jesus have wounds? Laura Stone muses in her sermon on disability and wholeness. Plus a sneak peek of Laura and Peggy Gilbert's performance poetry.
Embodiment in Worship
Sarah Werner reflects on the church's changing beliefs about physical disabilities and calls us to a more embodied approach to worship.
Friendship
Naomi Epp recounts the ways her friendship with Chantel has been a blessing for both of them.

All posts on changing attitudes

- Portrait of Survival
  Suicide in the church is often considered taboo, sinful, or selfish. Tiara Coleman shares her story of surviving two suicide attempts in efforts to shatter the stigma, silence, and isolation in our congregations.
- "I Am Here"
  Ann Hamlin shares her perspective as a nonverbal young adult in a poignant song.
- A Church for All People
  Some congregations are finding that when they talk openly about mental health, it becomes natural to include mental health problems in the care and support they offer.
- A Lot of Fun Miracles
  Tamara Gill shares how friendship with children with disabilities has changed her life
- A Meaninful Role to Play
  Chou Gabikiny is a counselor, consultant, and mother to children with disabilities. She explains how churches thrive when everyone has a role to play.
- A Paradox* of Joy
  The third week of Advent
- A Worthy Part of God's Family
  Chrissie Denino's church celebrates her baptism after she expresses her faith using sign language.
- Accessibility Benefits Everybody
- Advent Week Four
  Advent Week Four
- Advent Week Three: Joy
  Advent Week Three
- An Extraordinary Life
  An Extra Ordinary Life, by Rhoda G. Penny, reviewed by Rebekah Flores.
- And Who Is My Neighbor?
  Seattle Mennonite members are companions to neighbors who have been homeless, many of whom have a mental illness.
- Anti-Ableism 101
  Learning from people with developmental disabilities to experience healing as a broken person
- Autism in the Congregation
  Suggestions for including children with autism in church activities
- Beautiful Day
  Ron Sandison's journey with autism has been like the weather in Michigan, filled with both beautiful days and thunderstorms.
- Bionic, with a Sense of Humor
  Christine Purves reflects on aquiring disabilities while growing older
- Book Review: Margins of Grace
- Building God's Kingdom One Job at a Time
  Christian employers are learning about the positive outcomes of employing people with disabilities.
- Come and See
  Learning from Mary-Anne to see prayer time as sacred and enjoyable once again.
- Come Live with Me
  Five things I never knew about people with developmental disabilities until I started living with them. By Deborah Ferber.
- Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
  As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, how do we reach out to those who are lonely?
- Community Transformation at L'Arche
  Community transformation means offering a stranger a cup of cold water and through that cup of water transforming the relationship into a friendship.
- Creating Space for Love
  The fourth week of Advent
- Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

- Dancing with Alta
  Learning to contra-dance from a gifted young dancer with Down syndrome
- Disability and Health Care Rationing
- Embodiment in Worship
  Sarah Werner reflects on the church's changing beliefs about physical disabilities and calls us to a more embodied approach to worship.
- Five Ridiculous Things You Probably Believe About Mental Illness
  Debunking common misperceptions about mental illnesses
- Following the Call, Finding a Way
  Bryce Miller shares about his call to ministry in light of living with cerebral palsy.
- Friendship
  Naomi Epp recounts the ways her friendship with Chantel has been a blessing for both of them.
- God Can Turn Us to Hope Again
  In the ICU, you wait. Wait for a nurse to come turn you, wait for your next meal to be delivered, wait for pain to subside, wait for independence to return, wait for dignity to be restored.
- Hear Then the Parable
  When we enter into authentic friendship with people with disabilities our worldviews and preconceived notions of humanity are confronted and transformed.
- Hsi-Fu’s Gift
  Getting to know Hsi-Fu is an adventure, and once you form a friendship with him, you know you are holding a rare gem in the palm of your hand.
- Immanuel: God with Us
  God is with us in our pain, suffering, and isolation. Jesus's incarnation brings us hope.
- Including Children with Autism
  Assembly Mennonite Church finds ways to include a child with autism and support his parents
- Making Friends with Time
  Learning the Advent grace of waiting for another with openness of heart
- Making Spaces Welcoming for All
  Jeanne Davies calls congregations to greater belonging and inclusion.
- MC USA Accessibility Resolution Passes
- Ministry at L'Arche
  Deborah Ferber reflects on the connection between living at L'Arche and her seminary studies preparing for ministry.
- My Brother Who Doesn’t Say a Word
  Even though Christopher cannot speak, Deborah has learned that togetherness can happen when they share a meal together, listen to good music together, or laugh at a good joke.
- On Learning to Grieve Beautifully
  Life lessons in living with grief learned from living companions with developmental disabilities
- On Learning to Live a Lot
  Life lessons from living with people with developmental disabilities: Learning to live a lot suggests that we haven’t giving up, that we are still breathing and moving forward.
- Open Hearts, Open Doors
  Good news for people with disabilities is close to the heart of Jesus’ gospel message and the mission of Anabaptist Disabilities Network.
- Out Now: "Everybody Belongs, Serving Together"
  A new resource for congregations
- Panda Cake and Down Syndrome
  Friends with developmental disabilities help make a birthday party filled with warmth and love.
- Perfect in God's Sight
  “Remember, you are perfect in God's sight,” athlete Tim Berta reflects, after surviving a traumatic brain injury.
- Puppets and Children with Autism
  Maria Witmer-Rich tells about using puppets to engage a child with autism in the Sunday school class she teaches
- Ready and Able
  Tony Walters, a deacon at Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren who happens to have autism, helps prepare for the congregation's love feasts.

- Redefining Disability
  At First Mennonite Church, ability or disability seem irrelevant, as persons with disabilities contribute through leadership and other gifts.
- Semester of the Heart
  A story of priorities reoriented by living in community with people who have developmental disabilities
- Stigmatizing and Separating: A Parent's Plea
  A mother describes the world of stigma and injustice that her daughter with an intellectual disability faces. Stigmas towards those with disabilities need to change, and need begin in the church.
- Thank You
  The words “thank you,” coming from a man who rarely speaks, embody God's hospitality and gratitude to a caregiver
- The Kin-dom of Heaven
  Sarah Werner provides an eloquent imagining of what it feels like to be wholly welcomed into God's Community
- The Kingdom of God is like...
  With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?
- The Least of These
  The intersections of poverty culture, race, and mental health
- The Messages of Community
  After spending time with friends with developmental disabilities, the author comes to realize their rare awareness and maturity.
- The Point of No Return
  Dwight Roth paints a haunting word picture that challenges us to think about who we are and how we show compassion
- The Prince of Peace
  Advent Week Two
- The Weak are Indispensable!
  Could the Apostle Paul have been thinking about people with disabilities when he wrote, “The members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable”?
- The Wisdom of God
  By choosing to become the scapegoat of humanity’s violence, Jesus radically identifies with the suffering “other”
- To stare or to gaze
  How will we look at people with intellectual disabilities? with a stare or with a gaze?
- Tragedy Opens a Door
  Pastor Bob Molsberry reflects on the hit-and-run bicycle accident that has left him using a wheelchair and how this experience contributes to his ministry overseeing congregations in Ohio.
- Transition to Adulthood
  Kevin Sauder shares about the transition from school to adult life for his son who is on the autism spectrum.
- Tribute to Aunt Debbie
  A tribute to a beloved aunt, who had many fondly remembered qualities, one of which was that she had Down syndrome.
- Walking through Fears into the Wonder of Love
  Epiphany
- When Someone is Considering Suicide
  How can we help prevent suicide?
- Where We Need to Be
  Christmas 2020
- Will you be my friend?
  For the first time I understood that people with developmental disabilities asked the same questions and shared the same hopes that I did.
- Worship Service Marks Mental Health Awareness Month
  One congregation's effort to raise awareness and offer support
- Wounded and Whole
  Why does the Resurrected Jesus have wounds? Laura Stone muses in her sermon on disability and wholeness. Plus a sneak peek of Laura and Peggy Gilbert's performance poetry.
- Youth Ministry for All Abilities
  Resources and reflections from The Gathering Place on youth ministry that includes people with disabilities, from eight Anabaptist writers and speakers.