As part of our commitment to inclusive practices, we at Hinde Street recently dedicated a Sunday service (14th May) to discussions and reflections on disability and neurodivergence. As a community, we took this time to listen to the perspectives of those in our community who often experience injustice at work, school, and many other spheres of life.
If disabled and neurodiverse people are not part of our worship, we will miss important aspects of how we encounter God. Many disabled and neurodiverse people are calling from the edge how we all need to be transformed and are helping to show the way to God. If our worship is to be God-centred, we need to encounter these voices.
This worship went ahead with the aim to be a worship for everyone. To enable us to come as we are, with our differences and impairments, and explicitly know we are welcome. To provide an environment where its ok to point out where we are being excluded. To increase our understanding of how to include. To discern how God is calling us to do justice. To encounter God afresh.
This prayer was written by Richard Bowers who has Downs Syndrome and is a very active member of Bloomsbury Baptist Church:
Thank you God for the Church
Help us to share fully in the Church family
Lord, Hear our Prayer
We pray for the people who are blind
Help them to see Jesus
Lord, Hear our prayer
We pray for the people who are deaf
Help them to hear Jesus
Lord, Hear our prayer
We pray for the people who cannot use their legs
Help them to walk with Jesus
Lord, Hear our prayer
We pray for the people who cannot talk
Help them to talk to Jesus
Lord, Hear our prayer
Please help us all to serve you
Fill us with the fruits of the spirit
Love, Joy, Peace
Patience, Kindness
Goodness, Faithfulness
gentleness and self control
Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our prayer come to you
Amen
Thanks to Katherine Fox for leading this very important service.