This vital resource explores the essential considerations of pastoral work with those with intellectual disabilities.
Drawing on the vast experience of the L’Arche community that fully includes and centers those with intellectual disabilities, this practical guide offers ideas for imaginative worship to engage people with all abilities. It gives suggestions for enabling participation and building familiarity while keeping worship fresh and varied, with ready-to-use themed service outlines that are appropriate throughout the Christian year. It includes a compendium of resources for creating your own acts of worship, including prayers, blessings, stories, quotes, a directory of online resources, ideas for what to keep in a “liturgy box,” ideas or seasonal decoration of the worship space, and many more resources from L’Arche.
This book is rooted in the belief that each human being is on a spiritual quest to find meaning in their life, and while each person’s path is uniquely their own, we share the journey together. The important thing is to encourage each other’s personal development, and celebrate the gifts and talents that emerge within and for the whole community.
HAZEL BRADLEY has forty years of international experience of L’Arche. She has created many worship services for L’Arche International, L’Arche UK and various communities. These include funeral services, jubilee celebrations and large assemblies. She has also co-authored a workbook available on the World Community for Christian Meditation website on meditating with groups of people with and without learning disabilities.
JIM CARGIN is a copywriter on the L’Arche International Communications Team, past editor of Letters of L’Arche, and the former communications director in L’Arche Internationale.
