Blessings Upon Blessings: Exceptional Worship and Friendship House

Last updated on: January 9, 2012 at 10:50 am by Amy Julia Becker

Blessings Upon Blessings: Exceptional Worship and Friendship House 2012-01-09T10:50:27-05:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Penny reading the Christmas story at our Birthday Party for Jesus

Some people still think that it is sad that Penny has Down syndrome, and that as her parents we have simply “come to terms” with her diagnosis. I’d say instead that while Down syndrome brings with it plenty of challenges, the fact that our daughter was born with it has also opened our eyes, and our hearts, to a new reality. It’s the reality that disability is a human experience, much like any other–complicated, often difficult, often rewarding, and with the possibility for great joy. My life is far richer as a result of having a child with Down syndrome. I hope some day Penny might say the same about herself.

Rick Morley, an Episcopal priest and blogger, recently wrote about starting a ministry for families of children with disabilities within his church:

It’s a story as old as ministry itself.

You begin a ministry to someone, to a group of people, to a certain place and population—fully expecting that YOU are going to serve THEM.

Bless their little pea-pickin’ hearts. Won’t they be lucky.

It’s an easy attitude to have with any group of “unfortunate people,” people who “need” us. But, as Morely writes :

Right now we’re calling it, “Exceptional Worship.” It’s an “anything goes” kind of worship where parents don’t have to feel like they need to contain that which can’t be contained. No need to shush anyone, or tell anyone to sit down.

All God’s Children get to come and worship just as they are. Just as God made us. Each and every one.

As referenced above, this was one of those projects conceived to “minister to THEM,” which quickly became a conduit whereby I’ve been blessed beyond compare.

(Incidentally, Rick Morely wrote those reflections in conjunction with a lovely review of A Good and Perfect Gift. To visit his blog or read more of the review, click here.)

In the same week that I read about Exceptional Worship, I also read about Friendship House, a house associated with Western Seminary in which community members with disabilities live alongside seminarians (or should I have written that sentence the other way around–in which seminarians live alongside community members with disabilities? I think the point of the article is that both sentences are equally true). It’s been a blessing to the individuals with disabilities:

In four years of operation, we have learned that our residents with disabilities can grow further and faster than even family members imagined. When we selected the friend residents, we used a psychological/development instrument to help assess their readiness for independent living in several areas. But today, that instrument is no longer applicable. Our friends have literally outgrown it. As one parent exclaimed, “My child has just blossomed.”

But the blessing has not been limited to the individuals with disabilities:

We at Western Seminary would be diminished without the presence of our Friendship House friends. In only a few years, they have made contributions to our seminary community that we never could have imagined. We discern the body of Christ more deeply when we participate in the Lord’s Supper together. Worship is enriched by the offering of liturgical dance. Michigan football wins are celebrated, losses grieved. Laughter abounds.

I can barely remember Western Seminary before Friendship House. I cannot imagine the school now without it.

Click here to read the whole story.

One of the most insidious myths surrounding disability is that it is a categorical burden, and, in fact, it would be better for people with disabilities never to be born than to live with the challenges presented by Down syndrome or other disabling conditions. Of course, the countervailing myth that all people with disabilities are blessed angels provides its own false and insidious narrative. Unqualified pronouncements of blessing and burden diminish and distract from the truth: people with disabilities are fellow human beings, who give and receive. They bless. They are blessed. We all are blessed.

Previous Post

January 4, 2012

Hodge Podge of Articles/Posts Worth Reading

Next Post

January 11, 2012 You're Pregnant. Should You Screen for Down Syndrome?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz