Christ Lutheran Church, Bridgeton
3. “Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8): God commands the Israelites to make a sanctuary (mishkan) in the midst of their camp that will be the symbolic dwelling place of God during their desert wanderings and encampments: God does not dwell “in it,” that is to say, in the sanctuary, but rather “among them,” or as the Hebrew betokham may be translated, “in them,” meaning in the hearts, minds and spirits of the Israelites. Likewise, the house of worship must be a sanctuary for parents of children with autism so that God’s presence may dwell “in” and “among” them. Thus, the house of worship must become a place for parents of children with autism to get together in a supportive group environment to explore their spirituality and theology in the face of the challenges brought about by having to cope with the reality of a child disabled with autism.
First, it took an alert ministry professional (Vicar Sue Riley, now pastor of Christ Lutheran) to discover the disability hidden from view: She noted that either Wade or Pam Sjogren attended every week with their children, but never came together. Inquiring about this, she learned that one parent stayed home each week with Christopher, who has autism.
4. “Know before Whom you stand.” (Babylonian Talmud, Brakhot 25b): In the context of Jewish religious teaching, this phrase refers to God and our
knowing that at all times we stand in the presence of the Holy Blessed One and should act accordingly.
For the pastor/rabbi in this context, “knowing before whom you stand” means not prejudging the abilities of the child who stands before you. Let the child demonstrate his/her capabilities and reveal them over time. Set long-term goals
and break them down into manageable short-term objectives. Use receptive prayer, repetition, modified rituals or worship services to shape an appropriate ceremony that will be meaningful, ritually legitimate and successful for the child. As the child masters one form or element, add another and another until the child achieves the goals agreed upon by parents and clergy. Utilize parents as teachers, aids and liaisons to ensure success, involvement and lasting appreciation for their church/synagogue and pastor/rabbi. 5. “You shall not … place a stumbling block before the blind.” (Leviticus19:14): Obstacles have two forms: those that are there and which must be removed, and those that we place in the way of others either intentionally or unintentionally. In each case, it is incumbent upon the pastor/rabbi who wishes to make his/her house of worship also a house of welcoming to remove both kinds of obstacles. When it comes to the former, it may mean adapting the environment to accommodate the disability, such as large print prayer books for the people with visual impairments or a ramp for people who use wheelchairs. For a child with autism, it may be teaching that roaming around, hand-flapping or screeches are part of this child’s nature and we
Very Rev. John R. O’Connell, V.F., Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity, Midland Park, NJ Upon learning that families of children with special needs typically avoid Christmas Mass because of the crowds, I agreed to add a Christmas Mass for people who are “differently- abled.” This wasn’t to shun the families affected, but to encourage them to attend Mass together as a family, without worrying that their children’s behavior would disturb other parishioners. I see this as a religious obligation. If Jesus did anything, he welcomed all types of people, and I think these people who are differently-abled have been pushed to the fringes of society for too long. So each month we have an additional Mass for people who are differently-abled, and the goal is to make everyone comfortable. If a kid jumps up and screams, it’s not a problem with me. This is not my house -- this is God’s house and I’m just the custodian. There are families now attending “regular” Sunday Mass, because they feel welcomed in their need and also fed by their church. They became comfortable enough to join the general assembly. This has been a wonderful experience for me. I get more out of it than they do.
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A Journey Into Community
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