Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Faithful Journeys: A Program about Pilgrimages of Faith in Action for Grades 2-3

Spiritual Preparation

If it would be helpful in creating sacred space, light a candle or chalice. Read through the story "A Different Kind of Superhero: Christopher Reeve," and familiarize yourself with its language and content. In silent meditation or in conversation with a co-leader or trusted friend, consider your own assumptions about physical abilities and people or experiences that have challenged them. Do you or a loved one have limited mobility or another physical disability? Have you ever temporarily lost physical ability due to injury? Can you recall any ways your own long-term or temporary limitations have affected your relationships with others? Have you ever experienced being excluded from an activity in which you needed or wanted to participate, because of physical limitations? If so, how did that feel? How did you handle the situation? Have you ever experienced being excluded from an activity for reasons other than physical limitations? If so, how did that feel?

Imagine your congregation as people enter for worship or other activities. What kind of welcome do people receive? Is the welcome different for newcomers vs. long-time members? How are children welcomed? Teens? Young adults? Elderly people? Imagine walking through your congregation's building(s). What do you see that conveys welcome? What do you see that might exclude some individuals?

Consider how you, as a leader, provide welcome to the children in the group. Is your time together inclusive of different learning styles? Different personalities and energy levels? Different levels of ability? If ideas occur to you about making religious education sessions more welcoming of different styles and abilities, note these for future use.