HopeGateWay

In this Children's message, we’re invited to show joy. “Dear God, thank you for dance,” we pray, “and for all the ways we show joy with our bodies.”

Phil Wooster encourages us to believe that “the only thing you have to do is the next right thing.” In his message for the third Sunday of Lent expresses the belief that “when you make that decision, of course you make it with God’s love and prayer and enough in GOd’s connection to who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish.” Phil’s scripture is John 3:14-21.

In this Children's message we’re invited to “use our voices.” Our prayer is that God will “help us to use them to make change for all people.”

In this Children's message we offer this prayer: “Dear God, thank you for our bodies. Help us to listen to people with disabilities and work for their world. Amen.”

Mitzi Erikson reminds us, “Everybody’s worthy of love and respect.” In her message for the third Sunday of Lent she also assures us, “All races, creeds, abilities, disabilities, orientations and nationalities are welcome to the table.”

In this episode of HopeGateWay Conversations, Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill and Courtney Tabor talk with Dr. Art McClanahan about “Disabling Lent: An Anti-Ableist Lenten Series.” “We’re taking the journey together,” says Rev. Ewing-Merrill, “to process, find strength, and engage with people who are struggling.” According to Courtney Tabor, “these conversations can be a beginning, an opportunity to be more inclusive in our lives.”

Courtney Tabor encourages us to “step out of the way in order to center disabled voices in the church and really in every setting in our lives.” In her message for the second Sunday of Lent, she cautions us that “It won’t be easy,” and also offers encouragement-“it will also be filled with joy and art and learning.”

Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill begins this new sermon series for Lent 2022. Citing Jesus’ baptism, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, we’re reminded that it’s time to “change your hearts and lives and trust this Good News.” The inspiration for this Lenten series comes from Justice Unbound’s “Disabling Lent: An Anti-Abelist Lenten Devotional.”

In this Children’s Message from HopeGateWay, we learn that “all minds and bodies are worthy and loved by God” It’s a reminder that even though “some people think that if you have a disability you can’t be happy or have fun isn’t true.”

Two of HopeGateWay’s staff, Diane McClanahan, Community Care Coordinator, and Bethany Smart, Administrative & Program Coordinator, talk with Dr. Art McClanahan about the gifts & talents survey in this episode of HopeGateWay Conversations. More than a bunch of checkboxes and blanks, the gifts & talents survey provides every person in the HGW community an opportunity to share the things that they like to do that are life-giving, could be world-engaging, and, when shared, are ways to bring the community together. Find the gifts & talents survey at https://tinyurl.com/mt37srfx