Inclusive service

By Reverend Andy Fleming, Associate Chaplain

Recently, our Year 10 students began a new service initiative at Black Mountain School. It involves running adapted activities during lunchtime that cater to students at the school with a disability and provide them with the opportunity to succeed. The feedback I have received about this service opportunity has been overwhelmingly positive. Year 10 student James told me it’s been fantastic connecting with Black Mountain School students and supporting them in the activities. James says he feels a greater sense of gratitude for his opportunities, has become more open-minded to new possibilities and is humbled working alongside the students.

Radford’s service-learning program has a strong focus on providing opportunities to not only develop students’ knowledge and awareness about disability, but also to experience walking alongside others to connect with and learn from them, just as James has done. Complemented by the Year 9 RaVE unit, Celebrating Diversity, students who participate in service-learning opportunities at Black Mountain and Cranleigh Schools, as well as Embracing Ministries, work towards understanding what inclusion of people with a disability involves. This is reflective of the long-held Christian ideal of caring for those considered to be marginalised.

Early followers of Jesus Christ stood beside people who were vulnerable to being cast out by the Roman Empire. In Luke 14, Jesus heals a man and teaches about welcoming those who with a disability. Along with Jesus teaching us how to love one another, he also demonstrated how to be inclusive in our actions, like James and the Year 10 students are also showing us.

A loving prayer by Susan and Maurice Neville

Loving God
help us to love
with peace, with patience
with honour, with kindness
with goodness, with forgiveness

help us to love
without envy
without pride
without boasting

and in your love
challenge us
inspire us
empower us
to hope
to protect
to persevere
and always to rejoice!

Amen.

Last week, myself and Reverend Dr Katherine Rainger attended the 48th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. To read more about it, please see the latest copy of Anglican News.