Disability Awareness Sunday
United Methodist congregations observe Disability Awareness Sunday once a year (Book of Discipline, p. 265). The Disability Ministries Committee provides resources to assist you with planning the service. See below for prayers, scripture, music, sermons and stories of being in ministry with people who have disabilities and their families. Visit Disability Awareness Sunday FAQs for more planning materials. Please follow copyright laws and give credit to sources. Authors (unless noted) have given permission for one-time use of these items.
Consider sharing part or all of your Offering (collection) with groups who are in ministry with people who have disabilities. This may include your local church, conference disability committees and the national Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church (UMCOR Advance #3021054).
Hymns and Songs
“Above all sing spiritually,” John Wesley directed early Methodists. In addition to worship, Hymns present an opportunity to teach, preach, and discuss social power, hope, hurt, exclusion, and inclusion. Visit Songs to see hymns, songs and themes, which are important in the context of disability awareness.
Prayers and Litanies
Prayer is vital to faithful worship and is enabled by the Holy Spirit (UM Discipleship). Visit Prayers for inclusive meditations and ways to connect with God.
Scripture
Scripture is one of corner stones for United Methodists. Visit Scripture for Old and New Testament Bible verses that relate disability, inclusiveness, healing, spiritual generosity and human wholeness.
Sermons
As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time (Board of Discipleship). Visit Sermons to increase your understanding of Scripture and Disabilities.
Resources
- Visit Disability Awareness Sunday FAQs (MS Word) about Disability Awareness Sunday and how to implement a worship service.
- Visit Resources for Worship to see Printable Sample Bulletins, Orders of Worship, Inserts and Congregational Supplies.
- Visit Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Mental Health Ministries for specific liturgies, prayers, songs, videos and bulletin inserts churches can use.
