On my first day at St Martin’s I had lunch with the Disability Advisory Group (DAG) after the Parish Eucharist. The group made me feel very welcome and it was formative for me to be present as a space was held for listening and the sharing of wisdom and experience in the room.
The Disability Advisory Group are members of the congregation who have lived experience of disability – physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health or neurodiversity – as well as those with insight from their family or working lives. The group meets three times a year after the Parish Eucharist, both on-site and online. Our on-site meetings are in No 6 St Martin’s Place over a renowned bring-and-share lunch! We also meet on Zoom for online tea the same afternoon. We explore anything relating to disability in the life of the congregation, sharing experience, identifying barriers and suggesting solutions, reflecting on disability in society and in the life of the wider church. We share our insights and ideas e.g. in practicing lectio divina or writing liturgy for the annual disability conference weekend.
The next DAG meeting is on Sunday 5 February from 12-2 pm onsite and 3-4 pm online. The Zoom details for the online meeting will be posted on the St Martin’s congregation Facebook page. These are always open meetings and anyone from the congregation is welcome to come along. If you have any questions or would like more information about the meetings or any other aspect of the DAG, please speak to Fiona MacMillan or myself (angela.sheard@smitf.org).
Revd Angela Sheard
