Creating Access and Inclusion in Worship

Involving Teens in Inclusion Awareness Sunday

Contributed by Eleni Patos, Chairwomen, Inclusion Awareness Sunday, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Des Plaines, IL

Sensitivity Training
Set a date for your teen meeting and invite GOYA and Junior GOYA to attend. Use the Guidelines for Ushers and Lay Leaders, How You Can Make a Difference and Disability Language Guidelines in this workbook to instruct teens on proper disability etiquette. Designate which teens will act as greeters at doors to distribute ribbons and booklets, personal attendants for parishioners who need assistance, helpers with children?s activities in the social hall and assistants to distribute The Body of Christ booklets from a table in the social hall.

Making White Ribbons
Ask teens to assemble white ribbons for Inclusion Awareness Sunday. Make enough ribbons for all parishioners to receive one on Inclusion Awareness Sunday.

Materials: ½ inch wide stiff white ribbon, Glue dots, Scissors

Cut a piece of 6 inch long ribbon, cutting ends at an angle. Bend the length of ribbon in half and cross tails forming a loop and secure ends at the center with a glue dot. Place completed ribbons in a basket and assign teens to use glue dots to attach to parishioners as they enter church on Inclusion Awareness Sunday. Teens can also distribute program booklets at the doors of the church.

Assemble Inclusion Awareness Sunday Booklets
Create a booklet using the example on page 15 as a guide or customize the booklet posted on www.inclusioninworship.org. Photocopy the booklet and ask teens to assemble and fold booklets. Teens can serve as greeters and distribute the booklets and ribbons on Inclusion Awareness Sunday.

Cut Out Dolls for Inclusion Awareness Sunday Paper Doll Activity

Materials: Stiff card stock paper, scissors, ball point pens, paper doll templates, hole punch, yarn

Trace paper doll outline onto white cardstock and cut out one paper doll for each child participating. Punch holes in hands of dolls. Cut lengths of yarn long enough to tie dolls together at the hands.