Recently two families close to us lost their children at term. They were both completely unexpected tragedies. Additionally many parishes have parishioners with special needs and rarely is sufficient effort to make them accepted members of the congregation. I wish efforts like this had a more pan-Orthodox production and distribution.
SYOSSET, NY (OCA) - Five new articles have been posted on the "Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries" page of the OCA web site.
The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the America's 2009 statement, "Embracing People with Disabilities in the Church," is a welcome addition to the growing awareness and corpus of literature on this important pastoral issue.
In "Children with Special Needs and the Orthodox Christian Family," Priest Steven P. Tsichlis presents a variety of insights into this often overlooked issue.
Dennise Kraus offers guidelines for ministering to those grieving as a result of the loss of a child during pregnancy or thereafter in "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month."
In "Family As Garden," Dr. Albert Rossi offers a variety of theological and practical insights on the nature of the family.
The growing interest in medical bioethics is addressed in a timely article by Protodeacon Basil Andruchow.
The Resource Handbook has been published continually by the Orthodox Church in America's Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid since 1982. Mrs. Arlene Kallaur serves as Handbook coordinator. Featuring hundreds of articles on a wide variety of ministries, the Handbook is invaluable for lay and pastoral ministries on the parish level and beyond.
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