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I am a momma to a 9-year-old with the superpower of autism. My little boy has a big personality. He wants to be both seen and heard. We battled at church because he constantly wanted to know what our pastor was doing and why. I just wanted him to sit down and not be a distraction.
All of this changed when our pastor told me to let him be himself. She explained the “whys” and even made time to show him the “behind the scene” things. I am certain that this ruffled a few feathers, to have this child up front and center, and helping with worship. But she knew he was a child of God. She knew that he deserved to be welcomed, just like everyone else.
He is teaching an entire congregation about acceptance, understanding and experiencing church with him. He has brought joy in times of sorrow to many by giving communion or sharing the peace with others. He shows our church what the kingdom of heaven will look like: a place where everyone is safe, welcomed and loved.
This message is excerpted from “Seen. Heard. Welcomed.” by April Bunton in the January/February 2025 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Elisabeth Fedde, deaconess, 1921.