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February 2026
“Our soul has patiently waited for the Lord,
for he is our help and our shield.
Our heart shall rejoice in him,
because we have hoped in his holy Name.
Let your merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us,
as we have put our trust in you.” Psalm 33:19-21
- JOY -
It is a great joy to announce the next AcLN Grant Application period is February 15 to March 15, 2026! The AcLN Resource team was pleased to award two grants this past fall and we look forward to hearing about how their projects help serve people with disabilities in their churches. One church is using the funds to help them create a “suitable space for SEN [Special Education Needs] children and others to use if needed.” The other church is using the funds to help with “behavioral support training and education for parish members and leaders.”
Can AcLN partner with your church or diocese? An AcLN Access Grant is designed to assist a church desiring to expand ministry with people impacted by disability. Access Grant funds are intended to supplement the financial cost of a ministry idea, not fully fund the project.
Think of some families or individuals in your church you could help. Check out the AcLN Grant website for more information and a link to the Application. Email Dcn. Kathy Ayres at access@acna.org if you have questions.
- and LAMENT -
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto you.
Hide not your face from me in the time of my trouble;
incline your ear to me when I call; O hear me, and very soon.”
Psalm 102:1-2
As we are about to enter the season of Lent, I want to share a Service of Lament which can be downloaded from our website. It is written with a focus on people with disabilities.
In Biblical lament, the people of God cry out to the Lord and express sadness and regret for what we have done, have failed to do, or what has been done by others to us.
We invite you to join us for a virtual Service of Lament with Rev. Vivian Hayes on February 23 at 6:00pm CST. During the service we will lament the harm we have caused and the harm that has been caused to us, and the limited welcome the Church has for people who have disabilities and their families.
We are the Church, the body of Christ, and we have not faithfully loved and cared for others, particularly people who have disabilities – both apparent and less-apparent. We have caused hurt and offence at times, although it may have been unintentional. We have not been willing to bear and endure all things for the love of others who are different from us.
As we cry out to the Lord, we trust that He will meet us with His grace and healing. You are also welcome to use the Liturgy to plan an in-person Service of Lament at your church.
The zoom link is below and on the AcLN website.
May you have a blessed Lenten season,
Dcn. Kathy Ayres
Director, Access Leadership Network
and
The AcLN Leadership team,
Ruth Brewbaker
Beth Kirby
Don Pollard
Heidi Reichert
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