In case you missed it: Sundaes on Sunday Recap
What a sweet success! Our Sundaes on Sunday event was filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit.
Prayer Night at Christ the King Lutheran
Thank you to Christ The King Lutheran Church in Cary, NC, and to their PossAbilities group for hosting another L'Arche Prayer Night. Last Thursday, we celebrated the theme of love, and offered prayers for our community, L'Arche, and people around the world. It was a gift to connect with the lovely folks at Christ The King! Is your church, community group, or religious organization interested in co-hosting a prayer night with us? Send us a message!
Regarding Jean Vanier
Dear Friends of L'Arche North Carolina, I write to you today with difficult news. L’Arche International has released the results of a recent independent inquiry into the actions of L’Arche’s founder, Jean Vanier. We believe it is critically important to acknowledge the results, although none of the inquiry's findings relate directly to L'Arche in North Carolina or the United States. As L’Arche International’s communication states, the inquiry found Vanier sexually abused six women without disabilities, in the context of spiritual direction, between 1970 and 2005. Vanier lied, protected another abuser, and was himself abusing women. More information on this report and on L’Arche USA’s response can be found in today’s letter from Tina Boverman, L’Arche USA’s National Leader and Executive Director. We at L’Arche North Carolina are shocked, distressed, and deeply saddened by this news. Furthermore, we condemn the actions and inactions of Jean Vanier, which are a betrayal of the fundamental values of our organization. We are grateful for the courage of the women who gave their testimony. While respecting their privacy, we validate the pain that these women endured for many years and the long-lasting and negative impact that Vanier had read more
Letter From L’Arche: Giving Tuesday
Dear Reader, In the midst of the changing seasons the community of L’Arche North Carolina continues to see new life, growth, and hope ahead of us. In these past months we’ve shaped our spiritual identity through prayer nights with local congregations. We’re thankful for our hosts, Duke Memorial UMC and St Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, for holding the space for diverse and beautiful gifts. In addition, members of our board shared the good news of L’Arche’s sign of hope in our local area. I had a chance to visit with the PossAbilities group at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cary and our dear friends, the Whitehouses, hosted a “get-to-know” L’Arche party in their home. After a year of Skype and phone call communication, we were delighted to meet our regional L’Arche accompanier, Thomas Marquis, who joined us for a prayer night and a L’Arche board meeting. We were excited to hear updates on the work and growth of other founding communities, as well as the work of L’Arche USA. The relational thriving of our community is reflected in our organizational stability and fundraising successes. We continue read more
Reflections from a Former Assistant
One of the many things I appreciated about my time in l'Arche is the emphasis on reflection. As a community member, you are encouraged to reflect through accompaniment, retreats, and personal time. You are called time and time again to remember. You remember the anxiety and excitement of first moving in. You remember the time when, in crisis, everyone dropped what they were doing to support one another. You remember the spontaneous moments of joy, like dancing in the kitchen or laughing in the living room. You remember our collective story: where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going. Memory is essential for our life together in l'Arche.
Prayer Nights in 2019
L'Arche North Carolina hosted our first prayer night in May at Duke Memorial United Methodist in Durham. The theme was "New Life." We reflected on the Easter story and decorated bare tree branches with flowers and ribbons to represent the Spring season. In September, we co-hosted a prayer night with St Francis Catholic Church in Raleigh. Over 40 people came to sing, pray and fellowship. Our L'Arche USA manager, Thomas Marquis, gave a short presentation on the structure of L'Arche. We used arts and crafts, movement, and dance to reflect on the Psalms. It was a joyous gathering of friends, old and new! [modula id="576"] Is your church or religious organization interested in co-hosting a prayer night with us? Send us a message!
Today.com: How L’Arche Helps Special Needs Adults Thrive
Not too long ago, Today.com published is great feature about our friends at L'Arche Atlanta. In the video, you'll meet Terry, a resident with intellectual disabilities who is thriving thanks to the L'Arche Atlanta community. L’Arche provides homes and workplaces for people with and without disabilities to work together and form relationships. L'Arche is different though, more than a group home, this piece shows how the center of L'Arche is about being with others in our vulnerability, and loving the beauty of relationships. https://youtu.be/vmSz1zAsFe0 We are working towards establishing a similar community in central North Carolina. Learn more here, come to an event or give to join our journey. You are always welcome to contact us to learn more.
Opinion: A Future Without the Disabled
This week I learned that the first genetically modified children were born. Chinese scientist He Jiankui made the announcement on a video that the “gene surgery” he performed on two embryos resulted in twin newborns who are immune to HIV. As this announcement washes over the news cycle my thoughts turn to my friends with disabilities with whom I shared life in L’Arche Portland, OR. L’Arche is an intentional community rooted in Jesus’ beatitudes, homes that that offer a place for people across the spectrum of disabilities to discover and share the gifts of eating, mourning, celebrating, laughing, and worshipping together. L’Arche began as a movement in France in the 1960s. Our ecumenical communities now spread across the globe from Bethlehem in the West Bank to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Erin, Ben, Marilyn, and Joni were my housemates in L’Arche, “core members” as we call them because they form the center of common life in our home. They have called me out of life of perfection and busyness, from getting ahead and climbing the corporate ladder into slowness, stillness, and into peace. This week I let myself imagine read more
As I Am: Santos and Pipe’s Story
When Santos was born, doctors described him as hemiplegic, epileptic, and intellectually disabled. By the age of 9, Santos described himself as a cowboy, magician, and innovative fisherman. If you can relate to wanting to write your own story, and wanting to not be labelled by others, check out the first chapter of a very long and unremarkable journey.
