Y'All Belong Here: an inclusive sacred space
2022-04-20 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-05-18 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-06-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-07-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
All are welcome to join L’Arche Atlanta and L’Arche North Carolina’s community of people with and without disabilities for our monthly interfaith virtual prayer service. All religious and/or non-faith traditions are welcome in this gathering.
When
The third Wednesday of every month at 2:00pm EST
Each gathering is about 30 minutes and includes:

Welcome and passing of the peace/sharing hello
Something to reflect on, such as a reading or video
Individual reflection
Sharing with a small group
Closing with community prayers of joys and/or concerns

How to Connect
Connect via Zoom — you can download Zoom on a computer, laptop, iPad, or smartphone.
Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88914676024?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 889 1467 6024
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,88914676024#,,,,*[REDACTED]#
What You Need
You are welcome to bring paper and something to draw with, if you would like to draw during the personal reflection time.

TOgether in the Triangle: Sassafras Park
2022-04-22 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
We are looking forward to gathering with friends new and old at Sassafras Park in Raleigh on April 22! All are welcome to join us.
Please RSVP by clicking here!
Address: 3808 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC.
For any questions, comments, or concerns, please email info@larchenc.org

Prayer Night with Christ the King Lutheran Church
2022-04-27 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Discover the spirituality of L’Arche by joining us at our first in-person prayer night since 2020. Community members plan and lead the evening, using song, liturgy, drama, art, and small group discussion to reflect on God’s love for us. The Prayer Night is open to anyone who wishes to explore accessible prayer and learn more about L’Arche North Carolina.
Please RSVP here.
To join us virtually, click here to register for Zoom.
Please keep in mind that L’Arche NC cannot provide personal care or one-on-one behavioral support. Please invite a caregiver or loved one to join you if you require these types of support.
Covid-19 Policy: For the safety of everyone gathering together in person: We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. We are requiring each person to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test within the last 72 hours to attend (proof of Covid-19 vaccination means 1 dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or 2 doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine). Please bring documentation of Covid-19 vaccination or negative test results with you to the event. Masks that cover the nose and mouth will be required when indoors unless someone is briefly eating or drinking. If you or someone who wishes to attend cannot tolerate mask use, please consider participating virtually. For the safety of all, anyone who is not vaccinated must be capable of tolerating consistent mask use when indoors, regardless of their negative Covid-19 test result. If you are sick (experiencing a sore throat, fever, loss of taste or smell, and/or runny nose), or any member of your household is sick, please stay home. We will require registration ahead of time. When possible, please maintain a social distance of three feet or more. We ask that everyone use the hand sanitizer located at each entrance.The doors to the gathering space will be left open at all times to increase airflow and ventilation. During the event, we will have a break with refreshments (all individually wrapped). This will take place outside. Masks are not required for outdoor gatherings. If you or someone who wishes to participate are at a higher risk for complications from Covid-19, we ask that you use your best judgment to determine how you participate. Neither L’Arche NC nor Christ the King Lutheran Church can guarantee perfect mask-use or perfect adherence to infection control protocols by all participants.

Virtual Musical Showcase
2022-05-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Why did Hans not perform with the group? Because he was doing a SOLO!
May the FOURTH be with you during this May 4th musical showcase! All are welcome to perform, Star Wars fans or not.
To RSVP for a performance, please visit tinyurl.com/larchencmusic
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcOytqDMrH9DF1uMx7G5uBCwq6A9Je0VT
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Accessible Yoga May 7 - NOW ON ZOOM
2022-05-07 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Due to a family emergency, we will ONLY be meeting on ZOOM for Accessible Yoga.

Join this community event from the comfort of your own home!

ALL are welcome to join this community gathering.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85161462326?pwd=[REDACTED]

We are looking forward to a morning of Accessible Yoga! This free class will have something for EVERY body. We’ll practice ways of mindfully being with our breath and our bodies through gentle movement and postures. No yoga experience is required :) This is great for beginners!

If you have a yoga mat you can have it ready for the Zoom. If not, a beach towel will work just fine.
See you soon on Zoom!
—-
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85161462326?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 851 6146 2326
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile
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Meeting ID: 851 6146 2326
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdXnqv1cpU

Prayer Night with St. Thomas More Catholic Church
2022-06-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join L’Arche North Carolina for an evening of prayer on the theme of “JOY”! This event will be held in the St. John Fisher Chapel at 632 Laurel Hill Rd, Chapel Hill, NC.
All are welcome to gather with us for this evening of accessible prayer.

Cooking with Community: Dog Treats for Donation
2022-06-16 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for an evening of cooking dog treats for donation to a local shelter! We will be gathering to cook in the kitchen space of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, NC. A pizza dinner will be provided for all who attend.
Registration will be capped at 30 people.
To attend, please RSVP here!
Please note that the recipe we will be following will use peanut butter. Please exercise caution if you or a loved one have an allergy, as we cannot guarantee there will not be cross-contamination.

Disability & Pride: A Panel Discussion
2022-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Join L’Arche communities from Portland, Tacoma, and North Carolina for a virtual conversation on the intersections of Disabilities & Pride. Keynote speakers, panelists, and artists will reflect on what LGBTQIA means to the, and how we can create more accessible, inclusive communities across the country and beyond!
Register in advance at tinyurl.com/larchepride

ChrisTiana ObeySumner – Keynote Speaker

ChrisTiana ObeySumner is a Black/ Indigenous, queer, non-binary, and multiply disabled person, community organizer and activist. They are CEO and principal consultant of Epiphanies of Equity LLC — A social equity consulting firm that particularly specializes in social change, intersectionality, antiracism, and disability justice. For two decades, they’ve dedicated their life and career to amplifying the importance of social equity – defined as the lifelong work of deconstructing inequitable sociological impacts and products such as policies, institutions, cultures, biases, and constructs; and facilitating strategic and embodied pathways towards the construction of equitable processes, accountability structures, and outcomes.

Deanna Parvin Yadollahi – Artist & Panelist
Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) is a fat, disabled, neurodivergent, mad, non-binary, diasporic mixed-race Iranian and Toltec-Mexican community activist, friend, and dog parent. Deanna’s scholar-art-activism is informed by their lived experience and both with and for their communities. Deanna is passionate about collaboratively undoing ableism and intersecting oppressions, especially as it relates to collective accessibility. They hope to enact institutional change and radical reimagination that will lead to more supportive and just realities. Deanna enjoys making connections with people and journeying with others to find creative ways to navigate a world that wasn’t made for all of us. Deanna’s work includes community-building, resource-creating, presenting, writing, being an access doula, and Deanna’s Creative Access Consulting practice. Their work is based in deep appreciation for disability justice, which is intersectional and calls for cross-movement solidarity as well as community-advocated accessibility practices. Deanna is pursuing a Master’s degree in Disability Studies, and most highly values knowledge that is co-created within their communities. Deanna acknowledges, with respect, that they are a settler on the lands of the Kizh Nation. They support the LandBack movement, Climate Justice, acknowledging historic and intergenerational oppression, and dismantling its continuations today. At this time, you can follow Deanna on instagram @undoing_ableism and visit Deanna’s working draft website (bit.ly/D-Y-Scholarship)!
Rebecca Schultz – Artist

Rebekah Schultz is an artist and second year graduate student at Duke Divinity School, studying the intersection of theology and art. She works in acrylic painting and wood block printing, exploring art as worship, prayer, protest, and joy. Her art often reflects on the community she’s in and portrays the people around her. Currently, Rebekah lives in an intentional community of Disabled young adults and Duke students who share meals, prayers, game nights, and life together. Rebekah’s art has been published in the Children and Youth Artist’s Grief Deck by Artists’ Literacies Institute. She also received the 2022 C. Eric Lincoln Theology and Arts Fellowship from Duke University Chapel for her collection of prints: “Communion of Saints: A Reflection on the Body of Christ Through Time and Space.”

Nicholas Herd – Panelist

Nicholas Herd is an accomplished actor, artist, and Disability advocate. In 2007, Nicholas became one of the founding members of L’Arche Toronto’s Sol-Express Theatre Arts Program. His work has been featured and performed in many festivals across Canada. Nicholas also hosts a talk show, currently on The Disability Channel, called “Keeping it Real with Nick”. Nicholas was recently appointed Creative Advocacy Head Director with L’Arche Canada. Nicholas worked as Creative Director with the team that produced an animated video to accompany singer Jordan Hart’s song “Freedom”. The film’s success made Nicholas the first filmmaker with Down Syndrome to be long-listed for an Academy Award. He is committed to advocating for those with disabilities, and strives to be a role model for all people with disabilities trying to live their lives authentically and courageously.

Rebel Black – Panelist
Rebel Black (he/him pronouns) is a queer, agender, multiracial person with a history of poverty and houselessness. He lives with multiple disabilities that are the source of his creativity and generative processes. Rebel is the founder and President of Disability Justice Dreaming, a Portland OR-based, inter/national Disability Justice gathering space that focuses on disabled art, justice, culture, leadership, and more, by and for Queer and Trans (QT) + Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, and People of Color (BIPOC). As their mission says, “From our beds and our ventilators, we think generationally and work for liberation and a reindigenized world.”
In November, Rebel has been invited to Vancouver B.C. as a guest artist at the Vancouver Art Gallery. He will bring the Disability Justice Dreaming Sessions he designed to the museum and to Disabled communities in Vancouver. Part of Rebel’s dream is to pollinate cross-border Disability Justice relationships and hopefully bring the Dreaming Sessions to other galleries, museums, and community spaces within the United States and Canada.
Azrael Burton – Panelist
Azrael Burton (xe/they) is a queer, neurodivergent, interracial college student working toward a degree in Women and Gender Studies with a Minor in Sexuality Studies. Xe is driven by furthering sex education into a more intersectional arena, as xis lived experience is inherently intersectional. They believe marginalized voices are often neglected in academic conversations surrounding gender, sex, and sexuality and strives to uplift those primary source experiences as equally important.

"My Body is Not A Prayer Request" Book Discussion
2022-07-06 12:00 - 13:00, 2022-07-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2022-07-20 12:00 - 13:00, 2022-07-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on Zoom for this 5 part book club series! We will be discussing Amy Kenny’s “My Body is Not a Prayer Request”. Everyone is welcome to join in this conversation.
Meetings will be held on July 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and August 3rd at 12:00pm EDT.
The first 15 people to commit to attending 2+ of the sessions will receive a free copy of Kenny’s book. To RSVP and be eligible to win, visit tinyurl.com/larchebook

This book is written by a Christian author and references Christian texts. However, persons of all religious and non-faith traditions are welcome to attend.
Book Description:
“Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences.
Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian communities to engage disability justice. She shows that until we cultivate church spaces where people with disabilities can fully belong, flourish, and lead, we are not valuing the diverse members of the body of Christ.
Offering a unique blend of personal storytelling, fresh and compelling writing, biblical exegesis, and practical application, this book invites readers to participate in disability justice and create a more inclusive community in church and parachurch spaces. Engaging content such as reflection questions and top-ten lists are included.”

Summer Bingo with L'Arche NC!
2022-07-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
All are welcome to join us for Summer Bingo! To reserve a bingo card, please RSVP HERE. Once you have RSVP’d, a Bingo Card will be emailed to you.
Click HERE for the Zoom link.
We will be playing multiple rounds of bingo, so be sure to have a way to mark your cards and clear them again (pieces of paper or coins can work well!).

L'Arche North Carolina's SAILABRATION Fundraiser
2022-07-23 | Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Join us on July 23rd for a SAILABRATION of L’Arche North Carolina.
A pancake breakfast will be served. Join in on the fun of raffle prizes, a miniature boat regatta, and more!
July 23rd, from 8:00am-10:30am at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, NC.
The event will be held in Whitford Hall
We will be gathering to learn more about L’Arche North Carolina, celebrate the community we’re building, and enjoy a pancake breakfast. Individuals and families of all abilities are invited to join in the fun at L’Arche North Carolina’s Breakfast Fundraiser!
All proceeds raised will support L’Arche North Carolina as we work to establish our first community in the Triangle.
Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for children (kids 5 years old and younger eat for free).
Purchase yours now at the link below!
*Please select dine-in or carry-out.
TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY, CLICK HERE
TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER AT THIS EVENT, CLICK HERE

If you’re not able to attend this FUNdraiser Breakfast, you support L’Arche NC by making a donation:
<script src=”https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/bloomerang-public-cdn/larchenorthcarolina/.widget-js/31050752.js” type=”text/javascript”></script>

"My Body is Not A Prayer Request" Book Discussion
2022-08-03 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on Zoom for this 5 part book club series! We will be discussing Amy Kenny’s “My Body is Not a Prayer Request”. Everyone is welcome to join in this conversation.
Click HERE for the Zoom link.
Meetings will be held on July 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and August 3rd at 12:00pm EDT.
The first 15 people to commit to attending 2+ of the sessions will receive a free copy of Kenny’s book. To RSVP and be eligible to win, visit tinyurl.com/larchebook

This book is written by a Christian author and references Christian texts. However, persons of all religious and non-faith traditions are welcome to attend.
Book Description:
“Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences.
Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian communities to engage disability justice. She shows that until we cultivate church spaces where people with disabilities can fully belong, flourish, and lead, we are not valuing the diverse members of the body of Christ.
Offering a unique blend of personal storytelling, fresh and compelling writing, biblical exegesis, and practical application, this book invites readers to participate in disability justice and create a more inclusive community in church and parachurch spaces. Engaging content such as reflection questions and top-ten lists are included.”

L'Arche NC at the Durham Bulls
2022-08-12 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a game at the Durham Bulls on August 12th.
*More information will be able July 30th. Please check back soon.

L'Arche NC Trivia
2022-08-14 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
You’re invited to Zoom Trivia with L’Arche North Carolina! Sunday, August 14 at 3:00pm EST, we will have three rounds of trivia with eight questions each round. All questions are multiple choice, and if you don’t know the answer you can guess.
Feel free to come late or leave early, depending on your schedule.
There will be a prize for the winner of each round!

Please get four notecards/pieces of paper with A, B, C, and D on them. Make sure these are clear enough we can see them on camera — bold black letters on a white background work best.

L’Arche NC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Trivia
Time: Aug 14, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85601404253?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 856 0140 4253
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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Y'All Belong Here: An Inclusive Sacred Space
2022-08-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-09-21 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
All are welcome to join L’Arche Atlanta and L’Arche North Carolina’s community of people with and without disabilities for our monthly interfaith virtual prayer service. All religious and/or non-faith traditions are welcome in this gathering. When The third Wednesday of every month at 2:00pm EST Each gathering is about 30 minutes and includes:

Welcome and passing of the peace/sharing hello
Something to reflect on, such as a reading or video
Individual reflection
Sharing with a small group
Closing with community prayers of joys and/or concerns

How to ConnectConnect via Zoom — you can download Zoom on a computer, laptop, iPad, or smartphone.
Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 889 1467 6024Passcode: [REDACTED] One tap mobile +16468769923,,88914676024#,,,,*[REDACTED]#
What You NeedYou are welcome to bring paper and something to draw with, if you would like to draw during the personal reflection time.

Movie Night at Edenton Street UMC
2022-08-25 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
We hope you’ll join us for a Movie Night at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina (228 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27603).
We will be watching The Peanut Butter Falcon. This 2019 film has won awards and broken down barriers for the Disability community. In the Hollywood & Entertainment section of Forbes Magazine, Kristen Lopez writes, “Starring newcomer Zack Gottsagen as a man with Down Syndrome going on an adventure to meet his favorite wrestler, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a Mark Twain-esque tale of friendship, family, and breaking down ableist thinking to allow for greater independence.” Read more of Lopez’s review here.
This is a free event. You are welcome to bring some snacks. Theatre candy and water will be provided.
Location: Kerr Hall at Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh
Park and enter at the back of the church (opposite the main entrance off of Edenton Street).
Please use 122 N. McDowell Street, Raleigh, NC if you are using a GPS for direction.
Covid-19 Policy: Masks are required indoors while not actively eating or drinking. We will provide free masks to anyone who needs one. Temperatures will be taken at the door. Thank you for helping us protect the most vulnerable among us.
This movie is rated Rated PG-13. Child care will be provided for youth under 13 years old (RSVP for childcare required by August 22). Please keep in mind that L’Arche NC cannot provide personal care or one-on-one behavioral support. Please invite a caregiver or loved one to join you if you or your child require these types of support.
To RSVP for child care, click HERE.
We chose this movie because representation matters!
From Collider.com: Out of one hundred most popular movies released in the year 2017, 2.5% of characters in those films were depicted as having a disability. Of that amount, the majority were depicted as having a physical or communicative disability. In television, a study shows that 95% of characters depicted with a disability were portrayed by actors without a disability. Very rarely are our screens graced with a feature film or series that stars a character with a disability being played by an actor with a disability. A notable exception is 2019’s The Peanut Butter Falcon. The film stars Zack Gottsagen, a natural-born leading man with Down’s syndrome. What makes The Peanut Butter Falcon such an important step in the right direction for disability representation in film is not just in the casting, but in how the story unfolds.

We have purchased a movie license from Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. to share this movie publicly (1923977-1).
We are grateful for a Summer Program Grant from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities that made this movie night possible.

Crafteroon
2022-09-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2022-10-12 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC, 27603
Join our community of adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities on the second Wednesday of every month for a fun afternoon of crafting and friendship.
Please RSVP – fill out this form to sign up.

Cooking with Community
2022-09-27 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join our community of adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities on the fourth Tuesday of the month to make a new treat or snack together.
Click HERE to RSVP.

Disability & Christian Faith: a panel discussion
2022-09-29 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
L’Arche NC will host another “Disability & ___” panel discussion. Mark your calendars and join us for this conversation on the intersection of disabilities and the Christian faith.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM LINK.
Panelists will reflect on the intersection of the Disability community and the Church. At this gathering, we will hear stories of hurt caused by the Church and hold space for lament. We will also celebrate stories of belonging found in faith communities. We will invite all attendees to join in the work of creating accessible gatherings, including worship spaces.

BOWLING!
2022-10-02 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Stars and Strikes Raleigh, 4020 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Join us on Sunday at Stars & Strikes Bowling Alley in Raleigh.
Sunday, October 2nd at 3:00pm-4:30pm
Stars & Strikes, 4020 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604
This event is $15 per person (including shoe rental). Please bring cash or a check made to “L’Arche NC” with you. Please note this bowling center also has arcade games and food; these are not included, but can be purchased separately by participants.

To sign up, click HERE.

One of our L’Arche friends suggested we go bowling, and we thought that was a great idea!
Join us this Sunday in Raleigh at Stars & Strikes Bowling Alley at 3:00pm for an hour and a half of bowling with friends.
Please RSVP by Friday so we can reserve enough lanes. Click HERE to sign up.

FUNtastic Thursdays
2022-10-06 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC, 27603
Join our community of adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities on the first Thursday of the month for games, community fun, and more. All are welcome to the free community event.
Oct 6, and Nov 3, & Dec 1
RSVP for the October 6th gathering by October 4th: Click HERE.

Funtastic Thursday on October 6th will be BINGO. Sign up to join us in person, on Zoom!

Four Week Book Discussion
2022-10-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for our next Book Discussion.
This will be a four-week group meeting on Thursdays at 12pm EST. Click here to join us on Zoom!
Bring your lunch (or breakfast if you’re on the West Coast).

Read this interview with the author.
