World Wide Down Syndrome Celebrations

St. John’s has taken a step forward in a new direction, On Sunday March 18^th we celebrated World Wide Down Syndrome Day. The worship service featured the Down Syndrome Creed and was supported by a PowerPoint program featuring children working hard to face that challenge.

The worship service gave the congregation a look at not only the challenges facing those with Down Syndrome but also the remarkable achievements of some of them.  The following creed was supported by many pictures:

The Down Syndrome Creed

My face may be different,
but my feelings the same.
I laugh and I cry
and take pride in my gains.

I was sent here among you
to teach and to love
as God in the heavens
looks down from above.
To Him I’m no different,
His love knows no bounds;

It’s those here among you,
in cities and towns
that judge me by standards
that man has imparted.

but this family I’ve chosen
will help me get started.

For I’m one of the children,
so special and few,
that came here to learn
the same lessons as you.

That love is acceptance,
it must come from the heart;
we all have the same purpose,
though not the same start.

The Lord gave me life
to live and embrace,
and I’ll do it as you do,
but at my own pace.

Author unknown

World Wide Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on the 1^st day of Spring.

It asks all of us to:

Believe . . .
in your future
in your ability
in your potential
in yourself.

And to remember that we all move to a different beat. We were most pleased to use pictures from members of our own congregation.