Together on Retreat: 'Following Jesus'
It was our privilege and pleasure to once again welcome Emily Owen as our speaker for 'Together on Retreat' for our Easter retreat in March 2024.
We followed Jesus to the garden, the cross, and the tomb.
Together we shared in the wonder of the Easter story.
Online Easter retreat: 'Following Jesus' the journey of Christ to the cross and resurrection
Date: Monday 18th March, Wednesday 20th March and Friday 22nd March 2024
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm on Mon, Wed and Fri
Venue: Online via Zoom
For information on future retreats, please check our retreats page or contact together@throughtheroof.org
It was a blessed time of preparation through Lent, that helped us prepare for Easter.
The retreat was particularly suitable for disabled people. There were opportunities on the Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for 1:1 prayer.
If you, or anyone you know, is interested in future retreats, please contact together@throughtheroof.org
About Emily Owen, our speaker
Emily is an award-winning author and speaker, with several books to her name. She lost her hearing overnight aged 21 and has had numerous surgeries. Emily knows what it is to be broken, and she knows what it is to meet God there. We are really looking forward to Emily sharing with us - and we know Emily will enjoy it too, as her website says:
"Speaking to groups? I love it, because I love people. Big groups, little groups, one-to one. Christian, secular, faith, disability, communication, my personal story, deaf awareness… anything you like really. Though probably not astrophysics."
Her faith is also really important to Emily - she says: "I’m a Christian. No idea how I’d get through life without God. Glad I don’t need to know." She shares: "I have a condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 2. Feel free not to try and pronounce it. I write about it in my memoir." Her memoir 'Still Emily' is a moving and inspiring read.
To find out more about Emily, visit her website at https://www.emily-owen.com/
About Through the Roof's retreats and holidays
Through the Roof (TTR) offers accessible, supported retreats and group holidays, as times of fellowship for disabled people and for all, in an atmosphere of joy and togetherness. Many lasting friendships (as well as two marriages) have been formed through these special times.
We offer a combination of organised trips, activities and free time with the opportunity to be refreshed spiritually through prayer, praise and worship.
We are committed to enabling you to:
- make new friends
- leave feeling refreshed
- want to come back.
If you would like to join us for what will undoubtedly be a very special and spiritually deepening and uplifting time, please do email us at together@throughtheroof.org
Find out more about Through the Roof retreats and holidays, visit https://throughtheroof.org/holidays-and-retreats/
Together in the Lounge: our online coffee and chat time
Together in the Lounge is a regular catch up for an hour on Zoom for a cuppa and a chat.
Please watch this space for details of our next visit to The Lounge. If you would like to join us for a cuppa and a chat to catch up with existing friends or make new ones, we would love to have you join us. There will be a brief closing devotional at the end of each time together.
Date: TBC (often on a Tuesday afternoon)
Time: TBC (often 2:00-3:00 pm)
Where: from the comfort of your home (via Zoom link)
Cost: Free
How to join: Email together@throughtheroof.org for the Zoom link to be sent to you for each Lounge meeting.
Access: If you have specific accessibility needs, please get in touch as soon as possible and we will do our best to help. We will have captions switched on. We have a BSL interpreter available – please notify us if you need this service.
Please do email us at together@throughtheroof.org to find out more – we look forward to having you with us. You will receive the Zoom link by email in advance.
Please come and join us. Details of future meetings will be posted here in advance.
Until we meet, be blessed.
News Release: video on Supporting autistic individuals in our churches
Triona Brading, an autistic Christian who works with children with additional needs, is busting myths on autism in the church with her latest video, ‘Supporting autistic individuals in our churches’. The video shares practical tips from her own experience of autism and encourages churches to take a fresh perspective in forming a welcoming environment for autistic people.
Triona, Roofbreaker disability champion for Christian disability charity Through the Roof, released the video as the first of a series about autism and neurodiversity inclusion in the church available at youtube.com/TTRChangesLives.
How we can be supporting autistic individuals in our churches
Triona says “Autistic people experience the world in a different way… There is a myth that the [autistic] spectrum goes from less autistic to more autistic… The spectrum itself is actually more like a circle with lots of different variations and presentations. So it can be quite overwhelming if you’re thinking ‘How do I support someone in my church who is autistic?’”
Church can be a difficult and confusing place for autistic people, but it doesn’t have to be that way. This video aims to help people in churches learn how to create a more inclusive church environment for autistic people, with practical tips and advice that can be easily and quickly implemented.
“The best thing you can do is talk to autistic people you know that come to your church groups and services, and see what they would like in place.” Triona says.
Through the Roof provides free support and resources through its Roofbreaker project to enable churches to support autistic people and disabled people. Find out how at: https://throughtheroof.org/forchurches/roofbreakers/