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The Rev. Katharine “Katy” Piazza, rector of Emmanuel, Weston and the Rev. Kevin Olds, rector of St. Timothy’s, Fairfield talk about the new worship service they’re planning to launch fall 2018, “Special Grace.” It’s designed for children with special needs, their families, and friends and supporters. Both have children with special needs, and they share that towards the end of our conversation.

Both Katy and Kevin are relatively new to ECCT (Katy in 2015 and Kevin in 2017) and both knew they wanted to get involved in special needs worship services here in ECCT. Kevin explains how they happened to meet at ECCT’s “Spring Training & Gathering” and connect over a possible shared ministry.

Over the last program year, St. Timothy’s sponsored a “Grace2Go” service led by an outside person. Katy created and leads Christmas service at Emmanuel for children with special needs and their families. It’s designed especially for children who get overwhelmed by even regular children’s services. Kevin went with his son to the service at Emmanuel last Christmas.

The new bimonthly service, “Special Grace” will be led by Katy and Kevin, and alternate between churches. They are still debating how much they will get to be just a parent, versus the clergy authority, when they are at each other’s churches. They also talked about the possibility of offering a special needs VBS next summer.

Katy talks about how the special needs ministry isn’t separate, but an outgrowth of all the other ministry taking place in church. It allows families to have their own space and hopefully integrate into the larger community as well. Kevin adds that it gives an opportunity for volunteers to learn more about children with special needs, and their families.

Alli asks about a quote from Katy about enjoying ministry to teens with their doubts, and Katy’s reply carries it to the challenges of presenting the Christian story to special needs children, who can be very literal.

They talk about their hopes for a possible VBS, and the importance of getting to know the emerging community before they can make definitive decisions.

They’re planning to reach out to families in their own churches, of course, but also the wider community. Kevin says there’s an active Facebook page.

“Why can’t The Episcopal Church become the church that’s known as the church for being particularly welcoming to families with special needs?” asked Kevin, declaring his hopes.

“I want every child – especially my own – to have full membership in the church community,” said Katy, explaining her passion.

If you have questions, contact them through their respective churches for now; there could be a website and/or Facebook page later.

• Sttimschurch.org
• Emmanuelwestonct.org