The story of a community inspired by Jean Vanier, a place of friendship for those with and without learning disabilities.
One of the great prophetic figures of our time was Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities, where those with and without disabilities share life together. This book tells the story of a new, practical development, inspired by Vanier, and taking further both his thought and the practice of L'Arche. Lyn's House is a small Christian house of hospitality and friendship in C ambridge, set in an open community of volunteers and supporters. Its story told here contains moving accounts of its origins and development, and of the friendships it enables. The contributors, all members of the wider Lyn's House community, also reflect on its meaning, and explore the implications for both church and society of this creative response to Vanier's call. Not only does the book convey the spirit of Lyn's House and its transformative effects on those who participate in it, it also offers inspiration and a practical guide to any who wish to begin something similar.
Introduction. Part 1: Called into Community. Chapter 1: Jean Vanier and a Community in Cambridge, Deborah Hardy Ford (St Andrew's Cherry Hinton) Chapter 2: Sharing in Community, Judith Gardom (University of Cambridge) Chapter 3: Living in Community that Embraces Others, E.S. Kempson (University of Cambridge) Part 2: A Wisdom of Community. Chapter 4:Building Community Beyond Us and Them, Daniel Smith (University of Cambridge) Chapter 5: Wisdom's Call, Suzanna R. Millar (University of Edinburgh) Chapter 6: The Spirit speaks to the church: Shabbat Wisdom, Deborah Hardy Ford (St Andrew's Cherry Hinton) Part 3: Discerning Community Today. Chapter 7: Community as a Sign of Hope, Philip S. Powell (Jubilee Centre) and Ian M. Randall (Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide) Chapter 8: Experiments in Friendship, Patrick McKearney (University of Cambridge) Chapter 9: Why L'Arche? Why Lyn's House? What next?, Theresia Paquet and David Ford (University of Cambridge) Bibliography
'Once you have established the theological priority of being with, you need detailed examples and practical wisdom that make clear how being with transforms discipleship, ministry and mission. Those are precisely what this inspiring book provides. These pages offer a vivid and moving witness to what truly incarnational living means and to the rewards it offers.' - Samuel Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields and author of A Nazareth Manifesto
