The Four Churches of the Southern Cross, a group of four small, local Episcopal churches, has developed a special church service for children who are autistic or have special needs. "Spirit of Grace" is held at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. The sponsoring group was conceived about one year ago with the four churches joining to assist each other, according to the Rev. Rebecca Blair of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the North End of New Bedford. Members of that church, along with others from St. Martin's Episcopal Church in the South End of the city, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Dartmouth and Church of the Good Shepherd in Fairhaven, collaborate.
Spirit of Grace is designed to provide a spiritual and meaningful faith experience in a comfortable, informal setting for the children and their families. "We provide an accepting place for the families to attend church together. The kinds of activities we do allow the children to be themselves," Blair said.