Every year, in the month of October, TCF aims to recognise and participate in Torch Trust’s Sight Loss Sunday. We are privileged at TCF to have numerous people in our congregation who have shared their personal experiences of sight loss, and while we appreciate having a yearly day to recognize God’s calling on people who experience sight loss, we also want to take what we are learning into our weekly worship services and out into our community. For this reason, we want to highlight the Torch Trust organisation as a place to access resources year-round. 

Each year, Torch Trust provides a wide range of materials that align with a yearly theme. This year, the theme was “Who does God Call?” which considers vocation through the lens of Samuel and Eli, as well as through the writings of Paul to the Corinthians. “It will be an opportunity to celebrate God’s gifts and calling on those with sight loss as part of God’s wider calling on His Church and His people; and to think about what God may be calling each of us to do” Torch Trust (2025).  Previous years’ resources remain available, and we highly recommend visiting their website. 

But in addition to Torch Trust, we have people within our own congregation who welcome your questions about sight loss and who genuinely want to help make TCF a truly sight loss friendly church. I personally have found our very own May Thompson to be an incredible encouragement in general, and she has shown me easy things I can do to encourage her and others who experience sight loss as well. I don’t always do it perfectly, but May has done an excellent job helping me understand how my actions affect her experience of the weekly worship service. Can I personally encourage you (yes, you who are reading this web article) to chat with those in our congregation who experience sight loss? Perhaps you will find, as I did, someone who greatly encourages you in your walk with Jesus, and to borrow Torch Trust’s theme from last year, perhaps you will find someone who helps you walk by faith and not by sight. 

Please enjoy the following short update from May Thompson after visiting the Sunday School on Sight Loss Sunday, and as a bonus, she includes some great reminders about how to make herself and others who experience sight loss feel connected here at TCF!

I wanted to share a little update about Sight Loss Sunday, which took place on October 12th. I had a wonderful time visiting the Sunday School, where the children got to experience a few fun activities. I brought along some coins for them to feel while blindfolded, a liquid level indicator to see if they could fill a cup, and a Braille magazine for them to explore. Cindy, who was with me, also brought some talking gadgets and games, which were a big hit!

I also wanted to share a few tips for everyone: if you see someone who is blind, please come up and introduce yourself, since we can’t rely on eye contact or gestures like waving. Also, do let us know when you’re leaving so we don’t end up talking to ourselves! And finally, a little reminder: always say your name when you approach us, as it really helps.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support!

May

We hope many more of you will access the resources from Torch Trust and get to know May and others in our congregation as we all grow in our awareness of sight loss. 

“Sight Loss Sunday – Torch Trust.” Torch Trust, 3 Nov. 2025, www.torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church/sight-loss-sunday/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.