Wheelchair Walker United Church
by Martha Weaver
Members of the Fairmont Homes community worship together
After I moved to a retirement home, a friend asked where I attended church services. “Sometimes I go to local churches where my former grade school students lead in worship,” I replied. “Other times,” I added with a wink, “I go to the wheelchair walker united church.” The person took me seriously, wondering where to find it.
I explained that where I worship, many arrive in wheelchairs, steady themselves with walkers, or hobble in with a cane. No one stands or kneels to worship and it does not matter if worshipers are unable to reach for a hymnal, hear or see page numbers, or share a book.
Assistants make sure the public address system works and give earphones to anyone who needs them. Many voices no longer carry high soprano or tenor tones, but all enjoy favorite hymns, such as “When We All Get to Heaven.”
Persons seated next to each other may come from different branches of Anabaptist faith, or belong to a different denomination altogether. All come for spiritual encouragement. The minister in charge might come from a different conference than the worshipers, but regardless of church preference, most show a spirit of thanksgiving for the service.
Former leaders of various backgrounds, Anabaptist and otherwise, now living with disabilities, worship side by side and recall what the Psalmist said: “The Lord has been our dwelling place in all generations.” Worshipers leave feeling united and refreshed in spirit.
I observe that the residents of ten Mennonite-related homes add up to more persons than several district conferences. These numbers offer many opportunities for local churches. Are there times when volunteering to help persons get to the services will be of help to caregivers? Residents appreciate the volunteers who guide them to the chapel.
Sometimes residents return to their former churches, reporting with appreciation when ushers and others stand ready to open doors and assist those who need help getting in or out of their cars. In recent years, more churches have provided elevators, made restrooms more accessible, and removed benches to make space for wheelchairs.
In some cases, however, older persons feel unsafe, as children run around recklessly. One large church asked parents to take responsibility for their children’s conduct at church. There children as early as preschool and kindergarten learned to walk respectfully to and from classes. Might others follow this example to make church safer and add to reverence and worship?
Younger visitors or volunteers—learn to respect the aging generation. If you come worship with the wheelchair-walker united church, I think you will learn something, and your church will be blessed.
Martha Weaver resides at Fairmount Homes, Ephrata, Pa. Her stories and puzzles appear in Purpose Magazine and Christian Light Publications. Photos by Carol Swailes.
