Does your church ever offer an “Access Sunday”? At certain times of the church year in our lectionary, lessons seem to call to us to focus on those in our midst who have a disability that may inhibit their ability to “access” many places and opportunities that so many of us take for granted. The Sunday gospel reading for Proper 23, Year C is about Jesus healing the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). The United Church of Christ offers these resources for Access Sunday on October 13, 2013. How might we use this time to focus on the gifts and needs of disabled people?
Many denominations celebrate an Access Sunday each year on the second Sunday of October. Many preachers are reluctant to abandon the assigned lessons and prayers, so if sermon preparation looked at lessons which have to do with disabled people or with disability concerns, new conversations might be opened up. For example, we have two stories which feature blind men, a story of people with what we might understand today as mental illnesses, stories about leprosy in both the Old and New Testaments, and several other stories which feature deafness, paralysis, and other disabilities and illnesses.
The Episcopal Disability Network has many Access Sunday resources and suggestions:
- Gather a few interested people together to plan the service. You might want to designate your worship commission as that group. Make sure that all your plans are approved by your clergy. If your priest or deacon is unwilling or unable to preach about disability concerns, choose someone else or ask us for the sermons we have on hand.
- Ask disabled community members to be among the readers, chalice-bearers, ushers, or others serving in the service.
- Plan an adult educational program about disability concerns, preferably one which involves at least one disabled parishioner or, if needed, a guest leader.
- Weave prayers for the disabled community into the prayers of the people or create special prayers. Be sure to think about and include some of the inequities which still exist for these people. For example, in many cities, disabled individuals, including young adults, are placed in nursing homes because there are not enough accessible housing or community care services available.
- In some way — perhaps a coffee hour devoted to recognizing disabled congregants — celebrate the gifts which this community offers to God. If you have not yet discovered these gifts, consider this an invitation to begin reflecting on these contributions.
- Remember that the largest group of disabled people in your midst is your own group of parishioners over 76. Each of us, if we live long enough, will incur one or more disabilities. Make sure your bulletin and other worship materials are offered in print large enough to be read by everyone. Make sure that everyone can hear, especially if you do not have an adaptive sound system. If there are steps up to the chancel and sanctuary areas, think about having a communion station on the floor of the nave or installing a ramp so that all are able to access the altar.
Prayer for Disabilities Ministry
O God, we are always surprised by You. In stories of healing by Jesus, we discover other ways in which difference is denied. We feel called to seek clarity about the lives of disabled people who face widespread unemployment, a high poverty rate, and social exclusion. We seek to be in solidarity with disabled people, although we do not always understand the differences. And yet, we discover community exists between disabled people and their allies. Jesus created hope by healing. We create hope by welcoming and empowering in the name of Jesus. Amen. (adapted from UCC resources)
Sharon Ely Pearson is a 30+ year Christian formation veteran, currently serving as an editor and the Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing Incorporated. Wife, mother, grandmother, and author, she enjoys connecting people with each other and the resources they need for growing in the knowledge and love of Jesus.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 11, 2013 under the title “Is Your Church Accessible?” It has been revised and updated on December 5 with the current title to correct grammatical and punctuation errors and to use the most widely preferred and non-stigmatizing language for disabilities to date in keeping with our style guide for discussing disability and related topics. A link description was also updated for website accessibility purposes. Some recommendations may also have been modified in keeping with best practices for accessibility and inclusion. Please note that as of the article’s revision date, Episcopal Disability Network is no longer active.