How many of us see a need and say, "someone should do something about that?" Rev. Harriet Wilkin of Castle Rock and Grays River UMCs (Pacific Northwest Conference) does not hesitate to jump in and act when she identifies a need. While many of us are just now embracing

	Rev. Harriet Wilkin

on-line Bible Studies, she began offering them several years ago to accommodate people unable to leave home to participate due to disabilities, caregiving, health, or scheduling reasons. 

When COVID-19 ended in-person worship Harriet was already recording her sermons as podcasts. Knowing that the members of her rural congregations may have Internet access but lack the bandwidth needed for watching livestreamed worship, she expanded the podcasts to include the entire worship service. Other than her pianist, Harriet is the only staff person for two small churches, but volunteers help her record and copy the service to CDs and mail them to members without internet access. She also mails or e-mails a print version of the entire service, including the full sermon, to members of both churches.

Harriet believes in offering multi-sensory worship experiences. She held a few outdoor services this summer. To replace congregational singing, she used recordings of instrumental music during which she read from the Psalms - the songbook of our Hebrew heritage. She includes visual object lessons, not just for the children. To substitute for in-person youth programs, she sends a weekly family-friendly lesson: "Creative Adventures

Poster from Creative Adventures

Through the Bible" which includes a scripture text with ideas to turn it into a story book, scripture background and discussion questions, and a poster that reflects the message. She adds topical and seasonal song, movie, game, and craft ideas.

After Harriet became an instructor through BeADisciple.com, the program lifted up the need for an affordable on-line certification process for people engaged in disability ministries. Harriet agreed to develop the program and teach some of the courses. The first cohort of students is completing their fourth and final term, and a new cohort will begin in January. The certification focus is on practical application of disability theology. Students assess the current situation in their church, learn ways to adapt ministries, and develop a plan for change suited to their context. When Harriet could not find resources she needed, she compiled a book about faith community accommodations for people with learning disabilities and varying learning styles. Harriet has added courses on "Dementia-friendly Worship Ministry" and "Caring for Yourself: The Caregiver" and is developing more. Because disability ministry is Harriet's calling, all classes touch on accommodations and disability. For enrollment information, check the BeADisciple.com website.

The Rev. Dr. Tom Hudspeth, consultant to the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries (DHM), reported exciting news from Dallas:

Lovers Lane UMC has seen a dramatic increase in their Deaf ministry's outreach. No longer do they make contact with only the 18 to 20 people who worship live, but they now

Worship leader Naomi Rapp with Pastor Tom Hudspeth who is wearing a mask with transparent window for ease of lip-reading

have a weekly outreach of 500 or so viewers each week after the livestream worship has been recorded. 

Tom notes that COVID-19 has dramatically shifted the way they do ministry, in that he has pastoral contacts with people in several states and countries.  Their weekly Zoom Deaf prayer chat has also expanded to include people in other states. Recently they prayed for a Deaf mother in Florida whose son was murdered.  Though the mother was not able to join the on-line prayer group, Tom had a pastoral meeting with her several days later using Face Time. 

The livestream Deaf worship services have featured signed songs in video from Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Waxahatchie, Texas and been watched from Greece, the Bahamas, Sri Lanka, and Australia. A recent UM News report described Lovers Lane and other Deaf ministries in more detail.  For a list linking other United Methodist on-line services that are captioned or interpreted, see the DHM website.

The DisAbility Ministries Committee (DMC) lost a great ally when the Rev. Jim McIntire passed away on September 23, 2020. As son of a father with war-related disabilities and

	Jim and Lindsay

as father of a daughter with severe developmental and intellectual disabilities, Jim had the passion to improve access within the UMC. Twice a member of the DMC, he wrote or edited much of the committee's successful General Conference legislation over the years. A lawyer before he became a pastor, Jim had the expertise to write succinct disability-related legislation that crossed boundaries and was readily adopted. He was quick to speak out on behalf of justice in a variety of contexts, but we remember him mostly as a wise, supportive friend.

Jim served ten churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania annual conference, which helpfully appointed him to locations where Lindsay could receive the social and educational services she needed. He is survived by his wife, the Rev. Lydia Munoz, and four children who appreciate your prayers in their time of grief.

Jim recently published Lindsay's Gift: Faith Learnings from a Girl with No Words, a book

Book Cover

about life with his daughter. Not just a memoir, the book shares Jim's faith journey as he grew and learned what it meant to be Lindsay's father. Lindsay accepts everyone for who they are, and her presence has increased each congregation's disability awareness. Scripture references and stories interweave seamlessly. Jim's text is supplemented by essays from Lindsay's older brother and younger sister.

Paragraphs on many pages in the book jump out as quoteworthy. Reflecting on Moses' burning bush encounter with God, Jim wrote:
        Recognizing in each other, whatever our ability, the reality of that description - I AM WHO I AM - is as critical for people with disabilities as is adding ramps and elevators and bathrooms to make our buildings more physically accessible. To be truly accepting of each other we need to come to the realization that each one of us had been created in the image of God and that we are who we are simply because God is one who knows what it is like to simply be, "nothing more" as Martin Buber says.

Lindsay's Gift: An Access Fund is a non-profit organization that will continue to provide funds for accessibility projects and ministries. All proceeds from the book go into this fund. Memorial contributions are gladly accepted. Learn more at the Lindsay's Gift website.