Love Feast
At Love Feast I remember sitting by a sister in Christ as we all washed feet. This sister had pushed her chair back, because she could not participate. She had braces on her feet and could not remove them for feet washing. When the hand basin came around, I asked to wash her hands and exchange the Holy kiss with her. She said she had never been included in this part of Love Feast before. She had always felt left out. The simple act of washing a sister's hands is something Christ would have done. Some people who can't bend down any more still want to wash feet. A stool to set the basin on, or a raised chair can be provided so that they don't need to get down on their hands and knees.

Recently, a woman commented that she had never attended Love Feast, because "Love Feast isn't for the handicapped." I told her that I plan Love Feast to include those with handicaps, but our attitudes often place barriers that are hard to remove. Some people get angry and upset when hand washing is offered. In our Brethren beliefs, it is clear that the symbol of service and the heart are what truly matters.


Baptism
In Virginia Beach, I baptized a young woman with a developmental disability who had little speech. She and I met privately for membership classes. As a congregation, we learned to sign the Lord's Prayer, and as our confession of faith, we signed it together at her baptism. She was unable to be baptized by immersion, but because we were serving a United Church of Christ/Church of the Brethren church, using the baptismal font was also part of her religious background. In another congregation, a person with a developmental disability walked into the baptismal waters and water was poured over her head.

Recently, an elderly man with terminal cancer asked to be baptized. He could not physically come to church or be immersed. I had received a Peace Dove Baptismal Font from Finland and with assistance from a member of our church's care team, this man was baptized in the presence of his family. We poured water down his face into a foot-washing towel. This symbol meant so much to his family and was especially treasured at his funeral.

In some cases, it might be possible to hold a baptism at a pool with a chair lift, making immersion possible. Deacons or other members could enter the water to provide physical support to those who need assistance. At baptism, a church mentor could be selected to provide guidance for a new church member with a developmental disability.

Just because someone is terminally ill, developmentally disabled, or physically handicapped, we cannot deny them a relationship with Christ and church membership. These adaptations are not "watering down" baptism, but following Christ's example that we love our neighbor enough to bring them to the baptismal waters. When someone makes a faith commitment, an inability to step into the baptismal tank should not separate them from membership.


Anointing
The service of anointing is a powerful service of healing. During the agency reports at the 2004 Annual Conference, we saw a wonderful example of adapting the anointing service. A young woman who had been in a serious car accident was in critical condition in the hospital. During her congregation's worship service, another member was anointed on her behalf.

A member of one of the congregations I served made a request. He told me that he wanted to be anointed before he died, even if he was unconscious. Sometimes we deny anointing because we feel the person is unable to make the decision; that person may be unconscious or have a severe disability. However, anointing is a way of leading a person and their loved ones into the healing presence of Christ.

Written by Cindy Barnum-Steggerda