Soothing Sounds Spirits uplifted at worship service for disabl

By Jim Baker ~ Lawrence Journal-World

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- God is handicap accessible. Worshipping him should be, too. That's the idea behind a special service that's held on the third Saturday of each month at Clinton Parkway Assembly of God.

Called WISH -- Worship Involving the Severely Handicapped -- the service is designed as a time of spiritual enrichment and fellowship for people who have mental or physical disabilities. It's the work of Laura Petrie, a longtime member of the church who organized the first WISH service more than eight years ago.

Petrie and her husband, Jerry Petrie, have an adopted son, Steven, 28, who is severely brain damaged from lack of oxygen at birth. Laura is also the guardian and conservator for a 30-year-old man who is a client of Community Living Opportunities, which operates group residences for disabled people in Lawrence.

"We wanted to give an opportunity to people with handicaps that can't really endure a regular service. They can't sit still, and a lot of them pace around. They're living in these homes, and unless somebody takes them to church, they don't go," she said. "These people need the Gospel as much as everybody else. They need another safe place that they can go and be accepted. They like the music, and some of them are verbal enough that they can sing."

The services, which are from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the church's activity center, are basic. There's always a short prayer, the singing of hymns accompanied by piano and a time for refreshments.

"We have some little musical instruments, and some of them don't want to be bothered with that. We try to meet whatever needs they have. They like to eat, they all line up, and they have their cookies, crackers and juice," Laura said.

It's nothing fancy, but it doesn't have to be.

The hourlong WISH services are something to see, a time of unbridled singing, clapping, laughter and smiles. It's OK to be as expressive as you like; no one's going to tell you to sit down and be quiet. You can make all the joyful noise you want.

"I think they just like letting it out, singing and having fun. The food is probably the highlight," said Heather Richards, a 2001 graduate of Kansas University and Steven's caregiver the past three years.

Richards, who has a bachelor's in community health education, spends time with Steven on weekends and goes with him to the monthly WISH service, along with his parents. Jaylene Smith, a senior teacher-counselor with CLO, thinks her clients benefit from attending the services, joined by their caregivers.

"Oh my goodness -- they get friendship, companionship, they learn how to interact and play with others. They learn different songs, how to play instruments (like tambourines). I think they love it," Smith said, as she helped a CLO client at the Feb. 15 service enjoy a bite of cookie.

WISH services are attended by CLO clients and their caregivers, but they are open to anyone who is mentally or physically disabled.

A handful of volunteers, all members of Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, organize and lead the services. Aside from the Petries, the regulars are Nancy Jones, Diana Barnhardt, Darlene Wooters, Lloyd Wisdom, Linda Walton and her daughters, Jessica and Hannah.

Wooters has volunteered at the services, which are an outreach ministry of the church, for a couple of years. She usually plays the piano, rendering hymns like "I'll Fly Away" and "Blessed Assurance."

"I love the people (who attend the service). I just feel they are forgotten people that God loves and I love," Wooters said. "They need a worship service, some time with God, as much as anybody else. The music touches a place in their hearts that nothing else does."

The WISH services are simply an extension of the congregation's core values, according to the Rev. Rick Burwick, pastor. Those beliefs are: Every person is important and has the right to hear the Gospel presented at his or her level of understanding.

"We let these people know that God loves them. Their spirit is no different than yours or mine," he said.

But Laura Petrie isn't sure how much of the Gospel goes home with service participants or whether they are touched spiritually.

"You don't get much feedback. If you want to see good results from what you're doing month to month, you're going to be disappointed. I don't think we're ever going to know how we've done," she said.

"We just hope that they will know through us that Jesus loves them. Any more that they can get out of it, that's wonderful. Jesus loves them, and we do, too."