Service designed for intellectually disabled

BRUNSWICK

“Jesus prayed that we be one,” explained Arnie Besier, “and we thought we should make an effort to do just that.”

Therein lies the genesis of Churches Working Together, a movement of six local churches in Brunswick and Topsham seeking to meet the needs of a segment of the community that is underserved, the intellectually and developmentally disabled.

It might seem logical that churches would work together, but it’s actually an anomaly in many ways.

The 129 faith communities located within The Times Record’s 20-town coverage area, for example, represent dozens of denominations, with many holding at least minor theological differences between them. And in some cases, the focus of the worship is not even the same, leading to radically different approaches to what the layman might consider, “church.”

Some churches worship in a solemn, quiet tone. Other churches incorporate drums and electric guitars. Some encourage participation during the sermon, others do not.

The things that keep us apart are human concepts, noted Besier, such as practices, indulgences, styles of worship, etc. “Jesus didn’t say that. He said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ On those items we agree.”

So every second Friday of the month at 3 p.m., Besier and a group of ministers and lay volunteers offer Rejoicing Spirits, “an inclusive, meaningful, Christian worship and fellowship community that welcomes, embraces, values and celebrates our brothers and sisters with developmental intellectual disabilities; along with their families, friends and other supportive community members.”

The first gathering was April 11 at Pathway Vineyard Church, 94 Pleasant St. The next will be May 9.

As people filed in, a team of volunteers created name tags, handed out castanets and maracas. Musical worship included percussion instruments to keep a beat and a keyboard. The words were projected onto the wall overhead.

“It’s a no-hush environment,” according to Will Arsenault, one of the worship leaders, noting the services will incorporate primarily music, with sound makers. “We want inclusiveness.”

And organizers got just that.

Following a time of music and words by Pastor Rebecca Wegner of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Pastor Kyle Gabri of Pathway Vineyard took the mic. He asked for help from the audience to identify various props he’d brought up.

He showed a flip flop, sneaker, hiking boot, snowboarding boot and hockey skate, asking each time what the purpose was. The audience shared how each was to be used, and knew sneakers were useless for ice skating, and flip-flops should not be used to ski.

“But they all serve a similar purpose. They all go on our feet to protect our feet,” Gabri explained, adding, “We all are made for God’s creation. We are part of his body. We might have different roles and jobs, but we are all used for the same purpose. And that purpose is to live for Jesus.”

Each service incorporates music, a time of prayer and sharing, and a brief message and fellowship time with refreshments. “The messages are all geared toward an intellectual level that could listen for 10 minutes,” said Arsenault.

While organizers could not be sure how to gauge “success” in this initial endeavor, Arsenault noted that they will need to develop a level of trust with the worshipers. Their goal is to make it “a positive environment, a place to be that I’m not shushed.”

The core group, hailing from the Roman Catholic churches of All Saints Parish, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Pathway Vineyard, St. Paul’s Episcopal, United Methodist and United Baptist churches, came prepared to adjust the service to meet the needs of those who might come.

Some individuals may be sensitive to light, or noise. Those on the committee asked a lot of what-if questions, such as “what if a child is sensitive to sound, or light, or introverted?” said Arsenault. By anticipating those what-ifs, volunteers hope to be able to raise the comfort level.

“We’re encouraging case workers and parents to feel what’s comfortable for them. With this program it’s ‘just be yourself,’” said Arsenault. “We don’t expect immediate satisfaction, It’s about evolving. It’s about serving. It’s not meant to give us a warm fuzzy.”

dmadore@timesrecord.com