Mosaic Mennonites

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Mosaic Mennonite Conference Receives $21,000 Grant for Vital Worship Initiative

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Participants of the Anabaptist Worship Network 2023 songwriting retreat, which included four people from Mosaic Conference. Photo by Darryl Neustaedter Barg.

Mosaic Mennonite Conference (Lansdale, PA) has received a $21,000 grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship to discern the theological distinctiveness and ethnocultural diversity of the church’s music. The project will provide tools to effectively evaluate CCLI Top 100 contemporary worship music from an Anabaptist theological perspective and provide suggestions to broaden the Top 100 list to better represent the diversity of the church.  

The project, entitled “Anabaptist CCLI Top 100 and Beyond,” is organized in partnership with the Anabaptist Worship Network and is part of a cluster of similar projects which have been called together by the Centre for Congregational Song. The project will be led by Rev. Dr. Emily Ralph Servant (Leadership Minister for Strategic Priorities for Mosaic Conference); Rev. Dr. Sarah Kathleen Johnson (Assistant Professor of Liturgical and Pastoral Theology at Saint Paul University); and Anneli Loepp Thiessen (PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Music Research at the University of Ottawa).  

“We aspire to create a theological framework for evaluating some of the most widely sung worship songs from an Anabaptist perspective. We aim to work together across Anabaptist traditions, with representatives from the Mennonite Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church USA, Church of the Brethren, and Evangelical-Anabaptists, on the team,” shared Sarah Kathleen Johnson, who is representing the project on the Together in Worship leadership team.

From right: Emily Ralph Servant (Mosaic Leadership Minister), Stephen Zacheus (Jemaat Kristen Indonesia Anugerah; Sierra Madre, CA), and George Makinto (LA Faith Chapel) travel to the Anabaptist Worship Network 2023 songwriting retreat. Photo by George Makinto. 

“We are attuned to the reality that definitions of Anabaptist theology will be distinct depending on the community, and that differences abound across distinctions of racial/ethnic identity, rural vs. urban location, average age of congregation, and more. Our intention is to identify shared pillars of Anabaptism and explore how song lyrics may align with or disrupt these values,” added Anneli Loepp Thiessen, Co-Director, Canada, of the Anabaptist Worship Network. 

The team will go through the CCLI Top 100 and identify whether songs resonate in an Anabaptist context, reflected with a color coding. The bulk of this work will be completed at an in-person gathering in the fall of 2024.  

“Recognizing that the CCLI Top 100 represents songs limited in origin to predominantly white Evangelical communities in the U.S. – and further is dominated by men – we aspire to create a list of contemporary worship songs that better represent the breadth of the church,” Loepp Thiessen further explains.  “This list will intentionally highlight songs in languages beyond English, gender diverse songwriters, songs by people of color, and songs that represent immigrant and refugee communities, and songs with expansive language for God.” 

“We are privileged to extend our intercultural worship capacity through the grant from Calvin,” shares Steve Kriss, Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference. “This builds on continued partnership and gifted contributors to enrich the spiritual life of Anabaptist communities within and beyond Mosaic Conference. We are grateful for Calvin’s leadership, trust and generosity.” 

This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by the Lilly Endowment.  

2024 Mosaic Women’s Event: Unity

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By Lisa Stenger, Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA)  

Cheering and laughter erupted as Pastor Leticia Cortes (Centro de Alabanza, Philadelphia, PA) sprints into the room, wearing a big smile. Cortes opened this year’s Mosaic women’s event with a powerful message from Ephesians 1: All praise of God’s glorious forgiveness, grace, and love for us through our Lord Jesus Christ, who blesses us with hope and peace, guaranteeing our inheritance because we have been chosen.  

Participants sing together in worship. Photo by Marta Castillo. 

Over 53 women of different ages and geographical areas (including Colombia, California, and Florida) and 18 Mosaic congregations, gathered on Saturday, April 27, for an unforgettable time of fellowship, spiritual growth, and worship. Ripple (Allentown, PA) hosted the event, which was also offered by Zoom and hosted by members of the Mosaic Sistering Committee, Sandra Güete (Sarasota, FL) and Michelle Curtis (Ambler, PA). Marina Stevan (Indonesian Light, Philadelphia, PA) led worship, which was celebrated in English, Spanish, and Indonesian. Translators were also key to building unity in communicating. 

Guest speaker Sue Park-Hur, Director of Racial/Ethnic Engagement for Mennonite Church USA, shared how, as women, when we struggle, we often try to hold our lives together by ourselves. We opened in prayer with Matthew 11:28-30 MSG, expressing how we are not alone, and God intends for us to live as one body.  

In John 17:20-23, Jesus had an intimate powerful conversation in prayer, demonstrating oneness with God. The disciples were sent in complete unity, and Jesus sends us to experience this same oneness and deep love together. The entire gospel of John invites us to practice this oneness. 

How do we do this? 

#1 Hospitality: Receiving a person with a heart of hospitality. Showing love for friends and strangers by washing their feet and providing them with food and shelter. What does this look like in your culture? 

#2 Invitation: Help others see Christ in our lives. Jesus invites us to risk rejection to invite strangers to experience oneness. The journey of discipleship and self-giving love is to serve, and you will also be served.  

Unity is found in radical hospitality rooted in Christ’s love. Jesus offers us sacrificial love, forgiveness, and restoration. The women gathered enjoyed small group table discussions in response to the message, to dig deeper and share ways they practiced love to others. 

Fellowship during lunch. Photo by Marta Castillo.

Charlene Smalls, Ripple pastor and member of the Faith and Life Commission, planned and served a delicious homemade meal made by volunteers. Each table was set with a stunning bouquet centerpiece of multi-colored flowers wrapped around pens. The sisters of Centro de Alabanza crafted these for us to take notes during session time. We enjoyed some brief time with the children before they returned to the childcare volunteers to continue their fun.  

In the afternoon session, women were invited to partner to express this oneness in love by drawing a cross onto each other’s hands and saying to their sister in Christ, “The Christ who lives in me, lives in you.” We held hands and worshiped with praise in song and prayer.  

Jenny Bishop-Kempf (Deep Run East), led a craft of glass bead magnets that magnified the words from John 17. These beautiful pieces will be a blessed reminder of Jesus’ love that lives in us and that we share with others.  

Curtis concluded the event with remarks focusing on our Lord’s sacrificial love, partaking in communion, and reminding us that the Christ living in us unites us.  

In the afternoon, women made a magnet craft using words from John 17. Photo by Marta Castillo. 

Lisa Stenger

For eleven years, Lisa Stenger has been the Office Administrator for Deep Run East Mennonite Church (Perkasie, PA). In addition to her primary job, she serves on the Mosaic Nominating Committee. She is a member of neighboring Deep Run West Mennonite Church. She and her husband, Howard, live in Bedminster, PA. They have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.

The Art of the Mosaic Conference Office

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by Mosaic Conference Staff

Those who visit the Mosaic Conference Office, located on the campus of Dock Mennonite Academy in Lansdale, are greeted with a warm welcome, a hot beverage and a snack, and the beauty of unique art.  

Artist Phill Hunsberger (Vincent [Spring City, PA]), Ivan Derstine, and Mosaic Director of Finance Conrad Martin hang the Psalm 23 Tile Art. “The Lord’s Shepherd”

There are nearly 30 pieces of art in the offices, which have come from as far away as Indonesia, Kenya, Colombia, and Mexico, and were also created by artists from within Mosaic Conference congregations.   

Between 2020 and 2022, Emily Ralph Servant, now Leadership Minister for Strategic Priorities, led a team of staff who gathered artwork for the Mosaic Conference Office.

“As we designed our new office space, we wanted to be intentional about every choice we made to foster a sense of community, collaboration, and creativity,” Ralph Servant reflects. “We have so many gifted artists in our conference in a variety of mediums. At the same time, we discovered that members of our conference didn’t always know about the artists among us. It made sense to share the diversity of Mosaic art on our office walls—this is who we are!” 

The office features original paintings by Mosaic women: a Madonna image by Maria Gant who is originally from Brazil (Ambler [PA]); an abstract work by Donna Backues (Philadelphia Praise Center); a pastoral scene by Lois Kulp (Boyertown [PA]); a waterfall at Conference-Related Ministry Spruce Lake, painted by Berdine Leinbach (Souderton [PA]). 

Madonna by Maria Gant

Other walls are graced by pen and ink drawings, including a mandala by long-time Franconia staff member Gay Brunt Miller (Spring Mount [PA]) and two Frakturs, which ground Mosaic in its Pennsylvania Dutch roots as Franconia Conference and Eastern District. Fraktur is the traditional, ornate ink and watercolor folk art that typically offers a blessing or a scripture text. 

The office also features the intersection of art and woodworking: the tables in the break room and lobby were designed and built by Franconia board member Merlin Hartman to incorporate the Mosaic logo; potter Phill Hunsberger (Vincent [Spring City, PA]) shaped an 8-foot long graphic portrayal of the 23rd Psalm, displayed on aged hardwood; three works of art created by the winners of a youth art contest facilitated by Garden Chapel (Dover, NJ) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic have been etched into wood panels. 

Across the alcove from the 23rd Psalm hangs a piece woven by participants in the programs of Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry Ripple Inc; nearby walls display a cross-stitch donated by Methacton (Norristown, PA), and a tapestry gifted to the conference from Nations Worship Center when they were received as a member congregation. 

“Hands of Friendship” quilt

In the conference room hangs the “Hands of Friendship” quilt that was created from 25 fabrics representing the cultures of 20 different countries from which Mosaic leaders come. The fabrics were gathered, pieced, and quilted by persons from across the Conference, under the leadership of Anna Ralph (Perkiomenville [PA]) and Lynne Rush (West Swamp [Quakertown, PA]). 

Much of the art was gifted to the Conference from individual artists or congregations. Some of it—like an original painting by Rodrigo Pedroza (a member of Mosaic’s sister conference of churches in Mexico) was commissioned in response to the question, “what does it mean to be part of a diverse Mennonite church in Mexico?” Some of it represents our broader connections to global Anabaptist communities, such as the mosaic of the Last Supper gifted to Mosaic Conference by César García, General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference.  

Brooke Martin, Youth and Community Formation Pastor, and Cindy Angela, Director of Communication identified where the artwork would go and helped to identify and label all of it. Angela also printed a collage of photos hung on the wall in the break area, of a variety of congregations and Conference-Related Ministries. 

“As people made in God’s image, we are inspired by God’s Spirit to create beauty from our experiences of joy, pain, longing, and hope,” reflects Ralph Servant. “We are grateful for the art that has emerged as members of Mosaic embody the reconciling love of Jesus in our broken and beautiful world.” 

Come and enjoy a cup of coffee, a snack, and a wander through the Mosaic Conference office to enjoy these beautiful works of art! The office is located in the Longacre Center at Dock Mennonite Academy, 1000 Forty Foot Rd in Lansdale. The office is open Tuesday– Thursday, 9am – 2pm eastern; please call ahead to confirm (267-932-6050). 

What I’ve Been Reading to Stir the Imagination

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by Jeff Wright

Every so often, it is good to step back and ask, “What am I reading?” How do we stir the imagination and prime the pump for what’s next in our lives and ministry? Here’s my current reading list: 

Copyright ©2024 InterVarsity Press

Emilio Alvarez, Pentecost: A Day of Power for All People (IVP, The Fullness of Time Series: 2023). The Fullness of Time Series is a series of slim volumes designed to introduce evangelicals to the traditional church calendar. Previous works on Advent, Epiphany, and Lent are each excellent in creating an intersection between evangelical missional passion and “high-church” liturgical worship. This small book on Pentecost reminds us that Pentecost isn’t just for Pentecostals. 

© 2024 Hachette Book Group

Tim Brown, with Erik Kratz, The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game (Twelve | Hatchette Book Group: 2023). This book represents a lot of intersections for me. I’ve been the backup catcher (also known as, “the 25th guy”). I played baseball not because I was good at it, but because I love the game. I’ve always admired the career of Erik Kratz from afar (and now that I live much of the year in Upper Bucks County, fanboy Jeff would like to meet up some time…). 

As pastors, most of us will labor without preaching to large congregations, or appearing on TV, or writing a book. We labor for the love of Christ and His church. Kratz’s story has many pearls of wisdom for those who serve in the work of the Lord. 

© 2024 Menno Media

Michelle Hershberger, Why Did Jesus Die? And What Difference Does It Make? (Herald Press, The Jesus Way Series: 2019). Another strong volume within an important and readable series of slim books. Hershberger does a fantastic job unpacking the meaning of atonement. The elders at Blooming Glen (PA) just read this book, and held a series of lively discussions about Christology. I’ve always believed that we can have vigorous and productive discussions in the church with the right resources. Hershberger has given the church a small theological gem to process a big (maybe the biggest) question in our faith. 

© 2024 Menno Media

Stuart Murray, The New Anabaptists: Practices for Emerging Community (Herald Press: 2024). This book is the long-awaited sequel to Stuart’s earlier book, “The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith.” (Herald Press: 2010). In this volume, Stuart and a band of UK collaborators clothe the Anabaptist movement with a set of spiritual habits and practices that unify the people of God around love for Jesus, serving our neighbors, and making peace. Perhaps if all of us who call ourselves Anabaptist or Mennonite put on this suit of Jesus-centered service and peacemaking habits, we might not have as much to divide over. 

These four books will inspire some, irritate many, encourage most, and entertain readers of all manner of attention spans. This spring, take a break from all the gardening and lawncare, pour a glass of iced tea, and open one of these books…you’ll be glad you did. 

Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright is a Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister. He is also a member of the Missional Priority Team and the official old curmudgeon of the conference staff. When not reading, or cheering for his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, he is serving as interim pastor at Blooming Glen (PA). He has dreams of batting 9th and playing backup catcher for the Mosaic Conference baseball team. 

What is a Mennonite? Sharing our Roots with Conference-Related Ministries

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by Margaret Zook

I was recently tickled to discover that the question, “what is a Mennonite?” can be answered in a two-minute Youtube video.  

But to understand the practical theology which motivates and shapes today’s Conference-Related Ministries (CRMs) and their work of service requires much more.      

CRM St. Luke’s Penn Foundation (SLPF) cabinet members and President Wayne Mugrauer gathered on a recent Monday morning to enter more deeply into the history of Anabaptist Mennonites.     

CRM SLPF cabinet gathers in the MHEP Meetinghouse. Photo by Margaret Zook.
President Wayne Mugrauer & Pastor Sue Conrad Howes share Q&A time at the “What is a Mennonite?” session. Photo by Margaret Zook.

Since 1955, Penn Foundation has been connected to the Anabaptist community as a CRM, reflecting the faith of their founders and the biblical values that influence the organization. In July 2021, Penn Foundation joined St. Luke’s University Health Network, an institution with Catholic roots, creating a fully integrated health network based on shared values. 

To understand the origins of the Anabaptist faith, there is no better place to enter the story than the exhibits and voices of the Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville, PA), another CRM. With stories, humor, and depth, Joel Horst Nofziger, Director of the Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania (MHEP), led the group through an interactive tour. 

MHEP’s Director Joel Horst Nofziger, right, and the Mennonite history displays capture attention of SLPF cabinet members. Photo by Margaret Zook.

With curiosity and interest, the group lingered with questions of clarification exploring the connections and uniqueness of Catholic and Anabaptist values.    

It was a rich morning of connections and relationships. I offer thanks to the organizations who invested time and resources to connect faith, beliefs, and works of service.     

Margaret Zook

Margaret Zook is the Director of Collaborative Ministries for Mosaic Conference. She and husband, Wib, are members of Salford Mennonite Church and live in Harleysville, PA.

Submitting to God and One Another as the Pathways Steering Team

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by Marta Castillo

Every group or process I have been a part of has required submission and humility. Before I became a pastor, I thought that pastors and leaders had control in their church and organization, and they were able to get things to go their way. When I became a pastor, especially a pastor on a team with two other pastors, male, one African American and one Latino, in a congregation that was intercultural, I realized that I only got “my” way about 10% of the time. There was a lot of submission to God and to the members of the congregation where I served. It was freeing, humbling, and occasionally annoying. 

As the Pathways Steering Team, our diverse group from all over the conference has worked together over the last year and a half on strategic planning and preparing a recommendation about affiliation with Mennonite Church USA. There have been countless opportunities for us to learn to submit to God and to each other. The reality is that none of us are in control or can get our own way. All of us are seeking to honor God by being submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to the others in our group and the conference. Reverent submission is honored by God. 

Statue at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (Harrisonburg, VA) titled “Love Essence” by Esther K. Augsburger. Photo by Marta Castillo. 

We seek to follow the way of Jesus in Philippians 2 which asks, “Does belonging to Christ help you in any way? Does his love comfort you at all? Do you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit? Has Christ ever been gentle and loving toward you? If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. By doing this you will make my joy complete. Don’t do anything to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble.  Value other more than yourselves. None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others. As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did.”  (Philippians 2:1-5, NIRV) 

The posture of submission to God results in humility towards God and one another. For the Pathways Team, it has created fertile ground for unique ideas, unexpected twists and turns, curiosity, and attention to the parts of the body that seem weaker, less represented with opportunities to honor their voice (c.f. I Corinthians 12:12-26). Time and again we are seeing the fruit of submission to another God and the “other,” not in forming the perfect strategic plan, but in honoring God and one another. The way of the Lamb of submission to God leads to honoring God and being honored by God (c.f. Revelation 5:9-12). 

Copyright ©2024 InterVarsity Press

I am currently reading Humility Illuminated by Dennis Edwards (which I highly recommend). In Chapter 3, he writes about how “indispensable humility is for establishing and maintain Christian community…humility is how love blossoms.” (p.12) 

In every meeting, in decision making, in conflict, and transition, we must strive for submission to God, considering others better than ourselves, remaining silent so that others may speak, waiting on God, and believing the intercultural value of mutual transformation open the door to God’s way being revealed and to obedience. We submit to one another to honor each other, and we are changed by the experience. We die to self and end up producing fruit of righteousness.   

The Pathways Steering Team was set up to be representative of the conference. I have heard it said that if we can work together, hear one another, and together present a plan and recommendation to the rest of the conference, then there is hope that the whole of Mosaic can do the same. Walking humbly with God and with each other will be essential for the pathway forward. 

Marta Castillo

Marta Castillo is the Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference. Marta lives in Norristown, PA, with her husband, Julio, and has three sons, Christian, Andres and Daniel and one granddaughter, Isabel.

Journey (to the West)

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by Hendy Matahelemual

Every person from Indonesia is familiar with the 16th century novel from the Ming Dynasty in China, Journey to the West, which features four main characters: Monk Tong, Sun Go Kong, Tie Pat Kai, and Sam Cheng. (Translated into English by Arthur Waley in 1942 as Monkey: A Folk-Tale of China). 

The novel tells the journey of the four characters on a mission to retrieve the holy scriptures in the West, enduring 14 cold summers and facing 81 disturbances from demons and monsters before reaching their destination and bringing the scriptures back to China. 

Many do not know that this story was inspired by the real journey of a Chinese monk named Xuanzang who, from 629-645 AD, went to India and successfully returned to China bringing back 657 texts of holy scriptures. Although he managed to translate only 75 of the 657 texts into Mandarin, what he did translate was very significant. 

From the vantage point of this story, I want to reflect on my journey to the West, in a different context. As one of the staff serving the Indonesian Mosaic churches in southern California, traveling from Philadelphia to Los Angeles is something I often do. Each journey holds different meanings and impressions. 

Southern California, especially Los Angeles, is where most of the Indonesian diaspora in the U.S. reside, perhaps because the weather is like that in Indonesia. 

There are three Indonesian Mosaic congregations in greater Los Angeles: Imanuel International Fellowship (Colton, CA) JKI Anugerah (Pasadena, CA) and International Worship Church in (San Gabriel, CA) and a ministry partner, Ark of Christ (Anaheim, CA) who is considering membership with Mosaic. 

The desert climate of southern California appeals to me. Apart from palm trees, deserts, and mountains, visiting Mosaic communities in California also makes every journey for work feel like visiting one’s own family. 

In addition to building relationships, every visit brings a new understanding of ministry that enriches our collective understanding. There is much to learn together because mutual transformation is one of the goals of living in community. 

As a conference with a long history of Swiss-German cultural background, and a process of assimilation into Western European-American culture, the new presence of Hispanic, African, and Eastern cultures, each with their own etiquette, can pose challenges. 

However, our shared commitment of faith in Jesus, life in the community, and efforts for peace make our journey more beautiful. 

I am reminded of the quote, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone, but if you want to walk far, walk together.” And also of the story of two of Jesus’ disciples on their way to Emmaus. As they covered seven miles walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Jesus approached them and walked with them. 

They did not realize that Jesus was with them until the moment they ate together, and Jesus took the bread, blessed it, then broke it and gave it to them. (Luke 24:13-35) 

This verse reminds me of two things. First, that sometimes we are too focused on our goals that we forget to enjoy the journey and miss the presence of God in every process of our lives. 

Second, how eating together is an important part of building relationships. Even when we eat together, divine revelation can occur. This happened to the two disciples of Jesus. 

Going from one place to another in Los Angeles takes a long time. However, in my journey, I was introduced to a hymn from South Africa, “Hamba nathi” which means “Let’s walk together with Me”. 

At this opportunity, allow me to share the song: 

Come, walk with us, the journey is long. 
Share our burden, and join in the song. 
Come, uplift us, and bring us new life. 
Give us peace when the journey is done. 
The journey, the journey, the journey is long. 

In our spiritual journey, let us walk together with our brothers and sisters in faith and enjoy every process with the Lord. Because He never once leaves us or forsakes us. May the Lord bless us. 

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.

Digging Through the Roof

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By Laura Leatherman Alderfer, Salford (Harleysville, PA) and Methacton (Norristown, PA) congregations

This article was originally published by Anabaptist World and is reprinted with permission.  

Illustration by Kate Cosgrove from The Peace Table. © Shine curriculum, published by MennoMedia and Brethren Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The story of the man lowered through the roof to see Jesus is often told in the context of Jesus’ miraculous healings. 

We may not have thought of it as a story about inclusion, disability and accessibility. But as we look more closely at Mark 2:1-12, there is much to learn about ourselves, how Jesus views people with disabilities, and true accessibility and inclusion.

A house with no door

Imagine you’ve been invited to a party. You show up to the house, make your way to the spot where the front door should be and find — nothing. There is a place for a doorway. There is even a doormat that says, “Welcome, friends.” 

You knock on the window, but no one hears. You look for another entrance, but no one notices you are outside. 

Have we considered the people among us who feel invited but invisible? Are we aware of those looking for the front door? 

The paralyzed man and his friends created an opening to get inside the building where, for him, there was no door. How can we do the same (preferably without digging literal holes through the roof)? 

Three perspectives from Mark 2 offer a starting point. 

The first perspective is that of the man who was lowered through the roof. 

The text doesn’t say why he felt the need to be near Jesus. We often assume he and his friends wanted Jesus to cure his paralysis and make him walk again. But the passage doesn’t say that. 

Consider this man’s faith, the boldness, the vulnerability, as he allowed himself to be let down on a mat through a hole in the roof, presumably to the floor — and then looked up to see the face of Jesus. 

What does Jesus say to him? 

First, “Son.” Jesus affirms that this man is a child of God, an important part of the family. He belongs. That is the man’s identity, and Jesus names it. 

Second, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus does not immediately focus on what’s “wrong” with the man’s body. He simply sees a precious person who needs connection to God and removes the barrier of sin that separates him. It is only after certain religious people in the room question Jesus’ authority to forgive sins that he cures the man’s paralysis. 

We must not look at inclusion and accessibility as rooted in a problem with the physical bodies or brains of people with disabilities. We must see one another the way God sees us: as whole and in need of belonging, forgiveness and community. 

The second perspective is that of the paralyzed man’s friends who recognized the importance of bringing their friend to Jesus. 

According to Mark, these friends “dug through” the roof to make an opening. You can almost feel their gritty determination and sweaty effort, united in their resolve to get their friend inside. 

If you are a caregiver or friend to someone with a disability, you probably identify with these friends. You see your precious friend as fully loved and fully worthy. You feel the heartbreak of your friend’s loneliness, the frustration at the barriers and the feelings of being unseen. You might feel those things, too. 

Remember the caregivers in your midst. These people are already near to the precious children of God who must be included in all places and spaces. 

The final perspective is that of a person who isn’t mentioned: the one who owned the house. 

What about this person, who was just trying to provide a place for ­Jesus to teach and preach? He was left to deal with a hole in the roof and debris on the floor. Was he upset? 

Or did this encounter with Jesus, and with spiritual and physical healing, somehow change the homeowner? Perhaps the cost of roof repair was a small price to pay for experiencing God working a healing miracle through Jesus in his living room. 

Everyone can do something to ensure accessibility and inclusion. Yes, there is a place for planning and raising funds to make our homes and houses of worship more disability friendly. But God also may call us to open the roof in unconventional ways to let all God’s children inside. 

Questions for reflection 

Ask yourself the following questions to develop your awareness of those who are looking for the door but cannot find it: 

  • Are we willing to assume the financial costs of accessibility? 
  • Are we willing to do the relational work of learning how to connect with others who are different and open to the transformation that comes with it? 
  • Are we willing to examine our ideas about health, ability and what makes another person valuable? 
  • Are we open to breaking barriers so that every person — every body — can be welcomed in to experience healing and restoration through the power of Jesus? 

Yes, there are challenges and costs. There is destruction of inaccessible structures and old ways of thinking. 

But there is also much joy and beauty. 

And there is much love, belonging and healing when we draw near to Jesus. 

Let’s dig some holes to welcome all his friends inside. 

Laura Leatherman Alderfer

Laura Leatherman Alderfer of Telford, Pa., leads the Accessibility Ministry Team at Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, Pa. This article was adapted from a sermon preached at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.