Many of the worshippers who attend weekly church services in Audelia Manor's lobby use wheelchairs and scooters.

They read large-print Bibles.

And they sit at brown tables used for bingo instead of pews at the northeast Dallas public housing complex.

Lake Highlands United Methodist Church has been conducting Sunday services for the apartment building's elderly residents for 14 years. And on Sunday, the parishioners said they were more thankful than ever to be there.

Myrna Hardy, an 84-year-old resident who uses a wheelchair, could hardly wait to lead the opening prayer.

"This is a time of rejoicing," she told about 40 fellow worshippers.

Hardy and other residents said their prayers were answered when the Dallas Housing Authority, which owns their federally funded building, reversed a decision Thursday that would have ended the weekly church services.

"This week has shown me how quickly our rights could be taken away," she said. Hardy, who spent many hours on the phonetrying to bring services back, said she would never take them for granted.

"I do thank the Lord for what he's done for us," she said.

"Amen," many others chimed in.

The DHA told the church in a Feb. 16 letter to stop having the services.

On Wednesday, MaryAnn Russ, president and chief executive of the housing authority, said the services violate church-state separation required by the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds the housing authority, said the local agency had misinterpreted the federal guidelines. And the DHA reversed the decision Thursday.

The Rev. Pamela Clark, Lake Highlands UMC's associate pastor and director of off-campus ministries, said she was thankful for the prayers of other ministries throughout the week. She said the meeting Thursday with the DHA went well.

"I just felt like we left with them saying, 'Let's see what we can do to work together to help the residents of Audelia Manor,' " Clark said.

Audelia Manor resident Mary Brown said she was thrilled at the latest development.

"We need this," Brown said. "Some people can't get out and go to church."

Lake Highlands UMC provides more than worship services. It also provides bread and baked goods from area stores for residents, who are struggling on low incomes. There are also Christmas parties, meals and entertainment.

Resident Bobbie Houston said she felt sick when she heard the services would stop.

"I cried. I prayed. This is my one means of getting to church," she said.

The week's events provided plenty of fodder for Sunday's sermon.

"Today we value the privilege of gathering to worship more than we did a few weeks ago," said Melinda O'Neal, a Lake Highlands UMC member who led the sermon. "We were pretty mad at them, they were stepping on us, and we were pretty angry. God did prevail."

At the end of Sunday's services, residents sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" – with the addition of a new verse, given the week's events.

"He's got the DHA in his hands," they sang.