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Every third Sunday of each month, Calvary hosts the Rejoicing Spirits service at 4 pm. Mark these dates on your calendar, and please join the worship and fellowship.
The schedule for 2008 follows.
May 18
June 15
July 20
August 17
September 21
October 19
November 16
December 21
To receive a reminder email during the week prior to a service, send an email to: RejoicingSpirits@clcwc.org and provide your name, address, and email along with a request for Rejoicing Spirits monthly reminder.
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What is Rejoicing Spirits?
Rejoicing Spirits at Calvary is an inclusive worship and fellowship community. It is a ministry that reaches out to enrich the spiritual lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, friends and other supportive community members. This is done by offering a meaningful, inclusive worship and fellowship community which gives glory to God and shares Christ’s love. The worship service is adapted to be more welcoming to people with developmental disabilities, just as buildings are adapted to be more welcoming to people with physical disabilities.
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The service includes lots of music and joyous singing along with brief, concrete and meaningful messages by our pastors, and there are plenty of opportunities to participate and serve. The “no shushing policy” gives worshippers the freedom to worship as God has intended for them, without fear of judgment.
The Rejoicing Spirits service is a worship opportunity for all families, especially those with young children. It has lively music led by the Rejoicing Spirits singers and band, provides a free expressive environment, involves youth in the Rejoicing Spirits singers and band, and provides opportunities to offer individual prayers and to share in the reading of the Good News.
Rejoicing Spirits at Calvary is associated with the growing organization, Rejoicing Spirits, which was founded at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lionville, PA.
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What Some of our Worshippers Say
“Rejoicing Spirits at Calvary is one our favorite life experiences.”
- Karen Gaffney, a mother who worships with her family
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“When we started Rejoicing Spirits at Calvary in 2004, I thought it was for people with special needs. Now I realize that it is for people with special gifts.”
- Dave Curry, assistant to the coordinator
“I love the people there because they are so nice and are so easy to talk to.”
- A Rejoicing Spirits singer |
“I had heard wonderful things about Rejoicing Spirits from a friend and felt that I wanted to give my son an opportunity to learn about Christianity and become a part of a church community. From our first visit to Calvary Lutheran, we were greeted warmly and made to feel welcome.”
- A mother who worships with her son
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Rejoicing Spirits at Calvary Lutheran Church in West Chester has been a privilege and an enjoyable experience for our family and our son Robby, who has multiple disabilities. There is such a positive and loving atmosphere here each time we attend. The leaders are outstanding in their efforts to support inclusion in every area while surrounding the special needs population that is invited to attend this church service with such encouragement and love.”
- Lynn Powell, a mother who worships with her family
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“As grandparents of Robby Powell, we have thoroughly enjoyed the experience at Calvary Lutheran with him. It is a well organized service, but more importantly, the sermons are innovative, beautiful, and always have an important Christian message. Robby especially expresses his joy with the singing and music, knowing most of the words to the songs chosen. The people that volunteer and participate are warm, welcoming and dedicated servants of the Lord.”
- Margie and Ed Gruber, grandparents who worship with their family |
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“Participating in Rejoicing Spirits provides Samantha with the opportunity to learn more about faith and Christian values and expand her understanding of who a Christian is and how Christian beliefs can be ‘lived’ in everyday life. Samantha's participation in worship enables her to develop her spirituality and learn the rituals of worship. By contributing a portion of her own money to the offering each week, Samantha is learning to practice the gift of generosity and sharing with others less fortunate, something she feels very good about.”
- Kathy Bucher, a mother who worships with her family
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“I like to sing in the choir at Rejoicing Spirits and read the Bible lesson. I like to see my friends and new people. I know the volunteers like me to come to Calvary. I learn about the Bible and Jesus and like to do the ‘plays’ about Jesus and how to treat other people.”
- Samantha Bucher, a young worshipper
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“I love the services at Rejoicing Spirits. They are about accepting and respecting all people, regardless of their differences, and recognizing that everyone has so much to contribute and share with others. The services never fail to lift my spirits and have become a part of the fabric of our lives...And occasionally, when during the service he says, a bit too loudly, ‘When is it time for refreshments?’ no one blinks an eye (and in fact, the cookies are fabulous!).”
- Carol Lynch, a mother who worships with her son
"It was wonderful to experience so many
spirits freely and openly rejoicing."
- Mary Llewellyn, a mother who worships
with her son, Rex, who is a singer and actor
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Serves as a stepping stone for those wanting to take the first step into a faith community.