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min sch 1/2009
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About Our Services  

June 21 On this Sunday, the message was 
“Faith of our Fathers”

May 17th 
April 19th
March 15th
February 15th
January 18th

2008 Services:
December 21st

November 16th
October 19th
September 21st

Services in 2009 
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.

July 19
August 16
September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20

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.
 Rejoicing Spirits  



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.

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.

Meeting Spiritual Needs
Rejoicing Spirits helps meet spiritual needs in several ways:

Serves as a stepping stone for those wanting to take the first step into a faith community.

Offers complementary worship and fellowship opportunities for those who already belong to a faith community.

Provides an inclusive faith community that may fully meet current needs and desires.


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


 


“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



Laurie so loves coming to church.  She says, "I like that church" and "Thank you for taking me to church".  She loves to listen to the Rejoicing Spirits CD in the car and from the corner of my eye, I can see her doing the hand motions and playing imaginary drums too to the songs.  She so loves the warmness and welcoming reception of everyone and I know she feels quite comfortable expressing herself.  Thank you for making us both feel welcome.
    -
Pam Abbott who worships with her sister
                        



 “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



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 
 

“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

“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
“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
 
 
I prayed about how to teach Teddy that God loves him, and Rejoicing Spirits presented itself in answer to my prayer. To see Teddy in worship -- singing although he cannot speak, dancing although he has difficulty walking, praising God with his whole heart -- is a joy to my soul. Teddy and I feel welcomed every time we come to Rejoicing Spirits, and we look forward to seeing all the kids we've come to know.
    - Meg Diskin

 

 

   “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


 

"We are so blessed that Joshua was born in a time and place when people with “differences” are better accepted in the community and that there are programs in place that enable each and every one of us the chance to be everything we can be.  And now Rejoicing Spirits offers the opportunity for everyone, no matter what their ability, a time and place to worship." 
 - Susan March, mother of Joshua

 

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Calvary Lutheran Church
"Give Glory to God and Share Christ's Love"
730 South New Street  West Chester, PA 19382  610-696-2475  office@clcwc.org 

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