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Designing Worship at Expressions of Love and Praise
 

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Designing Worship at Expressions of Love and Praise
Creating vibrant and meaningful worship services!

Milt Stoltzfus
Page Image
members of expression of love and praise perform a drama skit for the church
Image Caption
​​Participants at Expressions of Love and Praise church service 
perform a special Christmas drama. 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


Opening paragraph
​​It’s a Friday evening at Hempfield Church of the Brethren, and worship is about to begin! Participants are moving into the sanctuary, chatting excitedly with each other and eagerly anticipating the coming hour of praising God.​​
Page Content
​This is the scene at Expressions of Love & Praise, a monthly worship service sponsored by Friendship Community, a Christian ministry cultivating the capabilities of individuals with developmental disabilities in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Although Expressions of Love and Praise is open to everyone and anyone, these worship services are specifically designed to promote the full expression and participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities. These lively and joyful services are truly a place where God’s presence is encountered!

Expressions supports the faith formation and spiritual flourishing of community members with disabilities by providing a range of opportunities for leadership and participation. Opportunities include: leading singing or prayers, serving as greeters and ushers, giving personal testimonies, acting in skits, and sharing personal prayer requests. Spontaneous volunteers are recruited to hand out bulletins, take the offering, carry the church banner, or light the welcome candle.  It’s a hands-on, participatory worship experience.


At ​Expressions of Love and Praise, ​worship is designed to 
include the gifts and capabilities of everyone. 


At the end of the services, we often share a sense of amazement knowing that what just happened was beyond anyone’s planning skills – God’s Spirit manifests through the unexpected and the spontaneous elements of each of our gatherings.

Expressions has taken a traditional Anabaptist worship style and re-designed it into an experience that is welcoming and meaningful for folks with intellectual disabilities. The following Expressions design principles could be adopted by any church.

  • Become comfortable with extra noises, people standing or pacing, and interruptions.
  • Develop an order of worship and bulletin that is understandable, easy to read, and follows a routine.
  • Choose Bible stories that are conducive to dramatic involvement and interaction.
  • Draw on everyone's creativity to involve all participants in new ways. 
Find out more about Friendship Community here​.
​

 

Milton Stoltzfus has been a member of the ADN board of directors since the organization's beginning in 2004. Milt works as coordinator of spiritual nurture and community life for Friendship Community in Lititz, Pennsylvania. He attends New Beginnings Brethren in Christ Church at Ephrata, Pennsylvania.



​We'd love to hear your comments and questions! 
Leave us a message below or visit the Contact Us page .




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 Content Query

 In this issue

  • Universal Design...for Congregations!
    One size does not fit all. This edition of Connections features stories of congregations that have used creativity and ingenuity to design congregational life to fit the unique needs and styles of participants with disabilities.
  • Designing Leadership
    Dan Longmore's pastoral leadership is shaped and enriched by his disability. Read more for an example of how churches can welcome the leadership gifts of those with disabilities.
  • ADN at Summer Conferences/Conventions
    ADN is participating in denominational conferences in June and July. Read more about how you can be involved.
  • Designing Communications
    Columbus Mennonite created an Icon Bulletin in addition to their regular bulletin for those in the congregation that are non-readers Check it out!
  • Hand in Hand With God
    When Flora Williams found herself trapped in a Mexican tour bus, her terrific get away turned into months of hospital stays, doctors appointments, and a life-changing disability. Flora's book Hand in Hand with God is reviewed.
  • Becoming More Accessible Summer 2017
    ADN Executive Director Kathy Nofziger Yeakey calls on us to use divinely inspired creativity to break down barriers and promote accessibility.
  • Designing a Welcoming Space
    Most steps towards becoming a more accessible church are simple and easy to do. Dan Longmore, pastor of Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ Church gives tips to making people with disabilities feel more at home.
 

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