Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church starting service for people with cognitive disabilities

A new program is coming to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 186 Cole Road, next month.

At 1 p.m. Sept. 17, the church will begin the monthly Worship at the Cross program.

"The program will provide individuals with special needs the opportunity to hear God’s word, participate in activities and engage in fellowship with family members, volunteers and community members," Mark Kipf, church elder, said.

People of all denominations are welcome. The service will be appropriate for those with cognitive disabilities and dementia.

Kipf and Greg Sitzman, Zion pastor, will lead the services. They learned about the program recently from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

"We felt there was a need in our community (for the program)," Kipf said.

Kipf witnessed Worship at the Cross in action while serving in Georgia.

"My wife and I were in Georgia for eight years. They started this same fellowship and worship service. It's a wonderful thing," Kipf said. "We had a family with an autistic son come. They were not Lutheran. They told us the first time, 'This is fantastic. We've been in churches before where they asked us not to return because of our son.'"

Kipf said Worship at the Cross will include music and an adaptive, simple service that will use pictures and symbols. Attendees can participate as their abilities allow.

"Attendees can make a joyful noise to whatever their ability. If they can sing, they can sing along. We will have simple songs. If they can't sing, but can shake their hands, we'll make maracas and handbells," he said.

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Zion is hoping for a good turnout.

"We are preparing for as many as we can handle, and we have a good-sized church," Kipf said. "We are very excited to share God’s word to more individuals in Monroe," Kipf said.

Worship at the Cross is offered by the Jesus Cares Ministries, a ministry of the Lutheran Home Association, which provides Christian community outreach for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. JCM programs include fellowship opportunities like Worship at the Cross, Bible Study and New Friends.

“We assist congregations in reaching out to share the gospel with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Pastor Joel Gaertner, vice president of ministry and director of Jesus Cares Ministries, said. “Our programs inspire and positively impact individuals across the U.S. and in Malawi, Africa.”

To learn more about Zion Lutheran Church, visit zionmonroe.org.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Zion starting service for people with cognitive disabilities