Congregational life
Churches create autism-friendly activity bags
For children with autism, the noise and
movement of an average worship service can be challenging. For their families, finding a welcoming church home can be just as difficult. This issue inspired two Pennsylvania congre-
gations, St. Mark, Clifton Heights, and Temple, Havertown, to dedicate this past September’s “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday to doing their best to change the status quo. “About two years ago our congregation started
asking how we could be more accommodating to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Tim Johansen, pastor of Temple. “When I sat down with parents of children with autism and therapists, one of the ideas they mentioned was to make activity bags.” The success of the bags at Temple led Johansen to
think on a larger scale. He asked several profit and nonprofit organizations for help. With the assistance of almost a dozen sponsors, Temple collected enough items for 320 autism-friendly worship activity bags. Johansen also reached out to his friend Tim
Ness, pastor of St. Mark. “We were eager to jump in and help,” Ness said. “There are a couple of kids in our church who have autism, and the idea of doing something to integrate them more fully into the life of our congregation was really cool.” On Sept. 13, volunteers from
both churches met in St. Mark’s basement to assemble the bags. Each tote contained two durable board books of Bibles stories and short prayers, and seven sensory and tactile toys, such as stress balls and putty.
Temple member
Bridget Keaveney, whose son has autism, said the toys help keep kids’ hands and bodies occupied while still allowing them to pay attention to what is going on during the service. Every bag also received a social
story, a laminated page that describes the different parts of worship. “It explains what is appropriate
during the church service,” said Janet Bruss, parish administrator at Temple. “Things like being quiet when the pastor is speaking, joining in with the singing and walking around during the passing of the peace.” The activity bags have been delivered to
Keira Bainum (right) with Evelyn Kampmeyer, members of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Clifton Heights, Pa., fi lled worship activity bags for kids on the autism spectrum as part of the ELCA’s “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday.
By Krista Webb Photos courtesy of Temple Lutheran Church
157 Lutheran churches throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area. Several congregations have written back to express their thanks. “They really appreciate the chance to include
the kids in the service and give them something to do,” Bruss said. “The church is looking to include everyone in worship and give them the opportunity to enjoy it.” Keaveney said, “Just seeing the bags when you
enter the church is welcoming. You already know you’re going to be accepted and that the members there will be understanding.” Ness said, “I think this is something every
congregation could use. I think it’s absolutely consistent with Jesus’ ministry—welcoming people who might otherwise be lost.”
Members of Temple Lutheran Church,
Havertown, Pa., and St. Mark fi lled 320 worship activity bags with tactile and sensory items to be used by children with autism.
22 APRIL 2016
For more information, email Tim Johansen at
pastortbj@gmail.com.
Webb is a freelance writer in St. Paul, Minn.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52