A Sunday School class for developmentally disabled adults was started at Mt. Hope in the late 1970's by Bob Burton, a member of the congregation. Bob had recently moved to Boulder from California where he had been active in Special Olypics and in a mission program to developmentally disabled adults in his Lutheran church there. He started a similar program for Mt. Hope.

As numbers grew, the congregation purchased a 15 passenger van with help from the Rocky Mountain District to bring them from their homes to church every Sunday morning. The program included attendance at church and Sunday School and also various social programs and gatherings. Members of the congregation volunteered to teach, help, drive the van, and to sit with the class in church on Sunday mornings.

While "Uncle Bob" and his family have since left to attend a different Lutheran church, Mt. Hope continues to serve 14 developmentally disabled adults. Four Mt. Hope members volunteer to drive the church van to pick up class members for church and Sunday School. Special transit brings those members who can no longer climb up into the church van. From September through May, Sue Renken and Bob Leben are teachers for the group with Elsie Eifler doing a lesson-related craft once a month. Some congregation members serve as substitue van drivers or teachers. In the summer, the class is united with the rest of the Sunday School for an intergenerational Sunday School taught by Bob Renken. Members of the Mt. Hope Project Circle make sure class members are remembered with birthday and Christmas cards. Other Mt. Hope members provide birthday gifts. All class members have been baptized and most have been confirmed. Class member Jill Karet has been coming for over 21 years and writes prayers for church members and for the monthly church newsletter.

The class is presently studying a simplified version of Luther's Small Catechism. They have completed the study of the Ten Commandments (Fall 2003) and the Apostles' Creed (Spring 2004) and will begin a study of the Lord's Prayer in Fall 2004. the class contributes each week as they can into a little plastic bank shaped like a church. Donations which are shared between the Winnebago Indian Children's ministry and Lutheran Bible Translators mission to the Dhimba people in Namibia, Africa, total about $100.00 per year.

Mt Hope is honored to have the chance to serve the developmentally disabled in the Boulder community and to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The example of their faith and trust in Jesus' love is a beautiful witness and encouragement to the entire congregation.

Meeting Time & Location: Sundays, 10:30-11:30; in the fellowship hall
Prerequisites:None; readings or lectures are done in class and discussion follows