Pastoral Care

Practice Stillness

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Feeling tired all the time? Do you find yourself making the excuse that you just don’t have time to do what you want? Stressed and don’t know how to cope? You might try practicing stillness. 

Here’s an article that talks about the benefits and practice of stillness.  

http://makewordsmatterforgood.com/2018/01/26/stillness-takes-work/ 

Psalm 46:10 “Be Still and Know that I am God” 

 

Visitor Preparation

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Before guests enter our home, we make sure to make our space as welcoming as possible. This allows the guests to feel at ease and truly welcome to be with us, fully engaged in our time together. 

How does this look in a church setting? Are we actively prepare for visitors to share our space and be fully engaged? This article speaks to some practical advice to get ready for visitors. Not all of the ideas might apply to our settings, but many are good reminders on which to focus.  

http://malphursgroup.com/11-church-hospitality-tips-serve-guests/ 

 

Pastoral Care and Mental Health

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Here are two resources that both have to do with the Church’s response to issues of mental health.  Do we as a church leaders have common practices on how or when to refer person’s with mental illness to health care professionals? Perhaps these articles will help you and your church prepare for the persons who are in and around your community who need someone to walk with them through issues of mental health. 

http://info.1in5minds.org/blog/pastoral-care-and-mental-illness 

https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/6/16395772/christian-faith-communities-churches-mental-health-care-anxiety-depression-mental-illness-awareness 

Building Community Outisde the Church Building

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I hear many pastors and church leaders expressing difficulty finding balance between serving community inside vs outside the church.  If we’re ever going to reach people outside the church, then don’t we need to be engaged in community outside the church building?   

Here’s an article that address this issue directly, along with some helpful ideas on how to use your time wisely.  How do you strike a balance? 

http://ronedmondson.com/2017/03/7-ways-to-be-a-community-building-pastor.html 

 

Having a Plan for Caring for your Community

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Pastoral Care can be a never ending drain on your energy, time, and resources. While it is a vital part of truly caring for your people, it’s important to have a plan and clear boundaries heading into your work. This article is helpful for creating such plans and boundaries while being realistic about our own limitations. 

How do you go about this vital minsitry in your community? 

https://www.careleader.org/manage-pastoral-care-responsibilities/