Pastoral Care: In-Reach & Congregational Care Teams

The Caring Congregation Podcasts are available on Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.

 These "conversations" are filled with personal stories related to caring for self and others.

Acknowledging the Toll of the Pandemic on Ministry Leaders by Mike Bonem

Focuses on Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community

contributor Rev. Julia, from Faith, Grace, and Hope: Thoughts on What It Means to Be a Traveler on the Way of Jesus, illuminates clergy sorrow in I Am Not Afraid. I Am Heartbroken. Sharing it with your congregation may facilitate helpful conversations.

shares two excellent posts on care-giving: Parker Palmer’s The Gift of Presence, the Perils of Advice and How to Reach Out to Someone Who Is Struggling by Omid Safi. Both are excellent reads both for pastoral care providers and for volunteer visitors.

is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Download their free guides for specific topics, including how to talk with loved ones and or medical professionals about: choosing a healthcare proxy; Alzheimer’s and dementia; a seriously ill child; and COVID-19.

Strengthening Resilience: Promoting Positive School Mental Health Among Indigenous Youth

Mountain Plains MHTTC

THE CARING CONGREGATION ACADEMY

ONLINE COURSES

Interactive online training to fully equip laypeople church staff, and pastors as Stephen Leaders, The Bride Leader's Training Course (BLTC), strengthens existing Stephen Ministry teams and empowers other congregations to begin Stephen Ministry.

New online 5- or 10-week cohorts begin on a regular basis.

Learn more and register here.

Cherish All Children Church Partnerships

Join Cherish All Children in their vision of raising healthy generations free from sexual exploitation. Predators have adjusted to the pandemic, making safety education and prevention measures more needed now than ever

Your congregation can engage via:

• Adult/mentor Zoom learning and training

• Virtual Tween & Teen training about healthy relationships & online safety

• Pre-recorded conversations or trainings to play in online gatherings, such as this session with St. John’s Lutheran, Shakopee

Visit the Cherish All Children website to find out more, and contact Joy McElroy at joy.mcelroy@cherishallchildren.org to get started!

The Wellness Recovery Action Plan® or WRAP® is a prevention and wellness process anyone can use to get well, and stay well. Create your own wellness plan in this online seminar. Registration is required.

shared this helpful document geared toward engaging the whole congregation in the conversation of pastoral care during quarantine, rostered leaders assisting area chaplains, etc.

Disability Ministries shares insight, ways congregations are engaging differently abled persons, and suggestions for furthering awareness and hospitality.

Spirituality, Suffering and COVID-19

Sundays, Oct. 18-Nov. 22 - 7 p.m. | Online

Taught by the Rev. Karen Cherwien, BCC. Topics include:

• Session 1: "Pandemics in the Past" - Oct. 18

• Session 2: "Community and Individual Suffering and Coping" - Oct. 25

• Session 3: "Redemptive Suffering/Cultivating Fear" - Nov. 1

• Session 4: "Pandemics and Authority" - Nov. 8

• Session 5: "Evil and Suffering Today" - Nov. 15

• Session 6: "Spirituality and COVID-19" - Nov. 22

The cost is $5 per session or $20 for all six sessions. Learn more and register.

Ambiguous Loss in the Time of COVID

Presenter: educator & consultant Ted Bowman

Fee: $12 Registration required by October 6.

Learn more: Becky Hulden, RN, at (651) 632-5335 or bhulden@lyngblomsten.org