A Few Good Shepherds

Rev. Hope AttenhoferChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)First Christian Church, ConcordFeb 2016

empowering the church’s lay leaders with ‘ministry of care’ skills

Opening Prayer

Agenda• What is Ministry of Care?• How is this different than counseling?• Ministry of Care• Who Needs Ministry of Care?• When have you experienced Good Care?• Feelings• What we bring to the care we provide• Johari Window• Role Play• Visit vs. Care• Bringing in the Sacred• Scripture for Ministry• My Mantra• Q&A

Come, come whoever you are,wanderer, worshipper, lover of leavingours is no caravan of despair.Come, yet again, come.

What is ministry of care?1 Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds Of God’s flock that is under your care”

• To care, support and impassion • To demonstrate unconditional love, acceptance

and encouragement • To bring hope, biblical perspective and practical

advice • To be present• To listen to and journey alongside • To reflect Jesus, share burdens and pray

for those in our care

How different than secular counseling?Ministry of Care Secular Counseling

Christ present (centered)- Who is God in the moment?- What is faith in this place?- Salvation/redemption?

Not Christ centered

People considered ‘right’ w/God- Already ‘whole’ - Already possess healing

Diagnosis driven- Determining what is wrong with them

On equal footing- Mutual relationship (brothers &

sisters in Christ)- Humility and grace-centered

Professional/power over- Professional has answers

Christ Heals- Mere connection to inner-wholeness- Prayer and ritual practices

Next Steps- Medication- Referrals

Ministry of Care

‣ developing care authority‣ deep listening‣ confidentiality‣ identifying emergency situations‣ skill-building: life cycles, bereavement and grief, death

and dying; hospital and nursing home visits‣ when to make referrals to minister, outside agencies‣ boundaries and limit-setting

Who needs care?

Walking, walking with you, walking with you is my prayer.Caring, caring with you...Working, working with you...Walking, walking with you

• Name situations and opportunities where ‘care’ is needed?

• Name situations we find ‘challenging’ to provide care?• Situations perhaps, folks here want us to hone

in on?

When have you experienced Ministry of Care?Activity (15 minutes)• Break into pairs and share an experience where

you received good care. Don’t have to share details of situation but think of what made it good. Take note of the things that made it good. Bring back your list to share.

• Lets draw upon the intersections of all our experiences to formulate a ‘good care’ list.

Feelings

What we bring to every encounter

• Name some things we bring to every encounter.

• Two people looking through the same pane.

• What if we looked from the outside in?• What if we could see as they see?

Johari Window

Two volunteers each with a small script/scenario to work from in journeying alongside someone dealing with an issue

Exercise: Rush to fix vs. sitting with

A Role Play

Shift from ‘visit’ to providing ‘care’Change in purpose

Change in relationship

doing being

mutual/social focus on other

Visit CareExternal subjects: weather, world, local events

The person

Maintaining congenial atmosphere, polite

Accepting tension, permitting difficulty

Comfort through avoiding difficult Comfort through facing difficultyMutual sharing of stories, experiences Helping them share their stories,

experiencesBeing positive, polite, pleasant Being understanding, mirroring feelingsReligion, Logos Spirit, Individuals relationship with HolyPeople in general The person’s specific, significant

relationships

• Prayer• Communion• Healing practices• Letting Go ritual

Bringing In the Sacred

Scriptures for ministry of care1 Corinthians 12:28

Titus 1:5 Acts 6:3

Acts 14:23 Matthew 25:35-36Hebrews 10:24-25

Ephesians 4:11Psalms 31:7-81 Peter 4:10

2 Corinthians 1:3-4Zechariah 7:9-10

1 Peter 5:1-3

My MantraTake a few moments; reviewing the content we have covered today.

• What speaks to you? • What have you learned? • Who is it you long to be for others? • What brings you to answer your call a the Good Shepherd?• Were there concepts, words, ideas that leapt out to you? • Which scripture do you resonate with?

Write here a mantra. Your go to, to get focused and be prepared for providing care. Something you can use as you ease into practicing and developing your skills as a minister of care.

Questions & FeedbackThank you for your time. Closing Prayer

Resources

• https://www.google.com/#q=pastoral+care+training+for+laity.

• http://www.academia.edu/2472498/Syllabus_Healing_Ministry_Lay_Pastoral_Care_Training

• The Caring Church: A Guide for Lay Pastoral Care By Howard W. Stone

• https://www.google.com/search?q=feeling+wheel&biw

• Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide By John Patton

• https://www.google.com/search?q=johari+window&biw=1138&bih=529&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHoMDnwNXKAhVB3mMKHSrpBCkQsAQIHg&dpr=1.2#imgrc=e2__e34wrD5XGM%3A

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl2_knlv_xw