safe exploration of emotions in sermon+Grapevine communications role in our churches

ust 13, 2010
safe exploration of emotions in sermon

I have found this thought has jogged my memory. The incident that I shared in the last audio-conference still sticks in my memory as a powerful way to bring healing and 'moving on' to a congregation. The 11 year old boy, tragically killed, lay in the opened casket in the sanctuary. 150 + class mates and many adults gathered round in the seating. The sermon was delivered and just prior to sealing the casket, the priest invited the young to come forward to say their last farewells. When the music started for this time it had the effect of giving permission for the young people to openly grieve. The song "Forever Young" created an atmosphere that supported the young as they spontaenously cried. They moved forward in a wave of emotion that was not superficial. Students were comforting each other in their grief. Words were not needed, just moments of tears and, for many, touching the still body of their class-mate in the casket. My own younger son,Matthew, who was sitting on my wife,s knee, was crying even though he was 5 years younger than the boy who was killed. Why are you crying? I asked. He said that he saw all the others crying so he had to cry too. Healing came to both my sons that day. The time of the tears I experianced as healing and life-giving to all those present. I was moved by what I was part of. The young people were allowed to express and explore their emotions in a safe place. The music stopped and the tears came to a gradual and natural end. I felt an incredible moment of peace and presence at that moment. The casket was sealed and the young boy was taken from the sanctuary. To this day, the young class-mates of the boy who was killed, remember his anniversary with a time at the place he died. They will text each other leading up to the time and now, almost 4 years later, I still see a special bond between those class-mates, including my older son Sam.
There is an important place in sermons for safe exploring of emotions. A place where words are at a minimum and the experiance can be a powerful source of healing, conversion and presence.
Posted by Joe Hogan at 11:59 AM 0 comments Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz

Sunday, August 1, 2010
Grapevine communications role in our churches

Grapevine communications in our parish helps the place tick over. In it's healthiest forms it happens when someone passes on news that they heard "johnny was sick and in hospital". For those involved in visiting the sick, a few discrete phone-calls can lead to finding out the truth of the matter and, if in fact,Johnny has been taken ill then he can be visited at home to see if he needs any help. Sudden or unexpected illness is where the grapevine can be very helpful in caring for the needs of the congregation. Other times it is helpful is when someone starts experiancing financial, emotional or job related hardship. A word on the grapevine can lead to helping someone in real need. This is on top of the normal help organisation that you have official access to as a minister. I see the 'grapevine' supporting the helping organisation work in parishes. It is fast information sharing.
Where it is unhelpful is when there is too much holding onto 'this is my patch' approach to leading in a parish and not sharing your power/knowledge with others that want to grow the parish both spiritually and physically. Where people are left in the dark besides losing interest, they can also get rather disillusioned and antagonistic. This can lead to false or exagerated grapevine rumour mongering or character assasination on the part of those left in the dark, or out of the information loop. This does hinder real community grawth. Another unhelpful spin off of not sharing power/ knowledge is that you as a leader can become increasingly isolated and removed from the very people you are meant to be available to. The result is chaking the life out of the developing of real, life-giving community activities.
A motto is, keep people informed in as many ways as possible.
Posted by Joe Hogan at 2:14 AM 0 comments Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz
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safe exploration of emotions in sermon
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Joe Hogan
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