Caring Ministries: Connections
During this time of pandemic, members of the Caring Ministries at St. Martin’s have been still meeting via Zoom and many of us have been attending online workshops and seminars relevant to our ministry.
We launched a new ministry, recently named by Revd. Pamela as “The St. Martin’s Messengers,” quoting from Isaiah “Beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of the messenger who brings good news…”
This is an attempt to reach out to those members of our St. Martin’s community who, for whatever reason, can not access our announcements, clergy letters, vestry news and especially our services online. Each week a group of 13 parishioners receive the Sunday readings, sermon, and announcements as hard copies. These are mostly hand delivered, enabling us to check in with folk and have a brief, socially distanced doorstep visit. Some of the recipients are those who were receiving communion at home prior to the pandemic, and this is a way of them being able remain connected to our congregation at a time of extreme social isolation for them.
If you are aware of anyone who would benefit from these packets, please let the clergy and/or Lynn Zender or Diane Bamforth know, and we would be happy to add them to the list. The one proviso is that the person does not have the ability to access or use a computer.
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Some of us attended 4 workshops presented by The Diocesan partners in Ministries of Health entitled “Mental Health and the Collison of Pandemics”.
We learned much – way too much to share here: but for me the main message was that self-care and connection to others is vital during this time when we are all grieving losses due to the pandemic, economic uncertainty, political upheaval and social unrest – not to mention anxieties also surrounding white supremacy, climate change, and California wildfires. It seemed that every time we met there was yet another disaster looming and that the storm was intensifying.
There were sessions on mental health, addiction and recovery, PTSD, and bereavement – all challenges at the best of times, but more so right now, especially for those already battling depression, anxiety and mental illness.
We learned to recognize our losses, the importance of naming them however trivial they might seem when compared to others, how to express our grief by naming it, how to listen compassionately to others, and above all, the importance of being honest with ourselves by reaching out to seek help and to develop and strengthen our support systems.
The first session gave us a specific set of basic skills on coping and building resilience from a faith-filled perspective to increase our feelings of safety and connection, and to honor our feelings. I’d like to share this with you:
FAITH FILLED COPING
- WHAT? SLOW DEEP BREATHING
- WHY? To activate the vagal brake, which means to override stress hormones and thereby slow our heart rate and breathing, relax the gut muscles.
- FAITH FOCUS: Receive, Release, Practice
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- WHAT? AEROBIC EXERCISE
- WHY? To break through the freeze response, to improve energy and mood
- FAITH FOCUS: Find your favorite inspirational music. Some examples might be Miriam’s dance of praise Exodus 15:20, Praise God with tambourine and dance Ps. 150
(How apt that this week during Godly Play we wondered about Miriam’s song of praise and how we will dance with joy together when we are able to meet again in person.)
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WHAT? CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY
- WHY? Decrease isolation and feel understood
- FAITH FOCUS: Pastoral phone calls, Livestream Daily Office, Compline or Bible Study, Zoom, or socially distanced faith focused groups such as 4th day or prayer groups.
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WHAT? GROUNDING MEDITATION
- WHY? Focus on the present moment regain a sense of control
- FAITH FOCUS: To be rooted and grounded like the tree planted by streams of water Ps. 1
You may like to have a contemplative prayer practice.
Contact info@churchofstmartin.org if you wish to join our own Contemplative prayer group on a Wednesday afternoon.
Have you tried Visio Divina? A practice of holy seeing where we pray with the eyes, noticing Gods presence in our lives. Who would have thought that even handwashing could become a spiritual practice? Use those 20 seconds to recite a mantra, collect, or prayer.
We shared ideas about what keeps us grounded and connected to God’s creation – for some it was art, journaling, sacred music, or walking the labyrinth – and the importance of incorporating such practices into our daily routine.
As well as self care, we spent time learning and relearning how to be more effective listeners and care givers for those struggling with emotional, spiritual, and social challenges. If you need help please feel free to reach out to our clergy and Stephen Ministers.
The Caring Ministry page on our website, (to be found under the tab Life in Community ) has lists of all the excellent resources and reading shared by the presenters of this series. If you are struggling, I would urge you to take a look. There are resources for Mental health, Addiction and Recovery and Bereavement. You can also access the Caring Ministries page by clicking here.
You may also find these helpful:
The Serenity Prayer
Psalms for seeking refuge Ps. 61, 91, 121
Compline prayer “Keep watch Dear Lord”
Psalm 60 and 90, 12 13 and 142
By Diane Bamforth