Ministry Matters - Welcoming strangers without scaring them away | Caring for mental health in your congregation

How can we welcome new folks well? Welcoming strangers without scaring them away by Joseph Woo   It's just that some churches go overboard in welcoming and it scares people away. Perhaps there are a few things we can do to avoid that. For starters, we can avoid greeting someone all at once. Some people love it. Others dread it. I don't ever feel the need to meet everyone at the church. At least, not all at once. Read here

How can the church offer a space for grace that offers peace and assurance? Caring for mental health in your congregation by Karen Lampe   As another school year begins, it’s time to consider thoughtfully how we address the care of children, teens, parents, teachers, and health care providers. As we do our part to help struggling people with their mental health, the faith community can be key to eliminating stigmas and misunderstandings wrapped around mental health. We must help our congregations understand that this is not brought on by God or by evil spirits nor is it a character flaw or spiritual weakness. Read here

Compassion for the crowds on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Lifting our hearts and prayers together in worship this Sunday