SOULS IN THE HANDS OF A TENDER GOD

Chaplain Craig Rennebohm

Part I – The Movement of the Spirit

At the Doorway – the stories of Sterling and Terri. We are all vulnerable.

All of us suffer. Healing honors the essential worth and dignity of us

each.

Part I – The Movement of the Spirit

CHAPTER TWO – Jerry’s song. NOWHERE TO GO –

Jerry’s behavior got him barred from every shelter, drop-in center, and meal program in the city. There were days when he had literally nowhere to go.

Part I – The Movement of the Spirit

CHAPTER TWO – Jerry’s song. (continued) PREPAREDNESS –

How prepared are our congregations to deal with the multitude of brothers and sisters in our midst who suffer from mental illness? P. 22

The FAMILIAR SELF, as distinct from the ILLNESS SELF – P. 25

JERRY SINGS ! – P. 27

Part I – The Movement of the Spirit

Chapter 3 – The Potter’s Field – Craig’s journey in Recovery

The Spirit invites a partnership in the healing process, a partnership that on the human side, involves medicine, counseling, and companionship. P. 42

Part II – The life of the Soul

Chapter 4 – Approaching Mary. P. 63 – the four tasks 1) To understand 2) To engage, & support appropriate treatment 3) To find and use spiritual resources and practics 4) To help expand the soul’s capacity to include

the reality of illness in the immensity of our spirit-ual life, in the wholeness of who we are…

Part II – The life of the Soul

Chapter 5 – Companioning Breezy Practices of Companionship 1) Offering Hospitality 2) Walking side by side 3) Listening 4) Accompaniment – “The life of the sould is

thoroughly relational.

Part II – The life of the Soul

Chapter 6 – Karl’s Circle of Care P. 101 – Faith and medicine “The process of healing is aided by both medicine

and ministry; each contributes its particular gifts of care”.

Part II – The life of the Soul

Chapter 7 – Grace P. 107 – We are each a whole life story – more

than the illness. We are each a whole life story that is greater than

any given moment, and much more than our illnesses, wounds, troubles, or sorrows.

It is in terms of our whole life story that we can make sense of our responsibility and destiny as persons.

PART III. – A Community of Tenderness

Chapter 8 – The legend of Geel The citizens of Geel, a town in Belgium where

everyday families take mental patients into their homes – they trace their effort back more than seven hundred years.

PART III. – A Community of Tenderness

Chapter 9 – Home, Healing, and Wholeness P. 144 – Plymouth Church and ministry The House of Healing and “Companions”. It is a primary covenant of the community that the

residents and companions nurture each other and support healing and growth…

PART III. – A Community of Tenderness

Chapter 10 – Caring for the Soul of the World P. 165 – Bosnia P. 175 – We begin caring for the world of the

world by caring for the souls of our neighbors, for each life that touches ours.

PART III. – A Community of Tenderness

Chapter 11 – Words are medicine too – they can harm, but they can also heal.

A Call to Healing Ministry

When our minds and brains are malfunctioning, we need community and the love and care of others in order to be well

A tithe of humanity, a quarter of our families, wait for ministry.

Let us prepare ourselves to offer companionship, provide hospitality, come alongside, listen to, and accompany our fellow human beings who face the journey with mental illness.