Skills for caring
- Mike Flynn (Vicar)
I was told by someone who works on large infrastructure projects recently that Melbourne has 1500 people a week moving in (though I have subsequently read that our State politicians are citing statistics around 2,400 people per week moving to Melbourne). Roads are crowded, apartment blocks continue to be built and planned, despite the current downturn in prices - even the water pressure has been turned up by local authorities to cope with the increased demand for this basic resource.
At the same time, though there are more people and we have access to more information and communication technology, we are increasingly isolated. Our counselling service (Keriva) is over booked most weeks as people seek professional help to talk through their problems. We hear how home hospitality has dropped away and local knowledge and kindness is diminishing even though research teaches us that these daily human interactions not only improve our day but contribute to our longevity.
These reasons and others are why there have been several requests from our members for a teaching series on skills for caring well. This October we begin that series in our 10am worship time with Clarissa Wilson who will be speaking on conflict in relationships. Clarissa has worked as a Marriage counsellor, a grief and loss counsellor and is a consultant with PeaceWise an organisation that equips people in biblical solutions for dealing with conflict.
On the 14th of October, Heather Dunning will be encouraging us to grow our skills in walking with people through times of crisis. Heather is a chaplain at Epworth Hospital Richmond and a Pastoral Worker at Diamond Valley Baptist Church.
On the 21st of October, Carol Knox will be encouraging us to grow in our listening skills. A rare but healing skill in our noisy world. Carol has a medical background and is a chaplain to two very different State schools.
To finish the series(on the 28th of October) I will be taking us through parts of the Biblical wisdom on how to be discerning in pastoral conversations.
Please join our leadership team in praying that this public teaching series and the private studies in our small groups will increase our wisdom and ability to love as Jesus did.
(Mike Flynn - Vicar)
- Mike Flynn (Vicar)
I was told by someone who works on large infrastructure projects recently that Melbourne has 1500 people a week moving in (though I have subsequently read that our State politicians are citing statistics around 2,400 people per week moving to Melbourne). Roads are crowded, apartment blocks continue to be built and planned, despite the current downturn in prices - even the water pressure has been turned up by local authorities to cope with the increased demand for this basic resource.
At the same time, though there are more people and we have access to more information and communication technology, we are increasingly isolated. Our counselling service (Keriva) is over booked most weeks as people seek professional help to talk through their problems. We hear how home hospitality has dropped away and local knowledge and kindness is diminishing even though research teaches us that these daily human interactions not only improve our day but contribute to our longevity.
These reasons and others are why there have been several requests from our members for a teaching series on skills for caring well. This October we begin that series in our 10am worship time with Clarissa Wilson who will be speaking on conflict in relationships. Clarissa has worked as a Marriage counsellor, a grief and loss counsellor and is a consultant with PeaceWise an organisation that equips people in biblical solutions for dealing with conflict.
On the 14th of October, Heather Dunning will be encouraging us to grow our skills in walking with people through times of crisis. Heather is a chaplain at Epworth Hospital Richmond and a Pastoral Worker at Diamond Valley Baptist Church.
On the 21st of October, Carol Knox will be encouraging us to grow in our listening skills. A rare but healing skill in our noisy world. Carol has a medical background and is a chaplain to two very different State schools.
To finish the series(on the 28th of October) I will be taking us through parts of the Biblical wisdom on how to be discerning in pastoral conversations.
Please join our leadership team in praying that this public teaching series and the private studies in our small groups will increase our wisdom and ability to love as Jesus did.
(Mike Flynn - Vicar)
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