The Wednesday Word - Season 2 Episode 6

Desert Spring United Methodist Church - Las Vegas

“Aware” Mental Health and Christian Faith” Notes on the series: This series will have a companion workshop series being taught by Psychologist Jim Dart February 13: “Aware” Mental Health and the Christian Faith, week 1 Theme: Mental health awareness and the prevalence of grief Scripture: Psalm 38:9-11, John 16:22, and I Thessalonians 4:13-14 Notes: We begin this short series of sermons offering research on mental health. 50% of young people say they are dealing with anxiety, 40% with loneliness and 39% with depression. And, with the impact of the pandemic, all of us are dealing with grief. Research also shows the importance of faith and spirituality when it comes to mental health. We will unpack a little of this research the move on to the mental health topic of the sermon-dealing with grief. Everyone is grieving now. Grief is defined as the normal and natural emotional reaction caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior. We grieve what we have lost, and we all have lost much during the pandemic. Common experiences of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Grief carries with it experiences of forgetfulness. What can be done about grief? For those who are grieving, be aware of common experiences, pay attention to getting stuck in one experience for too long, talk about the loss honesty and openly, seek help of others—support groups, Stephen ministers, counselors. As a community, we help by Acknowledging how much it hurts, Accepting how long grieving takes, Acknowledging how hard it is to find companions, and adoring Jesus together in worship.