Jun 5, 2024 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hi Stronger Together folks,
This week’s video is about a retired military veteran helping other veterans through art therapy. (Thanks, Brian, for the video!)
She talks about the difficulty of leaving military life and adjusting back to civilian life. For many veterans the expression of feelings, pain, and vulnerability has been greatly discouraged, leading to isolation and in some cases substance abuse. By encouraging non-verbal expression through hands-on making (with or without any art skills) she has helped some veterans find the adjustment more tolerable.
She also talks about creating one’s own “Mental Health Care Kit” for coping with stress, change, and loss.
Today’s warmup question: If you could add a room to your home that was for a specific, just-for-you purpose, what would you use it for and what would you put in there?
See you at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6!
Kirsten
Apr 25, 2024 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello good people of God.
Tomorrow evening, we will join together for another session of Stronger Together.
The opening ice-breaker question that we will discuss is, “What is a song that makes you feel like dancing?”
We will then discuss this short article and its implications for our well-being, society’s well-being, and what we are about at church with the Mental Health Ministries:
Prescribing Happiness.
Remember: God loves you and we love you, and we will be delighted to see you tomorrow. You are not alone; we are stronger together.
In Christ,
James
(The Rev. James Isaacs, Assistant Rector)
Dec 13, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
We have some really creative and artistic people in this discussion group. There’s also people like me, who perhaps aren’t naturally artistic but strive to be more creative and appreciative of the art we encounter. This week we’re going to explore a few different ways in which mental health and art can intersect, from giving us a language to express complex feelings to connecting us with people and ideas that can bring healing.
Our warm-up question for this week:
Check out this website of Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest winners. Which image stands out to you, and why?
See you soon,
Alex
Aug 16, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
One day photographer Danielle Hark found herself at her lowest point ever when something just “clicked” for her. She had been suffering from severe depression, had fallen to the floor in the midst of a panic attack, and then, “click”… she took a picture. That moment not only changed her life but set her on a course to change the lives of many other people living with mental illness.
We’re going to watch a brief video of Danielle’s story and talk about what it means to create community where (and in what form) it is needed. If you get the chance, please also check out the art and community experience Danielle founded at the Broken Light Collective. It’s an inspiring story that each of us can relate to in our own way. Join us for the conversation!
Our warm-up question for this week:
Without showing it, describe one photograph you have that you will never forget.
May 12, 2022 | Mental Health Ministry, Prayer
Once again the Mental Health Leaders Group has a new batch of videos for you. The content is a little lighter than last time. This month we invite you to pray while walking, with children, after an argument, and with a simple art project when words are out of reach.
These prayers can accompany those who would like a companion or some guidance in their prayer time.
All of our Prayers on Demand videos can also be found on our website here: Prayers on Demand: A Way to Pray Together.
- “Shall We Go and Worship God?”: Rev. Meredith Heffner leads the children of St. James’ Children’s School in prayer. Join us with hand motions and an exuberant AMEN!
Are there other ways you would like to pray? Specific topics you’d like prayer videos for? Please let us know. Send email to Rev. James Isaacs at james@stjamespotomac.org.
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Find support and fellowship with “Stronger Together.” This St. James’ group meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. by Zoom to discuss a new mental health topic each week. Access to the meeting is shared on Thursdays in our weekly parish emails. Contact us to be added to the parish email list.
