In Robert Banks’s groundbreaking book, Redeeming the Routines, he identifies the enormous gap between belief and everyday life. He points out that this gap shows up in ten worrying ways: Few of us apply or know how to apply our belief to our work, or lack of work. We only make minimal connections between our…
Category: general discussions
Punctuation matters
Worship starts with God
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women,…
Up, In, Out: The Jesus Pattern
Seeing Jesus! (#2)
“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They…
Seeing Jesus! (1)
“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They…
Pastoral Care in the Church (4)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care BUILDING SOMETHING GOOD WILL TAKE TIME Developing effective pastoral care in the church is somewhat like the challenge Jesus faced when He came to earth and needed…
Pastoral Care in the Church (3)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care INTRODUCING THE HOME VISIT Our church tradition has long encouraged the ‘home visit’ as a model of pastoral care. According to the original church order (it is…
Pastoral Care in the Church (2)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care EARLY CHURCH METHODS OF PASTORAL CARE We do not know all of the ways that the early church cared for God’s sheep (Acts 20:28). But we do catch…
Pastoral Care in the Church (1)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care RETHINKING PASTORAL CARE If you’ve been raised in the church, you’ve heard of ‘pastoral care’. Most often the term is associated with the work of the ‘pastor’,…