Mental Health Ministry update

Church Family:
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The Mental Health Ministry team had wanted to send out a message of hope and resilience.  In this time of chaos, at times it is hard to understand and move forward in our lives.  It seems that “change” is always in our way.  Many years ago, I was told that change is the norm.  This seemed like an oxymoron .  How could change and normal be used in the same sentence.  But it happened.  Throughout our lives there  is always change, graduating from high school, going to college, or starting that first job, marrying, having the first baby or a major illness.  Adjusting to change is sometimes hard to do in the moment.  But we accomplish this again and again.

So, the virus is here, change again is in front of us, adapting to all that is involving in the world, changing our home life, work status, and social connections.  How does one adapt to all this new normal?   In our minds we  do what we are told, to stay safe, stay at home, wash those hands,  social distance, and wearing that mask.  So physically we have adapted to be safe.   But that leaves all the feelings, emotions that maybe we do not acknowledge  to ourselves, or to others that we normally would share when we had been social.  How do we manage these moments when we feel alone, isolated, and restless? With our modern technology we can call, text or email but that seems lacking in fulfilling the social needs that we had before all this change, before all this new normal in our lives.  Touching releases endorphins in our brain that providers immediate satisfaction for our well-being.  Doing physically activities such as swimming, putting lotion on our skin, keeping warm all can be helpful.

Lastly and most importantly is our spiritual health during this stressful time.  Reading our Bible, praying for God’s answer to all, and talking to the church family can be most helpful.  Perhaps setting on someone’s front porch with a cup of coffee talking or grabbing a chair to visit in someone’s yard just might be the answer to keep in contact.  In God’s word, Romans 5:2-5  …we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings because we know suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he had given us.   Knowing and believing these words can enable us to take the steps to manage our “new normal” within this chaotic every-changing world.  Please know that your Mental Health Ministry Team is here for you,  we are a phone call or email away.
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Jean Koogler, Karen Lothamer, Beth Moss, Tess Meussling, & Michelle Shannon