Transforming Preaching - The Challenge of Preaching
Transforming Preaching - The Challenge of Preaching
by SPCK - David Heywood
1 Why preach? The challenge of preaching Preaching is characteristic of the life of the Church. An expectation that the worship of the gathered Christian congregation will include a sermon can be traced back at least to the second century in the writings of Justin Martyr. Before …
Transforming Preaching - Introduction
Transforming Preaching - Introduction
by SPCK - David Heywood
Introduction I was never taught how to preach. My training included the opportunity to preach a sermon in front of a camera and review it, but little else. I have met many in a similar position. The only training we have received in preaching has come first through listening to o…
Recovering from Depression - Shaping the future – forgiveness
Recovering from Depression - Shaping the future – forgiveness
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Shaping the future – forgiveness In this chapter we’re going to be reflecting on the huge issue of forgiveness. Because this is such a vast subject I’m focusing here on forgiveness in relation to the ‘hidden things’ that might lie behind depression and which we’ve been talking ab…
Recovering from Depression - Shaping the future –protecting ourselves
Recovering from Depression - Shaping the future –protecting ourselves
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Shaping the future –protecting ourselves As we have seen, part of our work towards preventing another episode of depression may involve engaging more fully with our past, including the memories, thoughts and emotions that are still causing us problems...
Recovering from Depression - I know what you’re thinking
Recovering from Depression - I know what you’re thinking
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
I know what you’re thinking One of the symptoms or effects of depression is that we can become extremely self-centred, tending to think that everything is about us and not in a good way. If we phone someone and they don’t ring back it’s because they don’t want to speak to us, if …
Recovering from Depression - Thinking from the past
Recovering from Depression - Thinking from the past
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Thinking from the past Earlier we thought about strong emotions which have their roots in the past and which have perhaps never been fully understood or expressed, so that they continue to cause problems for us in the present...
Recovering from Depression - Emotions of the past
Recovering from Depression - Emotions of the past
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Emotions of the past Part 3 Body, mind and spirit Recovering from Depression A companion guide for Christians Pandas and thunderstorms Ever since I can remember, whenever there’s a thunderstorm around me, in real life or on television, a picture comes into my mind of the soft bla…
Recovering from Depression - Bringing the emotions of the past into the ‘now’
Recovering from Depression - Bringing the emotions of the past into the ‘now’
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Bringing the emotions of the past into the ‘now’ James – music and sorrow We talked earlier about James, whom we first met earlier. Although with the support of a counsellor James tried to identify the reason for his intense grief on hearing music, he was unable to do so. He was …
Recovering from Depression - Some ideas for day-to-day living
Recovering from Depression - Some ideas for day-to-day living
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Some ideas for day-to-day living In this chapter I’m going to share with you a few ideas about our day-to-day care of our bodies, minds and spirits. I hope you may find some of these suggestions helpful, perhaps opening up one or two previously unnoticed paths along the road or e…
Recovering from Depression - Setting out on the journey
Recovering from Depression - Setting out on the journey
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Some essentials Foundation stones When you have weathered the storm of an episode of depression one thing is certain: you will want never to have to go through another. You will want to do everything you possibly can to avoid that valley of dark shadows and stay in the light that…
Recovering from Depression - The process of recovery
Recovering from Depression - The process of recovery
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
The process of recovery The early days What happens when a man suffers a heart attack while at work, or a girl is knocked off her bike as she cycles to college? Probably someone will call the emergency services and paramedics will be sent out followed by an ambulance. There will …
Recovering from Depression - An unexpected interlude
Recovering from Depression - An unexpected interlude
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
An unexpected interlude Journal entry: Thursday 25 April 2013 It’s been quite a while since I wrote any new material for the book. I’ve been thinking about it, of course, and jotting down ideas but actually writing real sentences and paragraphs has been difficult...
Recovering from Depression - Therapeutic support
Recovering from Depression - Therapeutic support
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Therapeutic support Caring for our minds as we recover from depression can be a delicate task beset with dangers and risk of further harm. I want to sound a note of caution here both for those who are in the early stages of recovery and for those who love and care for such a pers…
Recovering from Depression - Where are we going?
Recovering from Depression - Where are we going?
by SPCK - Katharine Smith
Where are we going? My husband, Adrian, and I were spending a day in Venice, a city we love and visit as often as we can. If you have ever been there you will understand how easy it is to lose your bearings and sense of direction as you wander along all the calles and over the ma…
Recovering from Depression - Body, mind and spirit working together