Retreating for the Future

By Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness

In today’s Gospel, the Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he was cared for by angels as He was surrounded by evil.  He emerged unscathed and went forth proclaiming the Gospel, which means “good news.” Many have followed this example of retreating from daily life in order to gain perspective and see things anew, to plan for a better future. In fact,  retreat is defined as “movement away from danger” and “back along the original route.”

Events occur in each of our lives that make us feel as if life has retreated from us or that we have stepped into uncharted territory.  Life has taken on an unfamiliar form.  One of the most isolating experiences can be the loss of a loved one. Old habits are broken and it’s hard to think of moving ahead.  It’s hard to re-form old patterns. If you’re walking in grief, please consider joining our Living with Loss support group. This six week series offers videos, reflections, readings and group discussions to help ease the pain of loss.  The sessions start on Wednesday, February 25, from 7-9pm in the Padua Room. To register, visit http://stfrancisraleigh.wordpress.com/pastoral-ministries-overview/care-and-wellness/resurrection-ministries/living-with-loss/. For more information, contact Robin Nilsson at 740-7411.

If you’re not able to attend, but would like to get more information on moving forward in your life, please contact Kathleen Owen at 847-8205 ext. 241 or kathleen.owen@stfrancisraleigh.org.

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Healing vs. Cure

By Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness

Centuries ago, before medicine became rooted in science sick people often went to priests for healing. Some cultures believed that illness was an indication that the person was out of favor with God.  In the Jewish culture, if the priest found that the person was ill [unclean], the sick were to isolate themselves until they were healed. After all, it was for the benefit of the greater community.

When Jesus began healing people, the results were immediate and stunning. The sores of the lepers were instantly healed. Those with fever immediately rose and began serving others. The sick weren’t banished; they were immediately brought back into the community and they resumed their place in society.

Many people sought a cure from Jesus. They wanted to be cleansed, relieved of the burden of their illness.  Jesus offered something more -  He offered healing, returning the person to their place within the community, restoring them to wholeness through their faith that He was the Messiah.

Centuries later, our society has transitioned to the medical model. It is a model based in science, and committed to the treatment of symptoms. The goal is to be disease-free. A common term for this in medical circles is “treat and street.” But sometimes being free of disease doesn’t restore a person to wholeness or to their previous place in society. The fear, the scars and the results of treatment sometimes seem worse than the cure.

If you’re struggling to regain a sense of wholeness in your life, the Care and Wellness office stands ready to walk with you. There are many ministries able to reach out and help you keep your place in life. We too are offering Jesus’ healing touch by helping you stay connected to our faith community. And if you’ve had the gift of healing yourself, consider reaching out to help others. And please, go out and tell everyone of the power of faith to heal.

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The Healing Gift

By Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness

Jesus shared his divine gift of healing with so many people. In our readings today, he healed Simon’s mother instantly.  Many of you are trained in the healing arts and share in the wonder of watching those who are ill regain their health.  But everyone has the power within to help heal or lift someone’s spirit.

The first grade children at TFS have been making cards and art work to be shared with our Hospital Visitation Ministry, our Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound, to Rex Hospital and to Abbotswood, Magnolia Glen, Springmoor and The Meadows.  It’s hard to imagine how much such acts of kindness can mean to someone who doesn’t feel well.  Recently I was taking the Eucharist to the Catholic patients at Rex Hospital. I gave one of our bird cards to a gentleman and he seemed quite pleased. The following week, he was still in Rex, but he had changed rooms. As I prepared to leave his room, I noticed that the bird we had given him the week before was clipped to the blinds in his new room!

Each week, our ministers visit so many folks to take the Eucharist to them or to visit and offer friendship and prayer. I invite everyone, man, woman and child, to take a moment and write a card or color a picture to help brighten the day of someone. You can put your gift in one of the brightly wrapped boxes in the Stewardship Center or in Clare Hall. And thanks for sharing your healing gift!

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Hearing The Call

By Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care and Wellness

A call in the middle of the night is usually a bad thing.  It seems to take forever to get to the phone, answer it, and wait to hear who’s calling and why. Even if it’s a wrong number, it takes some time before your heart stops racing and your adrenaline subsides.  To put myself in Samuel’s place, I can’t imagine being called three times and then having the presence of mind to say, “Speak, for your servant in listening.”

Thankfully, our God is a persistent God. He kept calling and Samuel responded quickly, opening up his life in the process. That process usually isn’t so smooth for most of us. It takes many calls from God for us to finally hear and interpret God’s call.  In the times when life is calmer, it’s easier to take stock of the gifts, talents and blessings in our lives and to discern ways to give back and answer the call. But in the darker times, it’s sometimes impossible to hear anything but our own cries.

One of the hardest experiences for us is the loss of a loved one. Suddenly life is changed. Routines become unfamiliar and fractured. The emptiness seems enormous and even though you know that life goes on, it’s hard to imagine. Especially in these times, God is near. He is still calling, still helping to steer us towards new life in Him.

If you’re struggling with grief, please consider our new workshop, “Living with Loss.” This six week workshop will offer participants support for those who are walking this journey -incorporating videos, discussion, and materials for reflection. For more information, or to RSVP, call Robin Nilsson at 740-7411 or visit stfrancisraleigh.org/livingwithloss . In addition to this course, there are other options for living with grief. For those options, contact Kathleen Owen at 847-8205, ext 241 or kathleen.owen@stfrancisraleigh.org

While there’s no cure for grief, and no “getting over it,” there is a way to live with it. As the Psalmist wrote, “I have waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.”

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