Tagged With "Free"

First thing you may ask is What?? and then, perhaps, Why?? Well... The story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death, burial and resurrection can be difficult for many people, but none more so than the victims of abuse or neglect, or for anyone especially affected by violence. We want to be sensitive to the special needs of those that have endured trauma, but still remain truthful to the gospel. So, what is a parent, children’s minister, or pastor to do around Easter? It’s a tough situation. If you...

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) affect how a person develops physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. The ACE Overcomers series provides answers to many difficult questions. Through a combination of Biblical principles and sound science, these 12 powerful sessions will begin to retrain your brain and reset your nervous system. This course has helped many to overcome the effects of stress and adversity, and to ultimately trust God with every detail of life. ACE Overcomers:...

Hi, Chris, One thing jumps out at me about this poem. Black is for shame; white is for grace. I believe that the author and you mean good and no harm, and the association between black and bad/ white and good is so historical and pervasive that I would not use this version of the poem/ story. Racism is pervasive, often unrecognized, and traumatic. Peace, Jaime

Jaime, great point. Not sure how to mitigate that... The spiritual teaching point would need to be differentiated from any conclusions that could be drawn by the hearers in regards to racial judgment. I probably do this by habit, now, having worked in a multicultural setting for years, but this would not be intuitive for others, and for them your reminder is helpful! Chris

What a great revision! I needed it just a week earlier to revise the "Jelly Bean Catechism" bags we made this year. Next year, we're on it. The whole "black" and "white" thing is so difficult, because this imagery is everywhere - in art, literature, and Scripture. Thinking about it, it occurs to me that the problem is with labeling PEOPLE "black" or "white". It has always seemed ridiculous to me since no skin color is either black or white.

So... given the black jelly bean white jelly bean discussion, I thought Jane's recent post on here was interesting: https://www.pacesconnection.com/...hite-prince-ea-5-min

I like the video. I think it's all true and I hope we don't get into a simple either-or way of looking at race and all the history and current conscious and unconscious dynamics that surround it. Yes, labels limit- we are much more than those. And labels privilege others. I see both- and, and simply as adding some thoughtful context around the jellybean poem (and there are other similar apparently innocuous stories, movies, images) could make it richer and even more meaningful. Peace.

How would the Black community react to the sentences that start with Black, and White?

A friend, who graduated from NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf), who had told me of some of her ACEs (both her parents were deaf, ...). I'd had a 'mentor' who was on the faculty there, and I suspect both of them, and many others will appreciate this.

Hello. It is so satisfying to be able to turn to this wonderful community and tell you about the free online program I’m offering through my Serenity and Health ministry. While many of us continue with social distancing, this program may be useful for you or your church group. It is particularly relevant to this ACE community...both to prevent ACEs and to mitigate the new sources of stress created by the pandemic and felt so keenly by ACE survivors. The program is available in English and...

Does thinking about Advent planning already just stress you out? Concerned that as a trauma-informed congregation that whatever "pre-packaged materials" you might get haven't been appropriately vetted and will require you to add yet another "to-do" to an already full to-do list? If thinking about preparing for Advent already has you stressed out, don’t fear… Chaplain Sami Pack-Toner and Rev. Chris Haughee are here to help! Materials created in a trauma-sensitive setting and for...