Calming After the Storm workshop focuses on Long Term Spiritual & Emotional Care Following Disaster

6/15/2011
Danette Clifton

The North Alabama Conference is committed to long term recovery from the April 27, 2011 storms. This long haul effort to help rebuild lives not only involves meeting the physical needs of shelter and security but also working to address the spiritual and emotional needs of people and communities affected by the storms.

From the first days following the storms, United Methodist Pastoral Care and Counseling, Inc., has offered resources and counselors to help local churches in their disaster response efforts.  To continue to help clergy and church leaders offer the long term spiritual and emotional care needed, Pastoral Care and Counseling is working with UMCOR to offering a workshop called Calming After the Storm.

This three hour workshop will be led by Rev Mary Gaudreau, an UMCOR Emotional and Spiritual Care Consultant, and Rev. Sheri Ferguson, Executive Director of Pastoral Care & Counseling. It will be offered in three different locations throughout the North Alabama Conference.

The workshop is designed for clergy, along with local church leadership (strongly encouraged,) as well as anyone who considers herself of himself a care-giver in any way during this long-term recovery time.

Participants will receive

  • Practical information and suggestions to help those facing the unique emotional and spiritual challenges following disaster.
  • Information regarding trauma...on an individual, congregational and community level.
  • Information on common predictable patterns that often accompany various phases of disaster recovery.
  • Information for healthy self-care for caregivers....emphasizing that we will be in this for the long haul.
     

The workshop dates, times and locations are as follows:

  • June 20, 2011 9 a.m. to noon at Pleasant Hill UMC in McCalla
  • June 21, 2011 9 a.m. to noon at Gadsden First UMC
  • June 22, 2011 9 a.m. to noon at Central UMC in Decatur

To RSVP or for more information contact Rev. Sheri Ferguson at (205) 824-8320 or email sfergusonumpcc@gmail.com.

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