Complete Worship Service on Mental IllnessAn example from St. Matthias United Methodist Church, Stafford County, VA The Entrance Prelude and Gathering Greeting Hymn: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" 139 (UMH) Passing the Peace Announcements, Joys & Concerns, Prayers of the People L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Let us pray Prayer Children's Time Proclamation & Praise Psalter Psalm 13 746 (UMH) L: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever? P: How long will you hide your face from me? L: How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? P: How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? L: Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; P: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; L: lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him"; P: lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. L: But I trusted in your steadfast love; P: my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. L: I will sing to the Lord P: for the Lord has dealt bountifully with me. Affirmation of Faith "A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada" (UMH) Special Music "Let Me Find You" Prayer (In unison) see Mental Illness Awareness bulletin insert The Word Isaiah 38:9-16 L: The Word of God for the People of God. P: Thanks be to God. Message: "Restored Life" Response Hymn "Because He Lives" 364 (UMH) Presentation of Our Gifts to God Offertory special music "Forever" Doxology "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" 95 (UMH) Going Forth to Serve Hymn "Something Beautiful" (sung 3 times) 394 (UMH) Dismissal with Blessing Praise Benediction "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" Postlude L = Leader reads; P = People read; UMH = United Methodist Hymnal "Restored Life" We are not like the pink Energizer bunny that keeps going and going. There are times when life depletes us. When our bodies are depleted, our bodies and our minds are affected. The words of King Hezekiah in the book of Isaiah indicate that he finds himself in a place of depletion. Some have suggested he was suffering from depression. He sees himself in a hopeless, dark situation. He feels isolated; he can't sleep; he is distressed over what life has dealt him. Depression, a form of mental illness, is not uncommon. According to the U.S. Surgeon General one out of five persons will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime. We should be aware that there are persons who can't shake the gloom and doom of their thoughts, who may have periodic times of irrational thought, who experience phobias and fears. Some persons are so debilitated that they cannot function normally. Some become so filled with pain that they look at suicide as a solution. Their irrational thought and emotional pain have taken away their desire to live. We must learn how to pick up the signs of those in this condition and know what to do about it. For some persons, there is a genetic link to mental illness. The brain's chemical balance has been upset and medication is necessary, possibly dietary modifications and even a certain amount of sunlight each day to help them function. (The pastor continued on to share some stories. He talked about the importance of having caring people to see to it that the person with a mental illness gets diagnosis and treatment.) Learning to laugh again can be part of good mental health therapy. Mental illness is simply a disease, treatable and controllable, if not fully curable. And in many, it is fully curable if detected early and treated. As Christians, we are given the command to "bear one another's burdens." When someone can't carry their own load for a time, we help them to do it. That "load" can be physical, financial, and it can be emotional. Some ways we can help to carry other's burdens is to simply "be there" for people in mental distress. To genuinely and without a judgmental attitude, listen to them. To gently and lovingly care for and about them. We don't have to have all the answers. We can accept one another, even when emotionally distraught or dealing with phobias, or depression, or irrational thinking, or anxieties we can't explain or fully understand. We can help by being a sounding board and assisting that person to realize they momentarily aren't thinking clearly or rationally right now. We can help them see that getting help is a good thing to do. We can help by referring them to persons specially trained to help with mental illness issues. We might help by making the first appointment or driving them to their appointment. We can help by reassuring them that medications can help them function. It isn't any different from taking pills for high blood pressure or diabetes. We can help by reassuring them that GOD is still with them, even if they can't sense it or perceive it to be so in their current condition. We can help by affirming to them that they are not alone. The words of King Hezekiah in Isaiah indicate he knew what it was to be in the depths of despair and writhing with mental illness. His words are recorded for others to be fully aware of his struggles and of how he asked God to restore him to health. Look around us. In the midst of our busy lives, God may use us to help someone with a mental illness begin the process of coming to restored life. We need to be loving, kind and pro-active when we find someone so struggling. We need to refer that person to those most able to help them find their way out of "the Dark Night of the Soul." Help them to say, as King Hezekiah said, "Restore me...and make me to live!" And it is God's desire for us to "Restore us..and make us to live! Thanks be to God. Those with ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Amen. |