As I work with various communities, a returning issue I hear about is the first 2000 days of a person’s life. I first learned about this number, 2000, at the Smart Start of New Hanover County’s 2000 Days Community Summit. It was here that parents, teachers, clergy, social workers, police officers, and physicians gathered to learn and discuss how to best support our local children in the first 2000 days of their lives. Smart Start looks closely at the various ways that trauma, poor nutrition, lack of safety, and situational distress…
Lenten Reflection Guide: Fifth Sunday in Lent
Excerpted from the NC Council of Churches Lenten Guide, “Journey to Justice” Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it…
The Severity of the Flu
This flu season is notably harsh and even deadly in some circumstances. According to North Carolina Health Officials, as of January 25, there have been 21 flu deaths in our state and 67 total for the nation. Even though we benefit from more advancements in medicine and technology than any other era, the flu still runs its course through our communities, schools, churches, and work places. Due to the severity of this flu season, Partners in Health and Wholeness would like to highlight how crucial it is for us to…
Supporting our Mental Health in the Holidays
The holiday season is a high-pressured time. The season’s greetings can bring unrealistic expectations, societal pressure, and busyness from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. If you do not feel well emotionally and mentally in other times of the year, the holidays can be even more overwhelming. It is taught that the holidays are about others with giving and sharing. However, if we are not intentional with our boundaries and self-care, the holidays can quickly become blue and paralyzing. This is a common perception of this time of year, and so…
Advent Guide: Second Sunday, December 10
Excerpted from A Season of Hope. An Advent Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.[b] Every valley shall be…
Advent Guide: A Season of Hope
The theme for our Advent Guide this year is hope. After considering various themes, we chose hope for the reminder of eternal Hope rather than the spurts of an optimistic outlook. We understand hope as waiting for what is beyond the obvious, a hope that focuses on eternal joy—not joy that is victim to situational or earthly troubles. Our use of hope means the promise of the life and fullness that comes with Christ. We rest and work in our hope of “The Lord has come,” the waiting and receiving…
Faith and Health Summit Spotlight: Mental Health Workshops
Partners in Health and Wholeness invites you to join us in Greensboro on Friday, October 20, for our Faith and Health Summit. There will be excellent workshops on many relevant topics to encourage your church’s health initiatives. The workshop topics include aging, chronic disease, food security, permaculture, mental health, preaching, and much more. We have something for everyone. I want to take time to highlight our workshops on mental health: “From Drama to Grace: A Systems Approach to Effective Communication in Congregational Health and Wellness” with the Rev. Cathy Hasty….
Suicide Awareness Prevention: Shalom Instead of Silence
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Our work at Partners in Health and Wholeness, and with the NC Council of Churches, begins with the hope to see all North Carolinians thrive in daily living. We understand thriving to mean that our neighbors and friends all live whole, full lives and have the support to live as healthily as possible. We feel so strongly about this because we see each person as a beloved child of our God, the great Creator. Suicide is a painful loss that we pray and work…
Emotional and Mental Health Storm Preparation
Life is unpredictable. This truth is paramount with an oncoming hurricane or tropical storm. Many North Carolinians already live with daily anxiety and mental health concerns. How can we take special care of our mental-health in the wake of storm-related disarray? This guide is for those feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and paralyzed because they are either facing a hurricane in North Carolina, or sharing the anxiety of loved ones in other states. While we do not know the impact of Hurricane Irma, or any future hurricane, there are important actions that…
2017 Lenten Guide — First Sunday
For this year’s Lenten Guide, each member of the Council staff chose a verse from a favorite hymn to write about. We will post their reflections throughout Lent, for Ash Wednesday, each Sunday and throughout Holy Week. Guide my feet while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain! I’m your child while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain! “Guide My Feet” ~ The Faith We Sing #2208 In this contemplative season of asceticism, we pursue…
Advent Guide: Baptism of the Lord, January 8
Excerpted from How Will We Welcome the Prince of Peace? An Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the NC Council of Churches. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as…
The Rural Oasis: Conetoe Family Life Center
The amount of grassroots, efficient, and sustainable Kingdom work happening in North Carolina is astounding. People across our state are working together in various communities to promote health and wholeness. People care about health. People recognize that our lives and families depend on us caring about health. Communal work is happening all around us, to help people live fuller and healthier lives. Most of all, if you take notice of these various efforts, you will also see the spirit moving in each of them. I was able to see this…
Join in the Support of Belhaven’s Pungo Hospital
Community leaders continue to work endlessly to save the Pungo Hospital in Belhaven. Please join clergy and those concerned for justice this Wednesday, December 21, 10 a.m., at the Wake County Civil Court, Suite 1035, 316 Fayetteville Street in Raleigh (detailed directions below). The hoped-for outcome of this court hearing is to attain a temporary restraining order so that the hospital cannot be demolished. Those involved want as many Pungo Hospital supporters as possible to fill the courtroom in solidarity. Pungo Hospital was closed in July 2014 after the owners…
Community Contributes to Our Wholeness
Partners in Health and Wholeness ambitiously endeavors to work for and toward issues of mind, body, and spirit with faith communities. The words ‘health’ and ‘wholeness’ are truly huge words, landscaping innumerable concerns, issues, and conversations. Daunting, yes. Needed? Definitely. As daunting as the work around health seems in this state, I was reminded of the importance of community in regards to health, and particularly wholeness, during two separate events recently. The ‘wholeness’ half of our program is crucial to our overall health. Health is comprised of all issues relating…
PHW Certification Deadline Extended to November 15
The Partners in Health and Wholeness program originally had an October 31 deadline for our 2016 certification applications. However, due to the severity of Hurricane Matthew, we are extending our health certification deadline to Tuesday, November 15. We hope that this extension offers churches more time and flexibility to participate in our program despite the storm. The PHW staff also recognizes that our certification and mini-grant initiative might help faith communities that were not in immediate need prior to the hurricane but now face needs that our program addresses. If…