The Vine - News Blog

Stephen Ministry Workshop at Arborlawn March 22; Everyone Invited to Attend

 
The national Stephen Ministry organization is conducting an Introductory Workshop at Arborlawn on Saturday, March 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to register and attend. Please register online or by calling 314-428-2600. The cost is $15 per person.
 

The half-day workshop features the following topics: 1) Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief; 2) An Introduction to Stephen Ministry; and 3) How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way.
 
We need volunteers to serve refreshments during the workshop. Please arrive that morning at 7:30 a.m. Contact Betty Taylor if you want to help.
 
Stephen Ministry is all about equipping lay people to minister to others who are hurting; whether the hurts come from grief, divorce, financial stress, relocation, job loss, hospitalization, or any number of other situations. For more details about Arborlawn's Stephen Ministry, contact Andy Sewell.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministers: Fort Worth psychologist speaking about relationships for November 3 meeting

 
Everyone's invited to attend the Stephen Ministers meeting on Sunday, November 3 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 260. The group will be hosting well known Fort Worth psychologist Linda Wilson.
 

Wilson will be discussing relationship issues we all have with ourselves, other people, and even God; issues that often result in depression, anxiety, and addictive behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the concept of boundaries (setting limits of what one will and will not do) especially within families.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Martha Darwin speaking to Stephen Ministers and guests on October 6

 
Everyone's invited to the Stephen Ministry meeting on Sunday, October 6 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Room 260. The speaker for that day is Martha Darwin, and her topic is Change.
 

Change occurs at a faster pace every day. What are some of the trends ahead of us? How do we respond to these changes? Martha is a member of the World Future Society and will share some of the trends that are part of current planning in business, government, and various other parts of society. We will spend some time looking at how these changes impact individuals emotionally as they think about adapting to change.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministry: Hospice presentation September 8; all invited

 
Arborlawn's Stephen Ministry is meeting Sunday, September 8 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 260. Everyone's invited to hear Judith Pickering, manager of volunteer services with Odyssey-Gentiva Hospice, discuss "Hospice 101: Common Misconceptions about Hospice Care." Judith will  discuss the basic concepts of hospice care, misconceptions, and most current changes. This program can be invaluable to virtually all members of Arborlawn. So we can plan accordingly, please contact Andy Sewell if you want to attend.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministers meeting August 4

 
All active and inactive Stephen Ministers are invited to the monthly meeting on Sunday, August 4 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 260. We will be reviewing basic protocol and forms and hearing a presentation by Deb Sewell on "Who Cares for the Caregiver?" For those with care receivers, supervision will begin at 5:00 p.m., so please come prepared.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministry meeting July 17 (for present and past Stephen Ministers)

 
Andy Sewell, a Stephen Ministry Leader, invites all present and past Stephen Ministers (active and inactive) to a meeting on Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 260.
 

The purpose of this important gathering is to have an open discussion regarding Arborlawn's Stephen Ministry. Please come ready to share your ideas on how we can serve others well through this outreach.
 
If you are unable to attend this meeting, please contact Andy Sewell to discuss your ideas and recommendations.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministers: Lunch & Learn Sunday, April 7

 
The Stephen Ministers of Arborlawn invite you to attend a Lunch & Learn on Sunday, April 7 at 12:15 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Enjoy a great lunch and get details about one-to-one mentoring using a process known as Distinctively Christian Caring.
 
Stephen Ministers is a national organization of trained volunteers who mentor members of their own congregations in their own churches. Arborlawn has more than 50 Stephen Ministers whose work quietly adds to the harmony of the entire church family.
 
All Stephen Ministers complete a comprehensive training course which is helpful in all of life's relationships.
 
For more details, contact Judy Williamson (817-731-0701).
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministry Training: Sundays in October and November

 
Stephen Ministry Training runs on Sundays from 4-5 p.m. Oct. 7 through Nov. 18. This training teaches Arborlawn members how to give one-to-one, confidential, distinctively Christian caring to another member of the church. Stephen Ministers pray with and stand by people who are making new goals for new situations. They listen reflectively, empower people to set appropriate boundaries, ask strategic questions, share prayer, and share scripture. They are effective without giving advice, criticizing, evaluating, or making judgmental statements. Questions? Contact Judy Williamson (817-731-0701).
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Positive Psychology workshop Tuesday evening, March 27; take online pre-assessment

 
The Positive Psychology discussion sponsored by the Stephen Ministry (but open to all who are interested!) is Tuesday, Mar. 27, from 6:30-8 p.m. in Room 262. The session will include hands-on assessments and interventions.
 

Don’t worry if you didn’t make it to the intro session earlier this month; it’s easy to get up to speed. And for those of you who were present last Sunday, we will have some new information to consider.
 
PRE-WORKSHOP ASSESSMENT
 
Participants in this workshop might enjoy taking the assessment at AuthenticHappiness.com prior to attending. Instructions follow:
 
1. Register on this website. (It is owned by University of Pennsylvania and does not contact you or sell your information.)
 
2. Once into the Testing Center, scroll down to about mid-page and select the VIA Survey of Character Strengths - Measures 24 Character Strengths.
 
3. Select this assessment. Allow yourself about 30 minutes to complete it, and come to the workshop with the list of your top five strengths.
 
If you are unable to take this assessment prior to coming, do not let that discourage you from attending. Some allowance for gathering information of this nature will be made in the workshop itself. Taking this prior to the event will be more helpful and specific, though.
 
This assessment represents only one of the activities that will be provided for the evening.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Positive Psychology follow-up on Tuesday, March 27; take UPenn assessment before workshop

 
The Positive Psychology discussion by Martha Darwin on Mar. 4 created a lot of interest in the subject, so the follow-up workshop already on the schedule for Tuesday evening Mar. 27 has been lengthened by 30 minutes. It runs from 6:30-8 p.m. that night. The follow-up will include hands-on assessments and interventions.
   
Join us on Mar. 27 for the continuation of our discussion about Positive Psychology. Don’t worry if you didn’t make it on Mar. 4; it’s easy to get up to speed. And for those of you who were present last Sunday, we will have some new information to consider.

PRE-WORKSHOP ASSESSMENT
 
Participants in this workshop might enjoy taking the assessment at AuthenticHappiness.com prior to attending. Instructions follow:
 
1. Register on this website. (It is owned by University of Pennsylvania and does not contact you or sell your information.)
 
2. Once into the Testing Center, scroll down to about mid-page and select the VIA Survey of Character Strengths - Measures 24 Character Strengths.
 
3. Select this assessment. Allow yourself about 30 minutes to complete it, and come to the workshop with the list of your top five strengths.
 
If you are unable to take this assessment prior to coming, do not let that discourage you from attending. Some allowance for gathering information of this nature will be made in the workshop itself. Taking this prior to the event will be more helpful and specific, though.
 
This assessment represents only one of the activities that will be provided for the evening.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Positive Psychology seminar this Sunday (March 4) at 4 p.m.

 
Make plans this coming Sunday afternoon (Mar. 4) to be at church at 4 p.m. to hear Martha Darwin discuss Positive Psychology. The talk will be in Room 262 (Upper Commons on the east side of the building).
 

This isn't a "touchy-feely" thing. And, no, you haven't been transported back to the 1970s. Positive Psychology is a relatively new and exciting discipline in the field of psychology. It's about saving relationships, sanity, and even lives. You can be a big help to those you love.
 
Read more.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Positive psychology discussion on March 4: not just a passing fad

 
By Martha Darwin
 
Listen. It is what we do when people we love or care about are going through difficulty. But we often feel like we’re not doing enough, or wonder if there is something more.
   
On Mar. 4 you can learn how to do more for those you love. Join us at 4 p.m. on that Sunday in Room 225, Main Building for a seminar on Positive Psychology. The session will be repeated again on Mar. 27 at a time to be determined.
 

This seminar is designed to stimulate our growth in ways to offer positive support to others while allowing them the time and space they need to experience the grief that is a natural part of life.
     
Ideas offered come from the science of Positive Psychology - a new branch of psychology that was named in 1998, as a result of Martin Seligman’s research and leadership of the American Psychological Association. 
   
Positive psychology is not the same as positive thinking but, rather, is an empirically based science. Among the most recent developments in this field, the United States Army Chief of Staff General George Casey invited Dr. Seligman in Nov. 2008 to create a program to measure resilience and to teach positive psychology to create a military force as fit psychologically as it is physically. The goal is reduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide, and in its initial stages, it has shown some exciting results! Among them is the hope that a suicide predictor may have been discovered through a common test administered through the program. Additionally, suicide material, including attempts and ideations, was four times higher among those who had no training, as compared with those who received the training. Effects on reduction of PTSD focus on training soldiers about the higher likelihood of Post-Traumatic Growth, including normal stages of grief as part of that process. It will take some time to measure the effects of the training on that aspect.
   
In this particular view of the subject, the topics to be discussed include aspects of the PERMA formula employed in the military’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, and the Master Resiliency Training, which are: Positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Participants should leave with some idea for how to foster encouragement in others, as well as ways to foster their own increased positivity - which has been shown commonly to be an inherent part of creative thinking.
 
[Editor’s note: Martha Darwin, the presenter of this seminar, is a certified Executive Coach with the International Coach Federation, and is also a member of the International Positive Psychology Association. As a result of her affiliations, she has had the opportunity to attend classes with Dr. Seligman, as well as other pioneering psychologists in this field on several occasions. She has taught principles of Positive Psychology for the last few years to students who are looking to set life goals, via the Department of Extended Education at TCU. She is also involved in Arborlawn’s Stephen Ministry.]
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

"Affect" - Stephen Ministers present seminar this Sunday afternoon; all are welcome

 
What are the behavioral clues that indicate a person is ashamed rather than angry? Discover the Nine Affects to recognize specific emotions in other people this afternoon at 4 p.m. in a seminar sponsored by Arborlawn's Stephen Ministers. The seminar will be led by Rev. Bryan Bellamy in Room 225. This recognition of behaviors is a valuable skill for Stephen Ministers and many other people to develop. In fact, all are welcome to attend.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Stephen Ministers sponsoring January 22 class about behaviors

 
Can you discern the emotion a person is experiencing by observing the person closely? Can you look at the person and tell the difference between whether a person is feeling shame or guilt? Learn the behaviors associated with shame.
 
The Stephen Ministers are sponsoring a Continuing Education seminar on this subject called Affect on Sunday, Jan. 22 from 4-5 p.m. in Room 225, Main Building. Bryan Bellamy is the facilitator of the one-session seminar. All are welcome to attend.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Affect coming January 22

 
Can you discern the emotion a person is experiencing by observing the person closely? Can you look at the person and tell the difference between whether a person is feeling shame or guilt? Learn the behaviors associated with shame.
 
The Stephen Ministers are sponsoring a Continuing Education seminar on this subject called “Affect” on Sunday, Jan. 22 from 4-5 p.m. in Room 225, Main Building. Bryan Bellamy is the facilitator of the one-session seminar. All are welcome to attend.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Johnston joins Stephen Minister leaders; luncheon Aug. 21

Stuart Johnston has completed the course to become a Stephen Minister leader. He received his certification in July. He joins the Arborlawn team of Stephen Minister leaders including Martha Darwin, Dean Stacy, Bob Bradley, Patricia Bradley, and Andy Sewell. Johnston teaches in the Neeley School of Business at TCU. Students have honored him with awards for his encouraging teaching skills. He is an avid bicyclist and a member of the Searchers Sunday School class. He is known as a valuable resource to teach adult Sunday School classes. He and his wife, Judy Johnston, have been members of Arborlawn since its beginning.
 

Those interested in learning more about the Stephen Ministry are invited to a Lunch and Learn at noon on Sunday, Aug. 21. For more details, contact Judy Williamson.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org 

Stuart Johnston to join Stephen Minister leaders group

By Rev. Judy Williamson
 
Arborlawn's Stephen Ministers are adding Dr. Stuart Johnston to the leaders group. He will go to a week of Stephen Minister training in Dallas in July. The leader group already includes Dean Stacy, Martha Darwin, Patricia Bradley, Dr. Bob Bradley, and Dr. Andy Sewell.
  
Johnston has three years of experience as a Stephen Minister and teaches at TCU's Neeley School of Business. He was named by students as an outstanding professor. He is an avid biker, traveler, and a member of the Searchers Sunday School Class, where he shares his teaching skills. He and his wife Judy are known for their caring compassion, efficiency, and neighborliness.
 
Watch for details about how you can become one of Arborlawn's Stephen Ministers. Information parties and interviews are scheduled for August.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org 

Three new Stephen Ministers commissioned March 6

By Rev. Judy Williamson
 
Three new members of Arborlawn's Stephen Ministry team were commissioned on Sunday, Mar. 6 during the 11 a.m. worship service. Laura Gerstle, Dale Westerfeld, and Luann Westerfeld made commitments before the congregation regarding their involvement in this vital ministry.
 

 
In the middle of a sea of good changes at Arborlawn, a group of more than 50 Stephen Ministers quietly work behind the scenes giving confidential and distinctively Christian caring on a one-to-one basis to members of the congregation. They offer informed, positive support to individuals, and this work helps keep the ship afloat in overwhelmingly successful, good times and in stormy, difficult times.
  
Stephen Ministers are trained to help individuals focus on the important elements of a Christian life when normal, ordinary events become surprising or confusing. Each Stephen Minister has received 50 hours of training within the culture of Arborlawn. The Stephen Minister Leaders have spent a week at other locations in the U.S. to complete the Stephen Minister Leader Courses.  
 
During last Sunday's commissioning service, the three new Stephen Ministers were encouraged by other members of the Stephen Ministry by their presence and re-affirmation of vows.  
 
Dean Stacy, Pat Bradley, Bob Bradley, and Martha Darwin lead the Stephen Ministry at Arborlawn.
 
The need for this ministry in our congregation is apparent by the recent quote of a member who has requested a Stephen Minister: "I want a Stephen Minister. I know there are some things that are going to happen in the next few months of my life. I know this service is available at no charge to members. I want to get that faith building in place and working in my life before things get difficult. If I have another supportive Christian who is not among my family and friends who are going through the same things I am going to go through, I know I will manage better what I need and want to face. I want to live this life God gave to me very well."
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org