Session 1 What is Pastoral Care? Learning outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will have : Looked briefly at the example of Jesus • Begun to explore the nature of pastoral care and what is distinctive about it • in a Christian context Begun to consider the place and value of our own experiences in pastoral • care Welcome by group leader, followed by introductions. Suggested introductory exercise or choose any suitable ice breaker: The group mingles and everyone has to introduce themselves to another person by saying their name and two things about themselves. This should be done briefly with no additional conversation. The exercise is then repeated but this time everyone has to recite the name and information about the person they met back to them. A safe learning environment. [Handout 1]- agree group contract What is Pastoral Care? [Handout 2] Pastoral care is in essence surprisingly simple. It has one fundamental aim, to help people know love, both to receive and to give. Pastoral care is at the centre of the church’s mission and ministry. We love because God first loved us. (1 John 4:19). It is our response to God’s unconditional love. People are interesting, have relationships and all have a story to tell. We follow Jesus’ command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. How did Jesus love? Brainstorm thoughts in small groups or pairs During feedback highlight: Healed, listened, prayed, spent time with God, shared fellowship, washed their feet, spoke out against injustice, gave them something to eat, calmed fears…… Pastoral care involves: I. Awareness of another’s life and concerns. II. Understanding one’ own experience is central to caring for others.
Session 1 What is Pastoral Care? Learning outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will have : Looked briefly at the example of Jesus Begun to explore the nature of pastoral care and what is distinctive about it in a Christian context Begun to consider the place and value of our own experiences in pastoral care Welcome by group leader, followed by introductions. Suggested introductory exercise or choose any suitable ice breaker: The group mingles and everyone has to introduce themselves to another person by saying their name and two things about themselves. This should be done briefly with no additional conversation. The exercise is then repeated but this time everyone has to recite the name and information about the person they met back to them. A safe learning environment. [Handout 1]- agree group contract What is Pastoral Care? [Handout 2] Pastoral care is in essence surprisingly simple. It has one fundamental aim, to help people know love, both to receive and to give. Pastoral care is at the centre of the church’s mission and ministry. We love because God first loved us. (1 John 4:19). It is our response to God’s unconditional love. People are interesting, have relationships and all have a story to tell. We follow Jesus’ command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. How did Jesus love? Brainstorm thoughts in small groups or pairs During feedback highlight: Healed, listened, prayed, spent time with God, shared fellowship, washed their feet, spoke out against injustice, gave them something to eat, calmed fears…… Pastoral care involves: I. Awareness of another’s life and concerns. II. Understanding one’ own experience is central to caring for others. • • •