Friends,
I’m very excited that we are doing a Lenten series this year at the Episcopal Student Center, in which we will discuss Faith & Mental Health. Our hope with this program is to focus our attention and worship on the importance of promoting awareness of mental illness, reducing the stigma of mental illness, and discussing how we are called as Christians to show compassion to those suffering from mental illness. I want to thank Bradley Varnell and April Fleming for their hard work on this.
We kicked off this program Sunday, March which was the second Sunday of Lent. For our Sunday Eucharistic services, April and Bradley have written Prayers of the People specific to the needs, concerns, and prayers of both those dealing with mental illnesses and those who are not. We are also prayerfully attentive to those who are thinking and praying about this for the first time. On Tuesdays, we are both welcoming guests and watching and discussing TED talks together. We will welcome Rabbi Gordon Fuller and Father Chuck Treadwell, which will offer perspectives both inside and outside the Christian faith.
This past Tuesday, over dinner we watched Brene Brown’s two TED talks and discussed how shame gives us a fear of disconnection, while recognizing that our universal desire as humans is to be connected to one another. Brene explains that in order for us to experience connection, we must disarm shame with vulnerability. When we engage in this, we tell the story of who we are -- we are courageous. This courage can be called wholeheartedness.
The beauty of our conversation at the ESC is that while we talked about vulnerability, we were vulnerable. As we learned what courage is, we responded by telling our stories. As we talked about shame, we disarmed it by being vulnerable with one another. What we learned from Brene, we practiced. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to be a Christian community than to practice what we learn. And for that, thanks be to God.
This topic is especially touching to me as a person who deals with an anxiety disorder. I’m thankful to be serving a ministry with students who are passionate about showing love to all people, regardless of where they are in their mental health journey. I want to invite you to join us on this journey, knowing that we don’t come to share what’s right, what’s wrong, or how we can offer quick fixes to life’s messiness. Instead, we go on this journey to share who we are, believing that our greatest gift is grace and that our identity is found in Christ. Because our identity is found in Christ, we want to see Christ in the stranger, and offer love.
College students are invited join us this Sunday, as we continue this amazing program! We have dinner and Eucharist, starting at 7:00 at 1712 S. 10th St. We would love to have you.
Blessings,
The Rev. Erin Jean Warde
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