Contents:

Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose

June 2017 - A reflection by  Jim Hayes, Executive Director, Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center

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I have spent a good bit of my life exploring the notion of vocation. Think of this as your answer to the question, "What should I do with my life." A book that I have found helpful along the way is Brian Mahan's, Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose: Vocation and the Ethics of Ambition.  Among the author's many findings in the succinct composition is that giving our time to others enlivens us-draws us closer to the experience of being fully alive.

In other words, volunteering is good for us on many levels.

In other words, volunteering is good for us on many levels.

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Click image for our first blog post about men, boys and mental health.

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Rising Strong™ is a one-day workshop based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. The simple physics of vulnerability is if we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall. This workshop is about what it takes to get back up and how owning our stories of struggle give us the power to write a brave new ending. Struggle can be our greatest call to courage and the clearest path to a wholehearted life. 

Thursday, October 26, 2017 / 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

 

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Pastoral Care Specialist training

a Leadership and Spiritual Life program

Classes Begin this Fall.  This two-year course is designed for clergy, parish nurses, Stephen ministers, chaplains and others involved in pastoral care ministries. Meeting monthly, participants learn about areas critical to effective pastoral care, and receive support, encouragement and consultation on their work. Participants will reinforce what they already do well and integrate new knowledge and skills into their ministries.

 

Thank you to everyone who supported the 19th Annual Women Helping Women luncheon. Together, we raised more than $145,000 for women and girls who need mental health counseling. We invite you to view the photo album on our Facebook page. 

SAVE THE DATE: May 18, 2018,  20th Annual Women Helping Women

Click image to view event photo album on Facebook

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MBSR™ Intensive Mindfulness Training

The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is pleased to offer MBSR™ Intensive Mindfulness Training, an 8-week course that is backed by 37 years of research, proven to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. Utilizing curriculum developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, the course is designed to teach mind-body awareness and work with the effects of toxic stress. Learn to tap into your inner resources and discover the healing power of mindfulness through MBSR™.

 

Sign up for the Center's Leadership and Spiritual Life program newsletter

Did you know the Center has a second newsletter? 

In addition to this newsletter which focuses on clinical aspects of the Center's mission, we also issue monthly news on topics related to the Center's Leadership and Spiritual Life programs -- communicating additional opportunities for learning and growth including professional development choices for clergy and congregational leaders. 

View our latest Leadership and Spiritual Life newsletter here. The next issue will go out next week. Be the first to learn about new educational opportunities at the Center by signing up to receive this newsletter.