Emotional Healing

Rev. Joshua Patty
Regional Minister and President

The tremendous strain of the past 18 months has taken an emotional toll of everybody. Moving beyond this trauma will require us to face powerful emotions we have experienced -- some of which we recognize; some not.

As you plan worship opportunities this fall, I hope you create several opportunities for people to appreciate these deep emotions at work in their lives. In particular, I think it is vital to focus on three: grief, anger, and fear.

To heal, we must admit the deep losses of the pandemic -- health, jobs, celebrations, preferred activities, and, for far too many, the lives of loved ones. Simply welcoming people to worship in person only scratches the surface of the many things missing in people's lives during the pandemic. Look for ways to build moments of lament into worship services -- allowing people to name losses and admit their grief. Then there may be opportunities to welcome God's comfort into this season of loss.

To heal, we must admit the anger that the injustices of the pandemic -- and the injustices that continued during the pandemic -- have created in us. Too often, this anger has been a justification to scapegoat or demonize people we disagree with, especially if we blame them for the wrongs we see around us and the wrongs we experience. Create opportunities for people to recognize their anger, perhaps even some times of confession. Find ways to remind us that God loves us and those who enrage us. Invite people to seek and offer forgiveness, following God's example.

To heal, we must admit the weight of fear that has enveloped us for 18 months. Often, the anxieties and uncertainties have forced us to blindly grope for wisdom and guidance. Sometimes, they have utterly exhausted us. Countless examples of faith across the centuries show us how God carefully guided people from darkness and despair into light and life. Look for moments to invite testimonies; perhaps there are ways to ask questions and leave space for people to answer them during worship. You might encourage people to journal or create social media posts as worshipful responses. Over time, you might invite people to glimpse God's hope quietly present in the midst of fear and doubt.

These are vital ways in which we can help each other transition to the post-pandemic church. In the upcoming seasons, you might focus entire services on one of these emotional traumas; however, I think our collective healing will require patience and repetition. There likely will be different timelines and processes for the healing of people in our congregations.

Of course, the current increase in COVID cases reminds us that we do not control everything. Even as we continue adapting to post-COVID worship, we must be flexible as we seek to embody God's love in our communities.