Service Design & Intent of a Church Healing Service
Congregation and Community Healing Service.
Suicide by church leadership is on the rise. The outline of the service below is not about prevention however it is about gathering the shattered pieces and providing direction to a community who has experienced such traumatic events.
Synopsis:
Rev. Dr. Daves Hardtman served as the senior pastor of Mt. Zion Church for the last 17 years. On December 10, 2019, Pastor Hartman committed suicide in his study. He leaves behind his wife Julia and son Hammond. It is now understood that Dr. Hardtman was silently dealing with depression and other mental health issues.
Dr. Hardtman was a charismatic pastor who grew Mt. Zion from a solo pastor church of 75 regular attendees to a megachurch of 1200 regular attendees with dozens of ministries. He was also an integral community organizer and known and favored by many and was a leader in multiple spheres.
The last rites of the church were held for Dr. Hardtman on December 19th, 2020.
It is now mid-January and Mt. Zion is bringing its congregation and community together with the intention of:
1. To provide public acknowledgment of events
2. To provide resources concerning mental health
3. To provide a moment of corporate contemplation (possibly lament)
4. To pray for healing and direction
5. To help the congregation and community to begin looking forward
Special Service of the Word for Healing & Direction
Sunday, January 12, 2020 @ 4:00pm
Liturgical Season: Ordinary Time
Prelude Piano instrumental by Minister of Music (as congregants find their seats)
Welcome Worship Leader: Ass. Pastor of Youth & Families
Opening Prayer Asst. Pastor of Children’s Ministry & Fellowship Events
Hymn/Song Lead by the Praise and Worship Team w/ congregational participation: Welcome Into This Place
Words of Encouragement and Care A conversation with Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care and a Counselor from Cathedral Counseling Center. Topic: Mental Health and the Church
Hymn/Song Lead by the Praise and Worship Team w/ congregational participation
Scripture Text Phil 4:4-8
Psalmist Soloist
Meditation Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care
Congregational Altar Call Invite church to gather around the altar for corporate prayer. Each member of the ministerial staff leads a segment of the prayers for healing and direction.
The Lord’s Prayer End the gathering around the altar with the Lord’s
Prayer
Pass the Peace Invite congregants to greet their neighbor as they return to their seats as musicians play uplifting chorus
Hymn/Song Lead by the Praise and Worship Team w/ congregational participation
Benediction Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care
Intention and Theological Rationale of Each Movement
The use of ordained ministerial staff to lead through the service is intended to communicate a oneness and commitment of the leadership of the church moving forward with the intention of regaining trust where it may have been lost or faltered.
Prelude Piano instrumental medley to start ten minutes prior to the start of the service. Consisting of church standards as congregants find their seats process into the sanctuary, meet, greet and take their seats.
Purpose:
· To help prepare congregation for what is to come.
· To collectively bring everyone into the same framework and expectancy.
by Minister of Music
Welcome Purpose:
· Formally start the service
· First address and welcome of those gathered
· Extend an invitation to participants into the proceedings
· Provide a road map for the service
· And encourage participation in the service
by Ass. Pastor of Youth & Families
Opening Prayer Purpose:
· To invoke the presence of God
· To ask for guidance
· Meet the needs of those gathered
by Ass. Pastor of Children’s Ministry & Fellowship Events
Hymn/Song Song selection: Welcome into This Place
Purpose:
· This song allows the congregation to invite God into not only the service corporately but into their individual personal circumstances
· The selection allows for an opening up and an
· It reminds the congregation of God’s love and compassion for them
· The selection also firmly establishes role and position of God in the lives of believers.
by the Praise and Worship Team w/ congregational participation
Words of Encouragement and Care A conversation with Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care and a Mental Health Professional & video. Link to sample pulpit conversation
Topic: Mental Health and the Church
Purpose:
· To acknowledge the events surrounding Pastor Daves Hardtman’s death
· Provide a safe introduction to engage the topic of mental health
· Addressing the uniqueness of Faith and mental health
· Procuring the health of our mind and emotions as Christians.
· Working to dispel the stigma of mental health
· Explaining what good mental health can look like
· Why it is necessary
· How to identify if one needs mental health assistance
· Provide resources and avenues of help
· Video to provide expedient footings and understanding of topic (inserted somewhere at the beginning/introduction of the segment)
Close out segment with a thank you for the mental health professional, a few comments of direction, transition into the congregational hymn.
Hymn/Song Lead by the Praise and Worship Team
· A moment to contemplate what has transpired
· Preparation for the Word
Scripture Text Philippians 4:4-8 KJV
Purpose:
· To provide practical tools to journey through this season
· To provide comfort
· To instill hope in God
By Chair of the Sessions Committee
Psalmist Song Selection: Because of Who You Are Link to sample
Purpose:
· Contemplative reminder of the faithfulness of God
· Reminder of the new opportunities God provides
· To provide levity and release
· To prepare for the preached Word
Meditation Sermon Topic: The God of Our Tomorrow
Purpose:
· To provide comfort in grief and
· To begin the transition of looking forward
By Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care
Congregational Altar Call Invite church to gather around the altar for corporate prayer as a family.
Purpose:
· For connectional comfort
· Fostering a sense of unity and family
Each member of the ministerial staff leads a segment of the prayers for grief, healing and direction.
The Lord’s Prayer End the gathering around the altar with the Lord’s Prayer
· To encourage corporate participation in the prayers
Pass the Peace Invite congregants to greet their neighbor as they return to their seats as musicians play uplifting chorus (transition)
(pre covid-19)
Hymn/Song Chorus Selection: We Have Come This Far by Faith / I Will Trust In The Lord Link to sample
Purpose:
· Affirmation
· Renewal of commitment to life in God
Lead by Praise and Worship Team and Congregation as they Pass the Peace and return to their seats
Benediction Philp 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Purpose:
· Final instruction
· Blessing and Sending
· Dismissal
By Ass. Pastor of Faith Formation & Congregational Care
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