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.

                                                                                Link to sample musical selection

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               

                                                                                Link to song selection

                                                                                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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