New Church Life May/June 2017 | Page 56

n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 7 called Finding Hope Workbook and Resources and is available at www. newchristianresources.org. This five-week series focuses on finding compassion for oneself and others through these challenges, and offers national resources and helpful articles. Another very important way to get involved is to spend time in prayer. Life can be so unbelievably hard. We want to shower love and compassion on all the people we interact with. Showing up the best we can be is a worthwhile effort. Though in many ways we are all left speechless and feeling helpless in the face of addiction, suicide, domestic violence and/or mental illness, it is powerful and important to step up and respond even at the risk of our responses being inadequate. Because when anyone suffers from addiction, domestic violence, suicide and mental illness, we are all impacted. Sometimes we get to offer the care and compassion; other times we receive it. And, at the core of it all, the Lord is calling each of us to love our neighbor, show compassion and do our very best to offer comfort and healing. “True worship of the Lord consists in performing useful services; and such services during a person’s life in the world lie in a proper fulfillment of his function by each person, whatever his or her own position, that is, in serving his country, its communities, and his or her neighbor with all his or her heart.” (Secrets of Heaven 7038) Bronwen Henry is Small Group Coordinator for Bryn Athyn Church and Program Manager for Journey Programs in the General Church. She has led the 2016 and 2017 Finding Hope events in Bryn Athyn. She is passionate about the church stepping up to respond to these important topics, together with our surrounding communities. If you are looking to start a Finding Hope effort in your area and want to check in with her, please contact: [email protected] or 215- 530-2036. Bronwen lives with her husband, Jeremy, and children in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. 236