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Removing Barriers,
Creating Communities of Belonging.
May 2025
"Almighty God, whose Son took upon himself the afflictions of your people: Regard with your tender compassion those suffering from anxiety, depression, or mental illness; bear their sorrows and their cares; supply all their needs; help them to put their whole trust and confidence in you; and restore them to strength of mind and cheerfulness of spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
(BCP 2019, p665)
It's amazing how God can connect people he wants to bring together! In January, I attended a Trinity Forum webinar with a focus on mental health. Two speakers shared information and insights from their life and work experience and from recent books. They provided additional opportunities for making connections with the speakers and with a smaller group of participants. I debated taking the time to do so, but I'm so glad I did. I met three other Anglicans - two in Colorado and one in Maine. I'm in Florida, so it seems providential to be able to connect with them!
Carlene Hill Byron is the woman from Maine that I met. May is Mental Health Awareness month and we are delighted Carlene is speaking with us Monday evening. She is an author and presenter with lived experience on both sides of the issue - as caregiver and as patient.
The number of people in our congregations who experience mental health challenges is growing. Most of us are not mental health professionals, but with good guidelines, we can help befriend and support one another for the glory of God's kingdom. Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD, at Duke University Medical Center and Duke Divinity School was one of the speakers at the Trinity Forum I attended. He endorses Carlene's book with this: "A wise, poignant, and immensely practical guide."
Carlene encourages churches to support mental health by helping people find meaning, belonging, purpose, value and hope.
Join us Monday evening at 6pm CT to benefit from some of Carlene's practical guidance. You may win a copy of her book - Not Quite Fine: Mental Health, Faith, and Showing up for One Another.
Let us love and care for one another,
Deacon Kathy Ayres
AcLN Director
Connecting People and Sharing Resources
to support the church's ministry
with and by people with disabilities.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
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