Led by Nick Lawson, MSW
May 5, 12 & 19th
9:00 am in the Upper Room (and on Zoom).

Whether anxiety or depression, PTSD or OCD, a growing number of youth and adults are facing the challenges of living with mental illness or loving someone with mental illness. Following up on Last year’s Mental Health Challenges and the Church’s Ministry, this class will take a deeper look at anxiety and mental health issues, and how the church is called to respond.

In addition to Nick’s own education and experience, the class will be informed by two books in particular: Acedia and Me by Kathleen Norris, and A Quiet Mind to Suffer With by John Andrew Bryant. If you want to do some reading to supplement your understanding, Nick particularly recommends Acedia and Me, as it is highly readable, accessible, relatable and delves into aspects of mental health that are more generally experienced.

For those reading Acedia and Me, by Kathleen Norris, as an accompaniment to the class, the following reading schedule is suggested:
  • for the May 5th class: pp 65-153 (with a focus on the chapter title “Give me a word”)
  • for the May 12th class: pp 153-238 (with focus on chapters “The quotidian mysteries” and  “The ‘Noon’ of Midlife”)
  • for the May 19th class: pp 238-287 (with a focus on the chapter “A Widows Uneasy Afterword”)