I belong to a women's group in my church and we meet once a week for a bible study. Two or three times a year we have fun morning instead of the regular bible study. These fun mornings are light hearted and usually fun and we also use these fun mornings as outreach, so everyone is encouraged to bring a friend.

We kicked off the year (Sept) with a morning on Joy which was fun. The leaders have decided that they want to introduce more serious issues on these fun mornings. I am on the social committee so I'm helping to organize our next "fun" morning. The topic is on Depression and I'm having a really hard time planning a 2-1/2 session on depression, well I guess I should say I'm having a hard time getting excited about it. If I was not on the social committee this would be a morning that I would opt out of. I think we have a good line-up of speakers and it will probably help a lot of people. My fear is that people won't come and we will have a hard time getting new people to come. The topic is just so heavy.

The morning will start off with coffee and snacks, then a brief info session on depression ... what is depression etc. Then I'm planning an interactive session with the group kind of a "Trivial Pursuit" on depression to get people involved so they are not just sitting and listening. Next I've asked a friend to talk about her personal experiences as she is currently suffering from Postpartum. I may have a Q&A with a counselor and then I'll have one of the leaders who has her Masters in spiritual counseling to give an uplifting talk on depression and spiritual life. We will wrap up with another counselor summarizing depression and a hand out sheet with 5 signs of depression and local resources. We will end with a Psalm, maybe a song and a prayer. So would you come?

As I'm having a hard time with this it is my job to find a positive message in all this and find a Tag Line that is encouraging for the day.

So this is where I need some help. I want to call this morning something. I don't want to call it "Come to our morning on depression" bleck! So I need some uplifting ideas. What should I call the morning?

Also a question, how interested would you be in attending a morning on depression? Would you go? What would you like to hear about? Would you ask questions or just sit and listen? Would you bring a friend?

Also, I really wanted a session on "Living with Someone Who Suffers From Depression" but I was out voted. Would this be a topic of interest to you?

Thanks Ladies, I really need some inspiration!

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 01:59 pm:

Dont' have any ideas, but that sounds lovely , wish I could attend, I have a 17yr cousin, that is bouting depression( I haven't been formally been told this) but she tried to take her own life two weeks ago at school but was stopped when a school mate saw her and took the pills from her, I would love to hear your conversations and hear from the member with the Master's in spiritual counseling.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 02:06 pm:

Maybe the invite should mention the word or words enlight (sp) and or spiritual guidence.

Don't know what or how they should be used but I'll keep thinking.

By Tsa on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 10:54 pm:

Sorry to say I would not attend. Not because depression doesn't affect my life or the lives of those around me but because I would want something to uplift, not bring me down. This would not be a subject I would invite another to for the first time.

Having said that, your plan sounds good for the topic. Maybe you could get your "title" from the Psalm you are using. I think this is a great topic to cover in a bible study but not for outreach or a "fun" morning. There really isn't anything fun about depression. However, I know this does touch many lives and people would be encouraged to know that they are not alone. It also sounds like you are going to be giving people a place to go for info or for help.

Good Luck, let us know how it went.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 10:00 am:

Walking through the valley of the shadows ... how faith can bring light when people are depressed.

Because I always think of depression (my own and members of my family) as shadows, taking the color out of life.

Sorry you got outvoted on living with loved ones with depression. That is almost as difficult as struggling with depression oneself - having been there done that in both contexts.

By Chai~latte on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - 10:26 am:

Thanks for the input.

Ginny thank you for tag line, I changed it only slightly:

Walking through the valley of the shadows ... how faith can bring light when you are depressed.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - 08:17 pm:

Thank you for telling me you are using "my" line, Chai - that makes me feel very good.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - 08:23 pm:

Your leader who has a Masters in spiritual counseling may already know of this organization, but just in case - the American Associate of Pastoral Counselors is an excellent resource. They are nationwide, with stiff requirements for membership, careful training and supervision of the counselors who are part of the organization, sliding-scale fees, and are counselors who recognize that for many people faith and religion are an important part of their lives and must be an important part of counseling. One of our former pastors was a member and for many years a supervisor and trainer in the Philadelphia area.

AAPC