A Primer in Pastoral Care
Overview
Based on her twenty years of teaching and on her own experience in pastoral care, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner has written a basic pastoral-care text to assist in the emotional and spiritual preparation of pastoral caregivers.
Stevenson-Moessner sees pastoral care as the interconnection and interplay of the love of God, the love of neighbor, and the love of self. Her brief book engenders confidence and caring from the outset, and assuages the fear and anxiety that naturally occur when one accompanies people in life-changing pain and travail. Through biblical parables—especially the Good Samaritan and the Good Shepherd—and stories from her own experience, Stevenson-Moessner imparts genuine wisdom and meaningful support to those who courageously dare to offer caregiving ministry in whatever situation or through whatever method or paradigm.
Top Highlights
“However, most often God will seek to match you with your given abilities. Remember” (Page 18)
“pastoral care is an outreach of compassion often accompanied by an action of care” (Page 17)
“There are four basic emotions or feelings: mad, sad, glad, and afraid.” (Page 22)
“In many cases, the ‘grammar’ of pastoral care, ironically, may involve silence.” (Page 26)
“It is the Spirit Holy who prompts us to hear the silence too deep for words.” (Page 26)
Beginning caregivers, be they ordained or lay, will find the encouragement they need along with good, practical guidance — often couched in wonderful illustrative stories — about how to effectively bear Christ into the pain and sorrow of the people to whom they are privileged to minister.
—The Rev. Dr. Henry F. French, Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
- Title: A Primer in Pastoral Care
- Author: Jeanne Stevenson Moessner
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Publication Date: 2005
- Pages: 96