TomUK
10th July 2007, 06:37 PM
I debated with myself whether to post this now. There is so much going on in STR at the moment that i was worried that it might get lost among the the other threads. However it's precisely because there is so much other stuff going on that i thought i would i post it - i hope that it will serve as an encouragement to some.
A couple of weeks my Church (the evangelical one) had a service dedicated to depression. It was one of the most powerful church services i have been to in my life. The music was poignant, the sermon powerful, there was a humbling testimony of a woman who suffers from depression, was shared the eucharist with one another, there was the laying on of hands. In the truest sense it was profound.
I usually am very cautious of most testimonies - i know that i shouldn't but i generally find them quite self indulgent and uninspiring ( :sorry: ). When the lady came up to give her testimony regarding depression i prepared myself for a short snooze but i have never been so moved in my life. I can't remember all that she said but she opened up to the reality of living with depression. She highlighted just how offensive statements such "i know what you're going through" are. If you are going through depression then no-one knows what you're going through. The thing that struck me the most is when she said that people often assume that if you are a Christian suffering depression then you're perhaps a bit better off than a non-Christian might be. However she told us how being a Christian actually made things worse. Not only did she depression to deal with but she had the guilt of knowing that she was part of a faith which should help but that she found no solace in; that was constantly doubting who Jesus was and what even basic faith was about. Her experiences were horrific, and what made them even more horrific was how typical they are for so many people every day.
I'm going to link you to the sermon of our curate. Personally i believe that he is an outstanding speaker. He has a god given gift to connect with whoever he is speaking to. I've read a few things about depression and they always are so unsatisying - they try to give a magical solution to depression, if you hear then you will be cured. In my opinion our curate doesn't do that. He doesn't patronise you and say that if you do this then your depression will be cured. He knows that depression is far deeper condition than something which can be solved in a single sermon. What he says though i find profoundly moving.
The sermon can be found here.
http://ia350633.us.archive.org/2/items/HolyTrinityChurch_Norwich6.30pmsermon_24June2007/20070624_1830_sermon_64.mp3
The main reading was from psalm 42 and the gospel reading from matthew 14.
During the sermon the preacher refers to some pictures of 'black dog'. Sadly i'm not able to share them with you due to copyright reasons but if you go to this site
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1824971.ece
...there is a slideshow near the top which gives some of the images used in the sermon. The others you'll have to imagine i'm afraid!
Our curate has been kind enough to send the text copy of his sermon. If you wish to have it then please PM and i'll happily forward it onto you.
I've tried to convey just a little bit of the power of the evening i experienced. I fear i have failed. However if the sermon does impact you in any way then please do either share it in this thread or PM me. Even if all i can do is pray for you then please let me know. Please.
(If possible i would lie to keep this thread purely to depression. If you wish to be critical of the sermon then either PM me or create a new thread)
Loving Father, reveal yourself to us we pray. May you meet us in our place of deepest need. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A couple of weeks my Church (the evangelical one) had a service dedicated to depression. It was one of the most powerful church services i have been to in my life. The music was poignant, the sermon powerful, there was a humbling testimony of a woman who suffers from depression, was shared the eucharist with one another, there was the laying on of hands. In the truest sense it was profound.
I usually am very cautious of most testimonies - i know that i shouldn't but i generally find them quite self indulgent and uninspiring ( :sorry: ). When the lady came up to give her testimony regarding depression i prepared myself for a short snooze but i have never been so moved in my life. I can't remember all that she said but she opened up to the reality of living with depression. She highlighted just how offensive statements such "i know what you're going through" are. If you are going through depression then no-one knows what you're going through. The thing that struck me the most is when she said that people often assume that if you are a Christian suffering depression then you're perhaps a bit better off than a non-Christian might be. However she told us how being a Christian actually made things worse. Not only did she depression to deal with but she had the guilt of knowing that she was part of a faith which should help but that she found no solace in; that was constantly doubting who Jesus was and what even basic faith was about. Her experiences were horrific, and what made them even more horrific was how typical they are for so many people every day.
I'm going to link you to the sermon of our curate. Personally i believe that he is an outstanding speaker. He has a god given gift to connect with whoever he is speaking to. I've read a few things about depression and they always are so unsatisying - they try to give a magical solution to depression, if you hear then you will be cured. In my opinion our curate doesn't do that. He doesn't patronise you and say that if you do this then your depression will be cured. He knows that depression is far deeper condition than something which can be solved in a single sermon. What he says though i find profoundly moving.
The sermon can be found here.
http://ia350633.us.archive.org/2/items/HolyTrinityChurch_Norwich6.30pmsermon_24June2007/20070624_1830_sermon_64.mp3
The main reading was from psalm 42 and the gospel reading from matthew 14.
During the sermon the preacher refers to some pictures of 'black dog'. Sadly i'm not able to share them with you due to copyright reasons but if you go to this site
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1824971.ece
...there is a slideshow near the top which gives some of the images used in the sermon. The others you'll have to imagine i'm afraid!
Our curate has been kind enough to send the text copy of his sermon. If you wish to have it then please PM and i'll happily forward it onto you.
I've tried to convey just a little bit of the power of the evening i experienced. I fear i have failed. However if the sermon does impact you in any way then please do either share it in this thread or PM me. Even if all i can do is pray for you then please let me know. Please.
(If possible i would lie to keep this thread purely to depression. If you wish to be critical of the sermon then either PM me or create a new thread)
Loving Father, reveal yourself to us we pray. May you meet us in our place of deepest need. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.