Cast from shackles which bound them, this bell shall ring out hope for the mentally ill and victory over mental illness.

 

--------Inscription on Mental Health Bell

 

 

During the early days of mental health treatment, asylums often restrained people who had mental illnesses with iron chains and shackles around their ankles and wrists. With better understanding and treatments, this cruel practice eventually stopped.  In the early 1950s, Mental Health America issued a call to asylums across the country for their discarded chains and shackles. On April 13, 1956, at the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, Mental Health America melted down these inhumane bindings and recast them into a sign of hope: the Mental Health Bell.

 

Now the symbol of Mental Health America, the 300 pound Mental Health Bell serves as a powerful reminder that the invisible chains of misunderstanding and discrimination continue to bind people with mental illnesses. Today, the Mental Health Bell rings out hope for improving mental health and achieving victory over mental illnesses.

 

Over the years, national mental health leaders and other prominent individuals have rung the Bell to mark the continued progress in the fight for victory over mental illnesses.  But we have a long way to go.

 

Whether we are talking about Legion the demoniac (from this week's text) or someone worshipping in the pew next to us, mental illnesses have a profound impact on those who suffer from mental illness.  As a church, we need to ensure that all are welcome within God's house.

 

Mental Health Bell

That is why the United Church of Christ initiated an important campaign several years ago; Widening the Welcome.  Our former pastor Gunnar Cerda is very involved with the campaign.  Widening the Welcome is a movement sponsored by the UCC's Disabilities Ministries and Mental Illness Network.  Its mission is to strengthen awareness of mental health, brain disorders and physical disorders and disabilities and help congregations develop Accessible to All covenants and mental-health ministries.

 

This is an important ministry for us and I hope you will embrace this initiative and seriously engage in making Zion Accessible to All.

 

In Christ

 

Pastor Pete

It is difficult to identify any community mission project which is as impactful on the lives of individuals as Habitat for Humanity.

That is why, at Zion, we are pleased to announce that we will be active partners in Apostle Build III.  We will be in partnership with other area churches and our partner family as we work to build another needed Habitat dwelling in the Delaware community.

Handy with a hammer?  We need your skills.  Have a few extra dollars to share?  Perhaps you would consider sharing your resources with Habitat on this project.

Please see one of our Ministers of Mission (MOM - Nancy Townley, Mike Newcomb, Konrad Young or Donna Jarrell) if you would like more information on the project.  We can't wait to get started!!!

  

Please bring your favorite covered dish to share with your neighbors. We'll provide the hotdogs for the grill. Beverages will also be provided.

After serving faithfully as our Treasurer, Chuck Townley has decided to "hang up the checkbook".  Chuck has informed Church Council that his tenure as Church Treasurer will end on December 31 of this year.

Do you have gifts in this area?  Would you be willing to serve and write checks to pay the obligations of the church?  Chuck will train anyone who is interested in the position. It would, therefore, be a benefit to fill this position well in advance of the end of year when Chuck finishes up his duties.  

If you have a possible interest in this position please see any member of Church Council (Beth, Donna, Nikol, Bill, Bob, Chad or Jason) or Pastor Pete.  This is an unpaid position. Thank you, in advance, for your thoughtful consideration of helping your church in this meaningful way.

 

May's donations puts us right on schedule for a banner and record year of collections for People in Need (PIN). As you know we have challenged ourselves to collect at least 1,000 pounds of food and other necessities in the WOW wagon this year. May's collection brings our total to 425 pounds for the year.  June will represent the midway point of our challenge. Can we make it?  Of course we can!

Please keep up the good work!  Let's have an even bigger month in June! We can do it!

Pat Pressler                          Sandy Nichols