Sheridan, Wyoming
2021
To create and implement worship services designed to restore the self-worth of worshipers who have suffered moral injury and to provide spiritual renewal and hope to them and their families.
Provide a brief summary of the purpose and goal of your grant.
The purpose of the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOANR) Worshipping Communities project is to bring active, knowledgeable community members together to pray, research, create and publish an access point (our published document) of information, education and inspiration around Moral Injury. The goal is to share this document with faith leaders and community volunteers who desire to help their congregation members and the community become more aware of the effects of Moral Injury, how to welcome those who have experienced Moral Injury into worship, and provide a liturgical framework for ongoing community worship services for those who have experienced Moral Injury in their lives.
What questions have you asked about worship in the past year?
These two questions have birthed thoughtful dialogue among our team.
- What scriptures, sacraments and key liturgical elements will prioritize a sense of personal healing, while promoting greater awareness of our need for being in community, to those who have chosen to isolate due to prolonged issues related to Moral Injury?
- What is the difference, for those who have experienced Moral Injuries, in those who have forsaken community worship due to the issues of identity and forgiveness and those who have come to embrace it; and what does our Lord point to in His word to give us understanding of how we, as congregation and community members, embrace all those who wish to worship in the midst of their needs.
In what ways has your project engaged your congregation so that it impacts the worship life and habits of the congregation?
As we prepared for our pilot Moral Injury worship service, a myriad of ministers, lay clergy and community members were involved in prayer and reaching out to a larger team of community members who have experienced Moral Injury themselves. In these times of planning and creativity relationships are formed, dialogue is shared, and ongoing education takes place. During the pilot service, a young veteran who shared his testimony sat in the back of the sanctuary weeping. As select members of our team approached him, he revealed that this had been the first time he had taken communion in over 25 years. That day, all involved took away a deeper lesson of our need for worship together, and their role within the greater Body of Christ.
What criteria have you used to evaluate your plan to foster vital worship?
As our team posed crucial questions that guided our process, the criteria for evaluation became best practices from the Moral Injury research and care field. These include the art of the invite, shared story within a Socratic approach and the need for community in healing. We have also used historical practices from Christianity to guide our evaluation. Many of these include theological response in terms of lament, sacraments, communal prayer and scripture reading. Our final pilot service allowed for crucial feedback from a team of Moral Injury knowledgeable faith leaders and veterans. All components of our document used throughout the service brought validity to our ability to foster vital worship among congregations and individuals.
What issues have been your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)?
As project lead, I have found one of the greatest challenges to be taking all the research and narration from a diverse team and forming a consistent document. Our initial goal was to have two documents that were used in tandem, yet the team firmly believed that only the one document was needed as it approached both needs in harmony. And yet, now with a single document of around 11 pages, instead of two 4-5 page pieces, the ongoing team of community faith leaders and volunteers will have a more detailed, full tool to be informed by.
What would you like to share with other Project Directors?
First, I would ask they spend time thinking about the team they are using and how they will truly work together. It is not enough to think the project is a "good idea", there must be passion to keep everyone involved throughout the year. I would also tell them to either keep their budget in front of them, or have a team that is able to help. Many creatives lose site of details and vice-versa.
Finally, make sure you are bathing your project in prayer. The enemy invites chaos, yet our God is Lord of unity and peace.
