Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Ministry

Letters to a Young Pastor: Gregory of Nazianzus and the Nature of Ministry

January 25, 2019 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

the nature of ministry

Dear ______: I don’t usually write to two days in a row. Basically I never write you except on Thursdays. But I decided to make an exception today. In the East today is the commemoration of one of my favorite saints, Gregory of Nazianzus. I thought it would be a good idea to recommend him […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Saints Tagged With: Gregory of Nazianzus, In Defense of His Flight to Pontus, The Pastor's vocation

Letters to a Young Pastor: Can Your Remove a Layer of Stress?

January 24, 2019 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

remove a layer of stress

Dear ______: I totally get it: finding a way to keep muddling through in the midst of stress isn’t always the best answer. Sometimes it helps to find a way to actually remove a layer of stress. Can You Remove a Layer of Stress? There are, perhaps, two ways to approach this, on the timely-but-probably-horrible […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Prayer Tagged With: consolations and desolations, Examen, Examination of Conscience, Ignatius of Loyola, remove a layer of stress

Letters to a Young Pastor: Dealing with Stress

January 17, 2019 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

dealing with stress

Dear ______: You are absolutely right: It has been far too long since we’ve written to each other. Thanks for the update on your life in this final year of seminary. It does sound really stressful. You probably feel like the weight of the whole world is on your shoulders — like poor old Atlas. […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Prayer, Seminary Tagged With: Dealing with Stress, Jesus Prayer, Letters to a Young Pastor

Letters to a Young Pastor: Dealing with Grief

November 15, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 5 Comments

dealing with grief

Dear ______: I am so very sorry to hear that your mother has died. I once heard a very wise friend say “The world changes when a parent dies,” and surely it is true. Of course they are the direct source of our own lives, but that’s a bit theoretical. We get to know our […]

Filed Under: Ministry Tagged With: dealing with grief, Mourner's Kaddish, Sitting Shiva

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Metaphors

October 18, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Dear ______: Sorry I haven’t written for a while. I launched a new class, and that took my attention from most other things. But it sounds like in your field education position you are getting to continue your thinking about children’s sermons. As you wrote, My supervisor has a unique way of doing his children’s […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Worship Tagged With: child-centered interaction, Children's Sermons, Metaphors, Mr Rogers, Random Grab Bag

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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