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Event
Embracing Our Veterans: Helping Congregations and Spiritual Communities Respond to Their Needs
The Interfaith Center at the Presidio and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
present:
Embracing Our Veterans:
Helping Congregations and Spiritual Communities Respond to Their Needs
This half-day conference will focus on helping clergy, spiritual leaders and members of congregations and spiritual communities in Contra Costa understand the spiritual needs of veterans as thousands these men and women return from the zones of war. Wounds to the spirit are difficult to express, and difficult to recognize. Veterans also come home with wisdom and skills which may not be easily applied in civilian life. At the same time, most people have not served in the military, or experienced the trauma of war firsthand, yet feel the effects of war in other ways. These different sets of experiences and perspectives of war can act as barriers between veterans and their civilian and spiritual communities. A sense of separation and isolation for veterans can impede their ability to heal and move forward with their lives. Spiritual communities may feel unable to reach out to veterans due to the lack of understanding of the issues veterans face as they return home.
The keynote speaker is Rev. Charlotte Bear, Regional Trainer and Educator for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care for veterans. She is a veteran, an ordained interfaith minister, a television journalist, and currently works with veterans in many capacities. Along with Rev. Bear there will be panelists and workshop facilitators who have a great deal of experience with veterans in many contexts. There will also be networking opportunities and resources made available. The goal of the conference is to assist congregations and spiritual communities to become healing, welcoming, and empowering places for veterans on a long term basis. Individuals are welcome, though we encourage small groups of 3 or 4 members from each community to attend together in order to develop ongoing efforts to serve veterans in their midst.
There will be workshops during the conference. Please read the descriptions below and choose one in the registration questionnaire.
Rituals and Ceremonies to Create Healing Spaces for Veterans
Incorporating ceremonies that acknowledge, heal, or celebrate their safe return home can help veterans reconnect with their spiritual communities.
Understanding PTSD and Moral Injuries
Recognizing the emotional effects of military service on the psyche and spirit is the first step in reconnecting with our veterans.
Helping Veterans Share Their Gifts
Veterans return with valuable wisdom and competencies through their experiences. Helping them share these gifts gives them a path forward and enriches our own communities.
This conference is specifically for people in congregations and spiritual communities in Contra Costa. If you are intersted in the conference, but are not a resident or a part of a community in the area, please contact the Interfaith Center at the Presidio. We will be offering other conferences in different areas in the future. Awareness of your intersest will help us decide on future locations. You can email Fred Fielding, ICP Interim Board President at fredfielding3@yahoo.com directly.
The cost for the conference is $20.00 which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Veterans may register at no cost, and nobody will be turned away due to lack of payment. Space is limited, so you must register online or by phone prior to the event. You may pay in person at the conference if you are not comfortable paying by credit card the during registration process.
We will accept payments by check or cash only during the event.
Make checks payable to the Interfaith Center at the Presidio. We will not accept credit cards the day of the event.
To register go to: www.interfaith-presidio.org www.interfaithccc.org www.brownpapertickets.com
or call 1-800-838-3006
Presented by: The Interfaith Center at the Presidio and
The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Conference space provided by Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
Special sponsorship provided by The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program
Online and phone registration is being managed by Brown Paper Tickets, www.brownpapertickets.com
public domain pictures from www.freemilitaryphotos.com
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Discussion
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LocationBortin Hall at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church (View)
55 Eckley Lane
Walnut Creek, CA 94549
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 18 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
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