Guest Blog Post by
Rev. Dr. Mark Thomas
Honorably Retired
Moderator of Administration Team


It’s been an emotionally difficult year.  The pandemic has taken a toll on us.  Not only are we dismayed by the threat of Covid-19 for each of us, but also by the number of souls both here and abroad that have succumbed to this frightening and highly contagious pathogen.  We have been isolated in our homes, afraid of contact with friends, co-workers, and even family members who may transmit the disease, and troubled by the thought that we might unknowingly transmit it to them.  And perhaps most difficult, is we have been unable to worship God together in our accustomed and heart-felt way: in person, full-voiced, fellowshipping with one another in the body of Christ.  In every other crisis, the church and its worship has been a source of comfort and empowerment for us.  But not so much this time.  This time the body has been compelled to meet together online, in a virtual reality, which though a valued substitute, is an unsatisfying substitute nonetheless.  Yes, it’s been an emotionally difficult year.

This is, appropriately, Mental Health Awareness Month, a time in the calendar when we are invited to remember, take stock of, and be mindful of our emotional well-being.  I say appropriately so, because, with the arrival of the vaccines and the lifting of mask-wearing mandates and social distancing, we are more able, in a moment of relief, to reflect on just how emotionally taxing this year has been, and not just for ourselves, but for everyone.

I serve on the board of directors of Care & Counseling, which most of you know is a theologically and spiritually informed counseling center on Ladue Road just west of I-270.  When I was actively serving as a pastor it was the place to which I would refer parishioners if the emotional care they needed was more complex than I was qualified to handle, or their need more long-term than I could provide.  The counselors there have been, and remain, my trusted colleagues in ministry.  Fortunately, and blessedly, their ministry has continued unabated during the pandemic, mostly via telehealth, over the phone, or on Zoom.  Care & Counseling has been, and is now, open to provide mental health services to you, and to our brothers and sisters in need.  Its work this past year in the midst of the pandemic has been nothing short of amazing grace.

If your emotional recovery is not going as well as you had hoped, or the stress of this past year has weighed heavily on you, or your cherished relationships have frayed from the strain the pandemic has put on them, or you’ve put off addressing an emotional need because of the pandemic, I encourage you to remember that trusted colleagues in ministry, who focus on our mental health and well-being, are available to you and ready to serve you with God’s grace, at Care & Counseling.  But if the ministry of Care & Counseling is not near enough to you, begin by talking with your pastor, whose calling includes providing care and counseling to those who are in need.

Rev. Dr. Mark P, Thomas
Honorably Retired
Moderator of Administration Team

3 Comments

  • Posted May 18, 2021 7:04 pm
    by
    Julie Allen Berger

    Well-expressed, Mark. There is power in naming how difficult the year has been at a time when we as church long to jump back into normal, and yet are feeling exhausted by all the pivoting.

  • Posted May 19, 2021 9:36 am
    by
    Patrick Gruber

    Thank you for sharing, Mark. I take advantage of Care and Counseling’s services regularly. They facilitate a support group for pastors here in Washington. I am continually grateful for their ministry.

  • Posted May 19, 2021 10:42 am
    by
    Diane McCullough

    Care and Counseling has been a blessing to the St. Louis community for many years. Thank you for your service in their work. Our young adults are under added mental health strain at this time and need our prayers for their recovery.

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