Based on her twenty years of teaching and on her own experience in pastoral care, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner has written a basic pastoral-care text to assist in the emotional and spiritual preparation of pastoral caregivers.

Stevenson-Moessner sees pastoral care as the interconnection and interplay of love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. Her brief book engenders confidence and caring in the initiate, and assuages the fear and anxiety that naturally occur when one accompanies people in life-changing pain and travail. Through bibical parables — especially the Good Samaritan and the Good Shepherd — and stories from her own experience, Stevenson-Moessner imparts genuine wisdom and meaningful support to those who courageously dare to offer caregiving ministry in whatever situation or through whatever method or paradigm.

CONTENTS

Editor's Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. The One-Room Schoolhouse
2. The Grammar of Care: Pointers and Precepts
3. The Prism of Pastoral Care: Scripture Refracted
4. The Community as Classroom: Avoiding Compassion Fatigue
5. The Open Classroom: Places of Care
6. The Open Classroom: More Places of Care
7. An Alphabet of Grace