As Nurturing Care churches approach Christmas, the staff received an early Christmas present courtesy Palmer Family Church of the Nazarene. Palmer grant director Monica Gaige sent a video where children lead worship on Sunday morning inviting congregants to “Go Tell it on the Mountain”. Different from your traditional Christmas pageant, these kids began to build trust both among themselves, but also with adult congregants, by serving as worship leaders.

The worship team included two kids playing piano, one on percussion, and teen mentors playing cello and guitar, along with singers. Gaige reported, “it was a very joyful worship service, perfect for the Advent week of joy.”

The heartfelt presentation sets the stage for Nurturing Care’s New Year’s special Day of Learning with Dr. Ross A. Oakes Meuller, professor of psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University. The event occurs Tuesday, January 6th, 12:30-4:30 pm CST (10:30 am-2:30 pm Pacific Time).

Dr. Oakes Meuller will introduce the “heart of compassion” through two video conference sessions. The sessions will introduce the virtue of compassion and recent research in moral psychology addressing this important aspect of care. Dr. Oakes Mueller researches and teaches the role of moral emotions (such as gratitude and trust) in promoting prosocial behaviors. He serves as a consultant to the Nurturing Care initiative.

To help participants gain a better understanding of Point Loma Nazarene University’s Moral Integration project, which resources Nurturing Care through the PLNU Center for Pastoral Leadership, Nurturing Care curated two presentations given to students at Nazarene Theological Seminary concerning the underlying theory that defines a mature love as generative care.

To understand why trust and compassion reflect two of the four major virtues that Nurturing Care emphasizes through congregational worship and prayer practices. Dr. Oakes Meuller also presented a short presentation on the six virtues that empower generative care within and among people as they practice the virtues.

Join Nurturing Care for this special Day of Learning.

Next May we will host our next Maker’s Space/Incubator at Point Loma Nazarene University where churches will design ministry prototypes like Palmer Family Church to explore and express compassion in the lives of children and adults through worship and prayer.