Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog, where we open up important conversations about mental health and faith, exploring the discomfort of real life experiences and giving them space to breathe. Our aim is to create a platform that closes the silent space where shame and confusion have thrived and instead makes room to do the important work of thinking well about mental health, theologically.
Blog
Love that Conquers Shame
From time to time, I have a nightmare: I’m in the church sanctuary, the offering is being taken, and I am about to get up
September 8, 2020
Blog
Stigma, Bipolar Disorder, and Radical Love
You need only skim across Twitter, read the latest books on mental health, or speak to someone with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or
August 25, 2020
Blog
Meeting Jesus in the Storm
An illustration can often be an effective way to capture the essence of an experience, allowing the reader to apply it to their own life
August 11, 2020
Blog
Letting Joy Take Root
Have you ever wondered why, in the Christian year, the greatest celebrations are preceded by mourning? Why the darkest hour comes before dawn? Why lessons
July 22, 2020
Blog
Travelling With God Along Our Crooked Paths
I hope this post can be a small note of understanding for my kind-hearted Christian friends and a small word of comfort for my brothers
July 1, 2020
Blog
Re-imagining Community Around The Table
“If I hadn’t come here tonight, I would not have eaten today,” said Luke, my table mate at the Kits Cares Cafe, a community dinner
June 24, 2020
Blog
Towards A Brave New World
This blog post was written by a brave friend of Sanctuary who lives with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and has chosen to share some of
June 17, 2020
Blog
Christians Hearing Voices
If someone says that they are “hearing voices,” it has often been assumed that they are mentally ill. While it is true that voices heard
June 14, 2020
Blog
The New Norm Is Not The Old Norm With A Different Hat On
I’ve been thinking about the so-called “new norm” that people think will be happening when we finally get to grips with COVID-19. It’s complicated, but
June 10, 2020
Blog
Black Lives Matter
To our sisters and brothers in the Black community: We see you. We hear you. We are with you. Sanctuary’s mission is to equip the
June 2, 2020
Blog
Mental Health and COVID-19: Resources from our Partners and Friends
Dear friends, We hope you are staying well, finding ways to adjust to this new way of being, and accessing resources that are supportive of
May 21, 2020
Anxiety
What a Pandemic Can Teach Us About the Value of People
In this short interview, Sanctuary Ambassador John Swinton explains how those of us who are struggling to find our value apart from our work can
April 22, 2020
Anxiety
An Invitation
In Philippians 4:6 Paul writes: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
April 9, 2020
Anxiety
Prayers for this Season
PRAYERS FROM THE SANCTUARY TEAM One way of remaining grounded in hope and peace during anxious times is by continuing to pray. The team at
March 26, 2020
Audio Resources
Because We Hunkered Down
A POEM BY MALCOLM GUITE “Because We Hunkered Down” is from Malcolm Guite’s 2016 collection, Parable and Paradox, and is featured in The Sanctuary Course. As we hunker
March 26, 2020
Anxiety
Meditation and Self-Care During COVID-19
A MEDITATION BY HILLARY MCBRIDE Sanctuary Ambassador Hillary McBride wrote and recorded a grounding meditation designed for those who may be experiencing heightened anxiety or
March 17, 2020
Blog
A Theology of Mental Health
Thank you for following along on The Sanctuary Blog! We’re delighted to be sharing posts from a range of insightful contributors who draw from their
March 4, 2020
Blog
Suffering Hope
Those of us within the Christian faith have an exciting and important role to play in the nurturing and recovery of mental health. When people
February 12, 2020
Blog
Words Matter
“People these days pop a Xanax instead of reaching for their Bibles.” Blood rushed to my cheeks, and I felt the familiar heat of shame
January 27, 2020
Blog
Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog
Welcome to The Sanctuary Blog, where we open up important conversations about mental health and faith, exploring the discomfort of real life experiences and giving
January 27, 2020
Blog
Love that Conquers Shame
From time to time, I have a nightmare: I’m in the church sanctuary, the offering is being taken, and I am about to get up
September 8, 2020
Blog
Stigma, Bipolar Disorder, and Radical Love
You need only skim across Twitter, read the latest books on mental health, or speak to someone with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or
August 25, 2020
Blog
Meeting Jesus in the Storm
An illustration can often be an effective way to capture the essence of an experience, allowing the reader to apply it to their own life
August 11, 2020
Blog
Letting Joy Take Root
Have you ever wondered why, in the Christian year, the greatest celebrations are preceded by mourning? Why the darkest hour comes before dawn? Why lessons
July 22, 2020
Blog
Travelling With God Along Our Crooked Paths
I hope this post can be a small note of understanding for my kind-hearted Christian friends and a small word of comfort for my brothers
July 1, 2020
The purpose of The Sanctuary Blog is to raise awareness and start conversations about mental health in the Church. Consequently, The Sanctuary Blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or mental health advice. If you feel you may need medical or mental health advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
