| Parish Nursing in the Rocky
Mountain Synod Health Ministry Articles Ideas for starting a health ministry in your congregation
Are you wondering how to get a Parish
Nurse/Health Ministries Team started in your congregation? There is a
Rocky Mountain Synod Task Force that would be happy to assist you (contact
co-chair Lorraine Spruth @ (719) 572-9308 or (lorrainespruth@msn.com).
Following are some suggestions. Pick one or two, and see them, and you,
grow and flourish!
Parish Nurse
Activities/Responsibilities/Ministries
Arrange for support groups (grief, pain,
chronic illness, healing from abuse, divorce, etc.)
Connect people who have experienced illness, death, tragedy, etc. with others that might help Cooperate with other churches in Health Ministry Coordinate meals to those who are sick, new parents, etc Coordinate visitation: Stephen’s Ministry/Befrienders/Bright Beginnings/etc. Counseling of individuals/families/groups on health issues Do assessments in the home/assisted living/nursing home, or arrange for it to be done. Education – newsletter articles, bulletin, bulletin boards, etc. etc. etc. Exercise classes – coordinate Have available a Health Ministries Library for books, tapes, pamphlets, CDs, etc. Have available Durable Medical Equipment and/or find resources Healthy living classes – teach them or coordinate others to do so Host blood drives Host health fairs Host Interfaith Hospitality Network for temporarily homeless families Host seminars on health-related topics Identify, train and coordinate volunteers Integrator of Faith and Health Letters of Love – coordinate volunteers who follow those who have had a significant loss, with cards, notes, calls on holidays and special days in their life or the life of their loved one, for one or two years. Member of a health ministries team Referral resource Senior luncheon – host or coordinate those who do. Help in picking topics for speakers Take blood pressures and/or coordinate others, and follow up Tapes to shut-ins Visit those in the hospital before and/or after surgery, answering questions, praying with them and their families, care givers (Doctors, Nurses, etc.) |