REGIONAL PARISH NURSE NETWORK MEETING                             February 4, 2008

              Riverside Lutheran Church, Wannaska                                             5-7pm

Thanks to Elaine and the Riverside Lutheran Church for hosting tonight’s meeting and meal!  Thank you to Donna and Becky D., who also assisted with the meal.

We began our evening with fellowship and dining.  We briefly discussed what was happening in our ministries.  God is faithfully leading us along and we all depend on his promises and the encouragement of others.

Devotions

              Colleen led the Spiritual Care Reflections on “Using Our Resources” from Matthew 25:14-30 (see attached).  She focused on verse 29, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.”

We briefly reviewed the minutes from our last regional network meeting from June 19th, 2007 hosted by Shari Eberhardt in her garden. The HEART workshop hosted in October by Zion Lutheran in Warroad educated several area clergy and others on the spiritual issues of domestic violence.  Discussed the possibility of offering the workshop again, depending on speaker availability.  Jeanne shared the speaker’s website with us.  (Spiritual Help for Abuse Victims, www.abusehelpspiritual.com )  Another website that contains safe driving education is Journey Safe, www.journeysafe.org/Resources_And_Downloads/Presentation.asp .

Health Cabinets—how do we get started?

              Discussed current status of congregational health cabinets.  Our churches are in various stages of development.  Colleen handed out some resources from the Health Ministries Association and Jill Westberg-McNamara for each nurse to bring back to their congregations.  Jeanne reported that her Parish Wellness committee reviews one chapter of McNamara’s book at each monthly meeting. 

Discussed various methods for congregational education on the health ministry’s presence and role in the church.  Having information on bulletin boards, in the church bulletin or newsletter are some examples of promoting the ministry. 

Health Ministries Network of MN

              Colleen shared another web-based resource that we have access to and can be a part of.  This is a state website committed to connecting people within health ministries with information on a variety of topics.  It is broken into geographical regions.  We are in the northwest region.  Colleen will be in charge of posting our region’s information.  Discussed different topics and what may be included on the website.  A Members Only section will also be available for those who are members.  Colleen distributed information on membership, including application form.  Cost per member is $25.  Colleen will check to see if that can be $25 per congregation if there is more than one parish nurse in the congregation. 

CONCLUSION:  At this point the group is reluctant to post names or contact information on the website.  Perhaps names of the congregations with a parish nurse ministry will be enough for now.  Everyone was encouraged to send information to Colleen for the calendar of regional events portion of the web page. Everyone is encouraged to check out the website soon at www.healthministries.info .

Volunteer Visitation

              Colleen shared an educational program available to congregations for at no charge.  “Volunteer Visitation Ministry” is a program to teach lay people how to do visitation.  Many churches are finding that time constraints hinder clergy from a lot of visitation—especially the elderly.  If your congregation is interested in starting a lay visitation ministry, contact Colleen for more information or to get sessions scheduled.

Discussed next meeting, possibly sometime in June or July.  Suggestion to host some community event/activity in conjunction with meeting.  Any ideas please send to Colleen at cklamar@lifecaremc.com . 

Meeting adjourned.  Colleen Klamar, recorder