Convention Workbook

PARISH NURSING/HEALTH MINISTRY
Parish Nursing/Health Ministry Activities
Reported in Last Triennium
The following activities are examples of the
many activities reported by the District’s
PNs/HMCs in the past triennium:
▪ Influenza and pneumonia immunization
“clinics”
▪ Blood pressure (“Heart Healthy”) programs
with education to correct and maintain
blood pressure in a healthy range, and
avoid heart disease and strokes
▪ Health Fairs, which included involvement
of community-based, health-focused
agencies and mini-farmers market to
promote healthy dietary choices
▪ Planning and assisting our parochial schools
in dental screening, nutrition education,
head lice education, and various other
health-related activities
▪ Hosting blood drives
▪ Visitation of hospitalized parishioners and
the home-bound/long-term care facility
residents
▪ Facilitating development of congregational
disaster plan, selling disaster response kits
▪ Serving as personal health counselor and
information resource persons, providing
referrals to appropriate agencies
▪ Staffing the Parish Nurse venue at the
LCMS National Convention in Houston
▪ Chairing the regional chapter of an
interdenominational health ministers’
organization
▪ Hosting and/or teaching exercise classes for
all ages (e.g., Tai Chi to improve balance
and flexibility in older adults, reducing risk
of falls and fractures; walking programs –
“Meet Me at the Manger” and “Trek to the
Tomb”
▪ Presenting workshops at the annual
Concordia/Mequon parish nurse
conference
▪ Writing weekly bulletin announcements and
monthly health related articles (HealthNotes,
Shalom)
▪ Hosting speakers in areas of disaster
preparedness, hospice/end-of-life care,
grief ministry
▪ Promoting and assisting with Bible Study
on health as an example of stewardship
(“maintaining the temple of the Holy
Spirit”)
▪ Coordinating volunteers who provide
transportation for parishioners to medical
appointments
▪ Serving on Inter-Lutheran Emergency
Response Team (“I-LERT”) of Southern
California
Goals for the Next Triennium
▪ Identifying possible sources of funding
(e.g.,grants or directed donations) for
annual educational workshop/networking
opportunities for PNs, HMCs of the
District
▪ Encouraging expansion of current health
ministries and mentoring of congregations
entertaining the development of new
health ministries
▪ Working with parochial schools/preschools
to introduce Health as a regular part of
curricula for staff, parents, students as
appropriate
▪ Assessing additional areas of health ministry
to serve congregants and community
(outreach)
The District’s Parish Nurse Representative to
LCMS Human Care/Health Ministries seeks
opportunities to offer support to our
PNs/HMCs, and to identify and assist
congregations which are exploring the
possible addition of a Health & Wellness
Ministry. PNs and HMCs can improve
congregational, clergy/called worker and
community health through a holistic approach
to wellness of body, mind and spirit. If you
desire more information about health ministry
resources, or have questions/concerns (e.g.,
liability issues), please contact the PSD Parish
Nurse Representative at marla.lichtsinn@psdlcms.org
In HIS service,
Marla Lichtsinn, RN, MPA, FCN
PSD Parish Nurse Representative to
LCMS Human Care/Health Ministries
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