Health Ministry encourages wellness, health promotion and disease prevention. It focuses on body, mind and spirit for the health and healing of the church community.

 

St. Matthew’s Health Ministry has worked toward promoting health and disease prevention in the following ways this past year.

 

Monthly there has been an informational display on some aspect of health or chronic condition in the Health Ministry cabinet.  The cabinet is in the Parish Hall and the display has been left out during the week to be available for groups using the Parish Hall during the week.  A Thank You goes to Louise Smith and Pat Sackinger for the displays.

 

The Health Ministry library is available most Sunday mornings.  The library has books on spirituality, grief, disease prevention, chronic conditions and healthy food recipes. These books can be signed out for use and returned when done with them.  A Thank You to Lucy Millington and Louise Smith for making sure the library is available on Sundays. We are low on books to lend and would appreciate donations of appropriate books to the library.

 

Monthly blood pressure screening has been offered after the 8:00 service and between the 9:15 and 11:15 service.  This usually occurs the last Sunday of the month.

 

Health Ministry is printing Healing Prayer cards with a picture of St. Matthew's on one side and the prayer on the other side.  These are placed by the weekly bulletin at the front pew of the church.  They are for people to take and use as they wish in their prayer life. The prayer is also in the weekly bulletin under Health Ministry. The prayer and photo on the card changes on a monthly basis. Various people in the congregation have contributed prayers and photos for the cards. Continued contributions from the congregation are most welcome.  Clergy are giving the cards to people visited at the hospital, Denali Center and in the community.  A lot of positive feedback in regards to the cards.   A big Thank You to Marlin Collins for implementing this program!

 

Healthy soups and desserts are prepared by Health Ministry members and offered between Sunday services during Nutrition and Diabetes month.  Recipes for the food are available for people to take them home. 

 

A 6 week course on Living Well with Chronic Conditions was offered to the community in early spring.  Pat Sackinger represented St. Matthew's Health Ministry and  received training to be a presenter.  She then assisted in leading the course. 

 

A Parish Nursing class on diabetes and hypertension was presented in Fairbanks in the spring.  Ann Fleenor and Pat Sackinger attended the presentation.

 

 

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In October, Clergy Appreciation Day and St. Matthew’s Birthday were celebrated with recognition of all our Clergy.  Health Ministry sponsored the occasion and many in the congregation participated to make this event happen.

 

 

Pat Sackinger wrote the following report on the JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM 2010. 

Among the many Health Ministry activities this past year was St. Matthews participation in the Journey to Bethlehem 2010.  This program is sponsored by Providence Health and Social Services Alaska, using state and federal grants to both increase health and minimize chronic diseases.  The principals involved decrease the incidence of type II diabetes, heart and lung disease, and generally promote healthier functioning.  The program emphasizes eating healthier food, increasing activity, and reducing stress through prayer and meditation so that individuals are good stewards of their bodies and able to engage in God’s work on earth.  We did accrue the greater than 7,597 miles to successfully complete this journey to Bethlehem again this year. 

Thank You Pat Sackinger for leading us in the Journey again this year!

 

Health Ministry meets once a month on the 2^nd Monday of the month at 5 PM in the Parish Library.  Health Ministry is not just for people in allied health professions. Everyone is welcome to join us, and we need ideas and concerns from all the St. Matthew community.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

Ann Fleenor

January

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Also, ------------from the summer flowerbeds at St. Matthew's:

 

Blessings for the New Year, and enjoy the remainder of winter. The sun and warmth are on the way!

 

There's almost nothing to report on us flower beds, as we're lying dormant beneath the snow in accord with God's plan for us. We'll be back in May!

 

Pat Sackinger, gardener