Posted Dec 10 2008 10:18 AM by Matt Ellis
The NY Times has a column by a pediatrician discussing what to do when a middle schooler tells you something he doesn't want shared with parents. It is likely that this will come up at some point in your ministry, and so it is important that you are prepared in advance for how to handle it. This column provides an opportunity for your wellness team to discuss the issue in advance so that you will know what to do when it happens.
And he was horrified. He shook his head vehemently and asked me please not to interfere, and above all not to say a word to his mother, who was out in the waiting room because I had asked her to give us some privacy.
He wouldn’t have told me this at all, he said, except he thought our conversation was private. The situation at school wasn’t all that bad; he could handle it. He wasn’t in any danger, wasn’t getting hurt, he was just a little lonely. His parents, he said, thought that he was fine, that he had lots of friends, and he wanted to keep it that way.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/health/09klas.html
Posted Dec 8 2008 2:50 PM by Matt Ellis
I am pleased to announce that National Episcopal Health Ministries is now a proud sponsor of CaringBridge, a nonprofit service that provides free websites to patients and families when someone is facing a serious medical condition, treatment or recovery. Please let your patients and their families know that CaringBridge is a free service offered by National Episcopal Health Ministries.
Why?
The CaringBridge service enhances our faith-family support system. CaringBridge simplifies communication and reduces stress for patients and caregivers by providing a centralized location for posting updates, as well as a place for friends and family to send messages of love and support.
This means family, friends and staff can spend less time fielding phone calls and more time focusing on the patient - and since all of the content on a CaringBridge website is created and posted by the patient or family member, there are no HIPPA restrictions or regulations on that content.
How does it work?
A CaringBridge website can be created by visiting www.caringbridge.org/episcopalhealthministries. By following a few simple steps, a personalized website complete with privacy options can be started in just minutes. The author introduces the reason for the CaringBridge site in “My Story” and provides ongoing updates through entries in the “Journal.” After receiving an e-mail confirmation of the active site, authors can forward their unique and private CaringBridge website name and address to family and friends. Friends and family members can receive automatic updates when journal entries have been made, and can leave messages of love, support and encouragement in the “Guestbook.”
Who is it for?
CaringBridge can and should be recommended to patients and families in all types of medical situations including cancer, premature birth, organ transplant, extended hospitalization, hospice care, war injury, stroke, rehabilitation and more.
If you would like materials sent directly to you. Please contact Kathy Tomlinson at 651.789.2304 or mailto:ktomlinson@caringbridge.org. She will get materials out to you immediately, which could include brochures, fact sheet, DVD and more. Please recommend CaringBridge to anyone who could benefit from the service.
Posted Dec 8 2008 2:05 PM by Matt Ellis
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued the following message for Christmas 2008.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5).
The world settles into winter, at least in the northern hemisphere, and life to many seems increasingly bleak. Foreclosures, layoffs, government bailouts and financial failures, continuing war on two fronts, terrorist attacks, murders of some identified only by their faith -- this world is in abundant need of light. We know light that is not overcome by darkness, for God has come among us in human flesh. Born in poverty to a homeless couple, to a people long under occupation, Jesus is human and divine evidence that God is with us in the midst of the world's darkness. Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Divine Counselor is come among us to re-mind, re-member, and re-create. A new mind and heart is birthed in us as we turn to follow Jesus on the way. The body of God's creation is re-membered and put back together in ways intended from the beginning. And a new creation becomes reality through Jesus' healing work. Christians tell the story again each Christmastide, and the telling and remembering invites us once again into being made whole. Our task in every year is to hear the story with new ears, and seeing light in the darkness of this season's woes, then to tell it abroad with gladsome hearts to those who wait in darkness. Where will you share the joyous tale of light in the darkness?
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_103508_ENG_HTM.htm
Posted Dec 1 2008 11:05 AM by Matt Ellis
Today is World AIDS Day. The Presiding Bishop has issued a letter encouraging Episcopalians 'to remember, pray, and work together to alleviate the suffering inflicted' by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She also commends the work of National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, which has a new online quiz where you can test your knowledge about various aspects of the AIDS pandemic. Read more about the online quiz here.
More people are living with AIDS now than ever. The Centers for Disease Control reports that HIV prevalence increased by approximately 112,000 (or 11%) from 2003 to 2006 (from 994,000 to 1,106,400 total persons). This is in part due to the fact that individuals are living with HIV longer now. The CDC also reports one in five people infected with HIV are unaware they have the virus.
Today is an excellent time to think about what we as individuals and as a church are doing to address AIDS awareness and minister to those afflicted with HIV/AIDS. In the coming year, you'll see NEHM working closely with NEAC to bring renewed focus to this critically important issue. Please read the Presiding Bishop's letter. Visit NEAC's website (www.neac.org) and take the quiz there. Share what you learn with others. Develop a plan to address HIV/AIDS in your parish or community. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those dealing with HIV/AIDS.
Posted Oct 23 2008 3:09 PM by Matt Ellis
NEHM is co-sponsoring an Advent gathering for health ministry with All Saints Catholic Church in Atlanta, GA. This event, entitled "Looking Forward As We Wait For The Light", will take place December 11, 2008 in Atlanta, GA at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The keynote presentation will be delivered by Sharon Stanton, President of the Health Ministries Association.
Additional information, including registration and cost, can be found here. We hope you'll join us for this important event that will also spotlight programs that are working for others!
Posted Sep 15 2008 1:07 PM by Matt Ellis
The NY Times has a new 'Well' section focused primarily on all aspects of parenting and raising children. A large variety of topics ensures this resource will be helpful to many families. Included in the section are articles such as:
The general directory to the section can be found here.
Posted Sep 8 2008 12:28 PM by Matt Ellis
Don't miss NEHM's ad for 'Seasons of Health Ministry' on page 14 of the September 14 Parish Administration edition of The Living Church!
Posted Aug 27 2008 2:14 PM by Matt Ellis
Continuing our expansion of NEHM's presence on social networking sites, NEHM now has a group on LinkedIn. You can find NEHM's group page at http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/731667. Also, be sure to connect to LinkedIn Episcopalians to further enhance your networking with other Episcopalians!
Posted Aug 25 2008 1:45 PM by Matt Ellis
NEHM now has its very own group on Facebook. If you have a Facebook profile and would like to connect to us, simply search for NEHM. This will provide you access to the pages of both NEHM's organization page, as well as the Facebook profile of Executive Director Matthew Ellis. We hope you'll link to us and help us make use of this terrific resource!
Posted Aug 19 2008 1:04 PM by Matt Ellis
National Commemorative Candle Lighting is a nationwide event sponsored by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America to remember and honor Americans who have been or will be affected by Alzheimer's disease or related illnesses.
Local organizations hold inspirational ceremonies in their communities on the same day, uniting individuals from coast to coast as they light "candles of care."
National Commemorative Candle Lighting is an annual event, held each November in recognition of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
Sign up to host a candle lighting at your site. Learn more at www.candlelighting.org.
Posted Aug 18 2008 1:38 PM by Matt Ellis
Most people have heard of the 'Freshman 15', the tendency for college freshmen to add weight over the course of their first year away from home. A recent Duke University study highlights some possible causes and includes a plan for helping new students keep their weight under control:
Irresponsible eating, lack of exercise and alcohol consumption are among the factors that contribute to the Freshman 15, which refers to the extra pounds packed on by many new college students, according to a Duke University expert.
Many freshmen don't know how to select or make healthy meals, and stress from heavy class loads and the struggle to achieve good grades can make them eat food at the wrong time, said Elisabetta Politi, nutrition director at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. Processed convenience foods are an easy option when students are up late cramming for tests or finishing papers.
http://healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?Docid=617962
Posted Aug 14 2008 3:08 PM by Matt Ellis
NEHM is very excited to announce that our 2009 Jean Denton Keynote Address will be given by The Right Rev. Mark L. MacDonald. He is a wonderful speaker and I'm thrilled that he will be joining us at our conference.
We're working hard to improve on the successes from 2008's conference. I hope you'll join us (and Bishop MacDonald) April 16-18, 2009 in Omaha, NE for next year's Seasons of Health Ministry conference. In the meantime, here's a short video of Bishop MacDonald:
Posted Aug 6 2008 2:32 PM by Matt Ellis
From the New York Times:
The push-up is the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tests the whole body, engaging muscle groups in the arms, chest, abdomen, hips and legs. It requires the body to be taut like a plank with toes and palms on the floor. The act of lifting and lowering one’s entire weight is taxing even for the very fit...
Push-ups are important for older people, too. The ability to do them more than once and with proper form is an important indicator of the capacity to withstand the rigors of aging...
Interested in building up your strength using push-ups? You can find a push-up program on the site below designed to gradually increase your strength over 6-8 weeks. Of course, please consult your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.
Posted Jul 25 2008 2:54 PM by Matt Ellis
St. Anna's, in cooperation with the New Orleans Police Department and many others, are looking for new or lightly used musical instruments for Horns for Guns, an upcoming gun buyback program that could take up to 300 guns off of New Orleans’ streets. The goal of Horns for Guns is to reduce violence in the city, and to provide a creative, constructive, and life giving outlet to the city’s youth by trading guns for musical instruments, musical training, and opportunities for counseling.
The deadline for donations is September 3, 2008. Please bring or ship your new or lightly used instruments (brass, stringed all will be accepted, as well as monetary donations for purchasing instruments, graphic arts supplies, etc.!) to:
St. Anna's Episcopal Church
1313 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70116
For additional information, or to get involved with the program by volunteering, please call (504) 947-2121. You may also find additional information here.
Posted Jun 20 2008 9:25 PM by Matt Ellis
More than 100 parishioners of St. Timothy, Signal Mountain, “walked” to New Orleans as a Lenten discipline. Participants accumulated mileage during their “Walk to the Church of the Annunciation” by striding on roads and treadmills, running, swimming, riding bicycles and using a rowing machine. During the 40 days of Lent they accumulated 2,697.5 miles, the equivalent of making the 490-mile trip nearly three times.
ETE-WalktoAnnunciation.pdf
Posted Jun 20 2008 3:32 PM by Matt Ellis
In this space, we'll post updates about health news, program ideas, and member updates. If you have an idea or suggestion for this space, please respond in the comments or send an email to Matthew Ellis at mellis@stpaulsindy.org.
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