Care Talk

Malaria Basics

2011-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Malaria Basics
We are working on our Imagine No Malaria commitment, and one of our first steps is to learn a bit about what we are fighting to eliminate. Malaria is actually a group of 4 illnesses, each caused by one of four parasites. About 300 to 500 million people are infected with malaria, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria kills about 1 million people every year, most of them children younger than 5 years old.
How does a person become infected? Malaria is spread by a type of mosquito called Anopheles-they are active at night. The story begins when a mosquito bites a person who has malaria. The parasites are present within that person’s red blood cells, and the blood cells are the mosquito’s food. The parasites stay inside the mosquito until it bites another person, and then they enter the new victim’s bloodstream.
What are the symptoms of malaria? The symptoms usually appear about 12-17 days after the mosquito bite. They include cycles of fever followed by sweats, chills and fatigue. During the fevers, there are often headaches, nausea, dehydration, and a rapid heart rate. The cycles occur as the parasites infect and then destroy the red blood cells. As the infection progresses, the victim develops anemia, and enlargement of the liver and spleen (both are important organs located in the abdomen). Especially in young children, malaria can cause failure of the lungs, liver or kidneys as well as shock (all of which can kill).
Is malaria treatable? Yes, medicines are available to treat malaria. Many of these medicines are a bit unpleasant to take, but they are safe and inexpensive.
Does malaria occur in the US? Malaria is diagnosed every year in the U.S., basically because people travel abroad and bring the infection back with them. Travelers can prevent this from happening by taking anti-malaria medications when they travel to malaria infested areas. Malaria once was common in the southeastern U.S., but no longer. It’s a reason to be hopeful-if we did it here, we can eliminate malaria in other nations too.
How can we win against malaria? It’s a multi-step approach that includes prevention, education, treatment, and communication.
Prevention-provide bed nets and drain the wet spots where Anopheles lives. When we break the life cycle of the mosquito, we prevent malaria transmission.
Education-teach people how to fight malaria.
Communication-get the critical information to the people even in remote rural areas.
Treatment-improve access to health care for those who are infected.

2011-07-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

My Plate-the new nutrition guidelines

In June, the USDA issued new guidelines for daily nutrition. The old familiar food pyramid is gone, replaced by a diagram that is easier to use. It’s called “my plate." Making food choices for a healthy lifestyle can be as simple as using the USDA Tips. Balance your calories, choosing healthy foods to eat more often, and cut back on unhealthy foods.
Find out how many calories YOU need for a day as a first step in managing your weight. Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov to find your calorie level. Take the time to fully enjoy your food as you eat it. Eating too fast or when your attention is elsewhere may lead to eating too many calories. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues before, during, and after meals. Use them to recognize when to eat and when you’ve had enough.
Avoid oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl, and glass. Portion out foods before you eat. When eating out, choose a smaller size option, share a dish, or take home part of your meal.
Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or 1% milk and dairy products. These foods have the nutrients you need for health—including potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and fiber. Make them the basis for meals and snacks.
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Choose red, orange, and dark-green vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, along with other vegetables for your meals. Add fruit to meals as part of main or side dishes or as dessert.
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Both have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but fewer calories and less saturated fat.
Make half your grains whole grains. To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product—such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice.
Foods to eat less often: Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt. They include cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies, sweetened drinks, pizza, and fatty meats like ribs, sausages, bacon, and hot dogs. Use these foods as occasional treats, not everyday foods.
Compare sodium in foods. Use the Nutrition Facts label to choose lower sodium versions of foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals. Select canned foods labeled “low sodium,” ”reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.”
Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Cut calories by drinking water or unsweetened beverages. Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks are a major source of added sugar, and calories, in American diets.

Empty calories are foods that contain calories but not nutrients. They include sugar and solid fats like margarine or butter. Here are examples of foods that contain empty calories:

Food with some empty calories
Food with few or no empty calories
Sweetened applesauce (contains added sugars)
Unsweetened applesauce
Regular ground beef (75% lean) (contains solid fats)
Extra lean ground beef (90% or more lean)
Fried chicken (contains solid fats from frying and skin)
Baked chicken breast without skin
Sugar-sweetened cereals (contain added sugars)
Unsweetened cereals
Whole milk (contains solid fats)
Fat-free milk

For more information about My Plate, see the kiosk at church or go to www.MyPlate.gov

Safe Sanctuaries

2010-12-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16

Child sexual abuse is a tragic reality that occurs in every community, and occasionally even occurs in our churches. Child abuse can happen anywhere. When child abuse occurs in a church, the suffering touches not only the victim and family, but also every member of the congregation. In 1996, the United Methodist Church adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child abuse in the church. Our church seeks to be a safe sanctuary where children and youth can grow in faith, and where they are protected from physical and emotional abuse. Here are a few basic truths about child abuse:
· The child victim is never responsible for causing the abuse, and the victim should never be blamed.
· The child victim is never capable of consenting to abusive behavior, either legally or morally.
· Child sexual abuse is always wrong.
About 3 million incidents of child abuse are reported each year. Abusers are more often male than female, and the abuser is known to the victim in about 82% of incidents. How should the church act to minimize the risk of child abuse? How can we make our church a safe sanctuary? Here are some suggestions:
1. The church should implement an ongoing plan to educate staff, leaders and members on the realities and prevention of child abuse.
2. The church should adopt screening procedures for staff and volunteers who work with children and youth.
3. Safety procedures should require two or more non-related adults to be present in classrooms. Windows should be installed in doors, and hallways should be monitored.
4. Children, youth, and staff should be aware of local agencies to contact if child abuse occurs.
5. The church should assist children and youth in developing awareness and self-protection skills.
Our church has written materials and a DVD on safe sanctuaries available. This past year, windows were installed in some of our interior doors. Our efforts to prevent abuse and to be a safe sanctuary are ongoing. Are you interested in helping us ensure the safety of our young people? Please contact Susan Cafferty or Sarah Kerr.

Messages

2010-09-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

When I write our weekly Joys and Concerns, I try to include a scripture to meditate upon, along with a note. Here is a selection of recent offerings:

September 12: 14When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16And He asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." 19And He answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" 20They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22"It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" 23And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." 24Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Matt 9:14-24

This scripture reminds us of (at least) two key principles. First, we learn that nothing is impossible for God. With faith, we have everything we need to serve him. Second, we learn that faith is not something we can attain without help. Faith is a gift, and without that gift, we are never self-sufficient. Faith is not like money that we put into a bank. In order to make our faith grow, we must use it and constantly renew it in our daily living.

September 5: 14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:14-20, 26.

This is one of the scriptures that speaks most directly to me. In care ministries, I think James directs us to continue our efforts to help the needy, but he also helps us see the link between all of our activities and the continued development of our faith.
Diana Frey has been paying visits to Doris Wilkowske as a care minister for a number of years. Their relationship grew into a loving friendship that nurtured both persons. Diana’s love showed beautifully as she was present during Doris’ last few moments of life. We join Diana in sadness and in celebration as Doris has now departed this life for a life in heaven. I thank God for Diana and for all of our volunteers who give their love so freely. These works, difficult as they are at times, are the expression of our faith. These works, difficult as they are at times, are also what nourishes our faith.

August 22: 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."

25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:1-4, 25-27)

This is a comforting scripture as I sit here and think of our friend Topsy Krohn, who died on Monday, August 16. The last few lines of Bruce Springsteen’s hit song Bobby Jean come to mind as I think of my final visit with Topsy on Monday morning.

And I’m just calling one last time,
not to change your mind
But just to say I miss you baby, good luck goodbye, Bobby Jean.

Let’s take this week to remember all of our dear friends who have left us to go to a better place.

Messages 2

2010-09-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

When I write our weekly Joys and Concerns, I try to include a scripture to meditate upon, along with a note. Here is a selection of recent offerings:

September 26: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2Tim 4:1-5

This is Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, written as Paul is imprisoned and soon to be executed. Timothy is working with the often frustrating church of Ephesus. I have a copy of verse 5 posted in my office, and it strengthens and inspires me in my work. But we all have times when we find it hard to fulfill our ministry, and right now I feel as if I’m having a struggle to “get it right.” The aid program still requires work to define it and make it work well. I still feel some confusion about what I should be doing when I finish my Certified Lay Minister training. The Community meal is in the midst of a replanning cycle to address funding, volunteers, mission, etc. To be honest, I wish we could find a new volunteer to assume the leadership of that program. Care ministries has had a very tough August and September, with 6 funerals during the past 7 weeks. All of this results in a certain tension and uncertainty, which for me is expressed in crankiness. Please offer your suggestions for managing the problem areas. Please pray that we can all continue to fulfill our ministry.

September 19: 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. 11 The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. 12 For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. 13 " 'In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property. Lev 25:10-13

In Old Testament times, the Year of Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years. It was a time of forgiving debts, compassion for the poor, and removing oppression. It was also a time to mend old feuds and allow new growth of personal relationships. This past week, I had conflict with some of our church leaders, and I have to say I fumbled the ball. I should have used the Rule of Christ but it didn’t work out that way. I learned something from that. Based upon my own experience, I would suggest that we all declare a Jubilee: let’s forgive those who trespass against us and ask forgiveness for our own trespasses. We will continue to work on managing conflicts within our church-it’s a learning process and we shouldn’t expect instant results. But maybe our first step should be to renew relationships, forgive and start again.

Can I do Anything to Help My Memory?

2010-09-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

After my dad died of cancer in April, 2008, my mom was left alone in a big empty house. She lived out in the country and the place was just too much to manage, so my sisters and I talked her into selling the place and moving about 90 miles to a town house in the city where one of us was living. We thought maybe mom would get involved in the neighborhood activities, and perhaps feel secure enough to make new friends, since it was a private community restricted to people older than 55. Unfortunately, mom decided instead to just sit in her house with the blinds drawn and not do much of anything. Over the next year, we noticed some disturbing changes. Mom forgot to pay the bills, and the insurance company cancelled her policy. She stopped cooking, and made meals out of crackers and snacks. She lost touch with what was going on in her community and in the world, and eventually she started getting lost when she drove to the grocery store. It was time to sell the car and move her to an assisted living facility.

Does my mother have early Alzheimer’s disease? She has been evaluated by an internal medicine specialist, a neurologist, and a psychologist, and no one is sure. But she clearly shows some changes from how she used to be. What is causing these changes? How can mom try to slow down the progression of the problems, or even stop them all together?

Memory loss is part of aging-it happens to all of us. Our brains actually work the best when we are in our 20s, and most of us start noticing some memory glitches by about age 45-50. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, the memory loss grows progressively worse, along with some changes in personality, until it can make us unable to do even the simplest tasks, or to care for ourselves. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not completely known. Some of the risk is inherited, but your lifestyle can also increase or decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease that you can control?

Smoking after age 65 increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 79%.
Obesity in mid life makes Alzheimer’s disease 3 times more likely.
Diabetes increases your risk by about 2 times.
Chronic stress may increase your risk, but doctors are not certain of this yet.

You can decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s disease (and stroke too) by controlling your weight, exercising such as brisk walking, and eating a healthy diet that includes omega 3 fatty acids (cold water fish, nuts, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables). When exercising, make sure you wear a helmet if you are bicycling or playing sports. Head injuries can greatly increase your risk of memory loss. Establish a regular sleep cycle with consistent times for going to bed and getting up.

Exercising your brain may be even more important than exercising your body. Set aside a time each day to learn something new-read a book, study a foreign language, work puzzles, take up a new hobby. It also helps to practice memorization. Start with something easy, and then work up to learning the capitals of our 50 states, or the names of former presidents. Make a written list of your daily experiences, including the who, what, when, where, and why details. Working your brain keeps your brain working.

Social interaction also helps keep your brain working. I would strongly recommend that you not take my mother’s route of inactivity and social isolation-it lets your memory go and it raises your risk of depression, another illness that can rob you of your ability to concentrate and remember.

At her assisted living home, my mom now gets help with taking her medicines, and she has a regular schedule with good meals and social activities. I hope she will avoid further problems. I only wish we had intervened earlier.

Testing for Alzheimer's disease

2010-08-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

NEW TEST CAN PREDICT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE WITH 100% ACCURACY!

I bet that headline caught your eye just the way it did mine. On August 9, the news of a new test for Alzheimer’s disease flashed across public radio, ABC, The New York Times, and multiple other outlets. Many of us were asking ourselves “Can I find out if I have Alzheimer’s? How would knowing the answer to this question change my life?” Obviously, it would be a tough decision about taking such a test or not taking it, especially if some of the facts are distorted by the media.

First of all, what is Alzheimer’s disease? It is a common condition that causes memory loss in older people. It usually does not appear until after age 60, and it usually begins with problems remembering recent events. Alzheimer’s disease can run in families. For those with Alzheimer’s disease, the problems with memory and behavior gradually worsen over time, until the sufferer becomes unable to do even simple tasks such as bathing and dressing. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. The first important point to remember though is that not all memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease. We all forget some things, and many of us notice that we forget more often as we get older. Forgetting a few things does not mean you have a serious problem. Here are some pointers that help us identify a more serious illness:
1. Short term memory loss: If we sometimes meet someone and can’t remember their name, that’s normal. If we ask their name 5-6 times, and still can’t remember, it may be a sign of serious memory loss. Many of us may forget part of an experience (we had a reunion at the lake this summer, but we can’t name everyone who was there). A person with serious memory loss often forgets even that the reunion party occurred
2. Problems doing everyday tasks: People with serious memory loss often forget how to make a meal, how to make change from a dollar, or how to place a phone call.
3. Problems with language: Those with serious memory loss often forget simple, everyday words. Instead of saying “I lost my toothbrush”, they might say “I can’t find that thing for my mouth.”
4. Problems with date/place: Occasionally forgetting the day or the date is a normal event. Many of us get confused when driving with a map. Persons with serious memory loss may get lost in their own neighborhood. They may not know how they got to a place, or how to get home.
5. Misplacing things: With serious memory loss, someone may put things in unusual places (a container of ice cream in the closet, a wristwatch in the freezer).
The new Alzheimer’s test looks for abnormal proteins in the spinal fluid. These proteins, called amyloid and tau, are present in the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, some researchers began looking for amyloid and tau in spinal fluid samples of people who had mild to moderate symptoms of memory loss. They found that almost all of the people who had the amyloid and tau proteins present in their spinal fluid developed Alzheimer’s disease within 5 years. What this doesn’t tell you is if those people with memory loss who test negatively for the proteins will not get Alzheimer’s disease. It also says nothing about what the test results could mean for people without memory loss. So, is this test really ready for general use? Despite all of the media hype, I would say definitely not. A spinal tap can be painful, and the meaning of the test results really isn’t clear yet. There are still too many unanswered questions.
OK, since I have disappointed everyone by trashing the new test, what can I offer for advice on how to at least partially avoid Alzheimer’s disease? We will take that up next time.

Help avoid Pastor Burn Out

2010-08-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

Here’s a recent topic from National Public Radio that immediately caught my attention. The guest speakers were Paul Vitello, a journalist who reports on religion in the New York Times, and Robin Swift with the Duke University Divinity School. They discussed issues of health among members of the clergy, took questions from callers who were current of former pastors, and offered some suggestions on how to help your pastor stay healthy without excessive nagging or mothering (Chad made sure I added that last part).

Because pastors are called to their ministry by God, they feel a sense of duty to serve others whenever they are needed. Unfortunately, recent research shows that they might at times ignore their own needs. A recent study from North Carolina shows that pastors have higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity, and asthma as compared to the general population. Pastors also suffer depression more frequently than others. Sometimes, a feeling of needing to maintain professional boundaries can keep a pastor from getting the support and treatment that he/she needs.

Pastors have so many different roles in a congregation (preacher, spiritual leader, counselor, committee member, funeral planner, secretarial duties, locker of the doors) that the job can be exceedingly stressful. One pastor of a small church called in to say that he did everything from preaching to moving furniture-and usually he did more moving than preaching. A work week of 50 hours is fairly common when you add in all of the evening meetings, and that has an effect upon family members as well.

How can we as a congregation help out? As a church family, we need to find a balance of watching out for the needs of the pastor, while not overstepping personal boundaries.
Include the pastor and his/her family in your prayers.
Encourage the pastor to actually use his/her vacation time.
Consider making non-urgent phone calls to the pastor during office hours, and not in the evening.
Bring healthy treats to meetings and get-togethers. One pastor called in to say “cut out the free fried chicken, grits, and gravy.” In Minnesota we could say instead “cut out the free bars, muffins, and cake” (that’s my idea-Pastor Chad might not agree).
Voice your support every time you get the chance, and avoid finding fault. Remember that pastors and their families are human too.
Encourage the Annual Conference to provide strong health and dental benefits for pastors and their families (no dental plan is currently provided).
Our church gives love and support with prayers, cards, and gifts (recent gifts include hostas, iris bulbs, and tomato plants). I’m told that the trustees are great about fixing things at the parsonage. We have sent cards and given meals during times of illness. All of these items are greatly appreciated by our pastor and his family. Let’s continue to help our pastor realize that a plan for maintaining personal health and happiness is a necessary part of being a pastor.

Cancer genes

2010-08-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

As a child, Sarah Gabriel’s life was turned upside down when her mother became ill with breast cancer. Sarah’s mother had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but she ultimately died of cancer when Sarah was just a teenager. In early adulthood, Sarah’s sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer. It seemed as if history was repeating itself. Sarah and her sister had heard of a gene that causes breast cancer to be inherited in families. Testing for the gene, called BRCA, was available. Should they get the tests and find out if they had inherited the gene? What if they did have BRCA, what would they do about it? Would they just spend their time waiting for cancer to appear? Maybe, it would just be better not to know and to let things take their “natural course.” The questions mounted and the tension grew.
Sarah and her sister ultimately had the tests and the results showed that they both carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, an inherited breast cancer gene. Since their mother had breast cancer at an early age, they most likely inherited the gene from her side of the family. Sarah decided to have regular mammograms. The first one was normal, what a relief! But then she found a lump, and it turned out to be a small cancer. Her mind was full of worry. What to do about the cancer? The cancer was small enough that she could have a lumpectomy, but could that be a wise choice given the cancer gene? Should she have both breasts removed to prevent other cancers from developing? Since mutations in BRCA1 can also cause cancer of the ovaries, should they be removed too?
Sarah eventually decided to have bilateral mastectomies, and she had both of her ovaries removed as well. Sarah’s struggles with inherited breast cancer are detailed in her new book, Eating Pomegranates, which will be out in October. It is a frightening story, but it is also a hopeful one.

Part of the hope in Sarah’s story is the terrific advances that are being made in understanding how changes in our genes can cause illness to occur. Doctors are linking changes in our genes to numerous serious diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s look at one of these problems, the breast cancer gene that affected Sarah and her family, BRCA.

There are actually two BRCA genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. They are named after BReast CAncer because they were first discovered in breast cancer patients. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are actually supposed to help prevent cancers. However, in some people changes called mutations occur in these genes. The mutations result in the loss of the cancer prevention activity, so cancer risk goes up. Flaws in the BRCA genes can cause more than just breast cancer. They also increase the risk of cancers of the ovary and prostate gland. If you have a BRCA mutation, you are more likely to get cancer, and the cancers appear at an earlier age. BRCA mutations can make breast or ovarian cancers appear in the 30s or even in the 20s, when we usually think of these cancers as illnesses of women older than 50. Changes in BRCA are passed down from parents to children, so the cancers run in families. BRCA mutations are rare (maybe 5 in 1000 people), but they can cause so much suffering.

If you have multiple relatives who have suffered from breast or ovarian cancer, and especially if someone has had cancers of both breast and ovary, your family may have one of these flawed BRCA genes. There is a blood test that can detect changes in the BRCA gene. If you test positive, you need regular medical tests to prevent cancers from developing. You might need to take the same difficult steps that Sarah did-have surgery to prevent cancers. You don’t need to make these decisions alone. Genetic counseling is available in Willmar or St. Cloud to help you can make an informed decision whether to have genetic tests or not. The state of Minnesota actually has a law in place requiring this counseling before you have genetic tests done.

You might be thinking that maybe you should have some tests to tell you your cancer risk. There are lots of ads out there-just send in a sample of saliva and $300.00 to $1000.00, and they send back a report that tells you if you are “at risk” for cancer. A word of caution: Many of these labs are not very careful. In a recent study from Wall street Journal, the same sample was sent to 3 different labs, and one result said “low risk of leukemia” one said “high risk of leukemia,” and one said “normal risk.” (Hmm…I think there must be a mistake somewhere.) ABC had 5 different volunteers go to different labs to request testing for a prostate cancer gene. There was a discrepancy in 68% of the results. Please talk with your doctor before you spend (waste) your money.

Our confidentiality commitment

2010-07-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Staff and volunteers in Care Ministries follow a policy of confidentiality in all that we do. Here is our policy:

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF WILLMAR
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY FOR STAFF/VOLUNTEERS

I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to respect the confidentiality of all people who are assisted by the church staff and volunteers.

II. RESPONSIBILITIES: Each staff member and volunteer is responsible for following the Confidentiality Policy. Investigation of complaints centered around confidentiality issues will be addressed by the Pastor and/or the Director of Care Ministries. Reports of these investigations and actions taken may be forwarded to the SPPR, or Church Council, as appropriate.

III. PROCEDURES/GENERAL GUIDELINES:
· One of the functions of staff and volunteers is to assist both our members and others when they have times of spiritual, physical, or economic difficulties. Our mission includes offering comfort during difficult times with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and service. In fulfilling this function, we often have access to sensitive personal information.
· We will respect the privacy of those we serve. It is the individual’s decision whether or not to speak with us about a personal issue, and what details to mention. Information is to be considered confidential unless we are given permission to tell others by the individual or their legal representative.
· We should ask permission before placing a name on the Prayer Chain or Joys and Concerns.
· If an individual requests to speak only with one specific staff person or volunteer, we should honor that request whenever possible.
· The concerns of others should only be shared for the purposes of fulfilling our spiritual mission, never for personal reasons.
· Special situations may arise when confidentiality cannot be preserved. When an individual expresses intent to harm themselves or others, these intentions will be reported to appropriate authorities, including parents, next-of-kin, medical personnel, or law enforcement.

IV. DISTRIBUTION: Staff, and volunteers in Care Ministry, Youth Ministry.

Effective date: 12/05/08

Review date: 12/05/09

Mental Health and the Church

2010-06-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Recent studies indicate that mental illness affects at least one of four families in the US. Unfortunately, great stigmas against people who suffer from mental health issues persist throughout our society and in many of our churches. Most major Christian and Jewish denominations have published resolutions that oppose this discrimination. Before we look at the positions of our own United Methodist Church, let’s first consider a few facts about mental health.
How common are mental health issues? (data from NAMI and CMHS)
· At any given moment more than 48 million Americans are suffering from a "diagnosable" mental illness, and 11 million are suffering from a "severe" mental illness.
· 20.4% of all people suffer from a mood disorder at some point in their lives.
· 14.8 million adults suffer from major depression
· 5.7 million suffer from bipolar illness
· 2.4 million suffer from schizophrenia
· 6 million suffer from anxiety or panic disorder
Are these illnesses treatable? A team approach using the skills of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers will allow most people with mental illness to be members of the community. Treatment options are available for virtually all of these conditions.
Can people with mental health issues contribute? Many people with mental illness are productive members of the community. Unemployment is a serious concern among those with severe mental illness such as severe schizophrenia, but many people under treatment are capable of working or volunteering.
Are those with mental health issues at fault for their illnesses? Causes of most metal illnesses are not completely understood, but there are genetic and environmental factors. Mental illness is not a personal failing. More and more mental illnesses have been traced to chemical and structural changes in the brain. The distinction between mental and physical illnesses is therefore somewhat artificial.

What does the United Methodist Book of Discipline say about Mental Health Issues? “We recognize , embrace, and affirm the full humanity and personhood of all individuals with mental, physical, developmental, neurological, and psychological conditions or disabilities as full members of the family of God. We also affirm their rightful place in both church and society.” BOD ¶162.
What does the United Methodist Book of Resolutions say about Mental Health Issues? “The mission to bring all persons into a community of love is central to the teachings of Christ. We gather as congregations in witness to that mission, welcoming and nurturing those who assemble with us. Yet we confess that in our humanity we have sometimes failed to minister in love to persons and families with mental illness. We have allowed barriers of ignorance, fear, and pride to separate us from those who most need our love and the nurturing support of our community. To support United Methodist congregations to reach out to persons and families with mental illness, the General Board of Church and Society established the United Methodist Mental Illness Network of “Caring Communities,” congregations and communities in covenant relationship with persons and families with mental illness.” BOR #3302.
Religious communities are in a unique position to combat stigma and provide a message of acceptance and hope. Proclaiming the values of social justice, respect for all persons, and non-discrimination, faith communities can reach out to individuals and families affected by mental illness in many helpful ways. Sharing the message that all persons are worthy in the eyes of God, a faith community may be the only place where a person with a mental illness truly feels accepted, valued, and loved.

Conflicting Views Part 2

2010-06-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Col l3:12-14
It’s always dangerous doing a sequel. At the movies, sequels usually disappoint. But I’m going to take the risk anyway. Last time, we introduced the concept of spiritual community, the basic unit for making decisions together in the church. Today I’d like to continue our discussion by looking at some specific steps we can take to make spiritual community happen.
The essential pieces of spiritual community are that it is centered on Christ, and that it welcomes persons with differing views (hospitality). To encourage spiritual community, our first step is to connect with Christ. We can do that best by prayer. As a part of restoring spiritual community within our church, I’d like to propose that every group function that we have should begin with prayer. That’s right, I’m talking about every group, including youth, kitchen work groups, circle meetings, bazaar workshop, staff meeting, Community Meal, trustees, etc. Every one. A time of prayer helps us set aside our own agenda and pick up Christ’s agenda. We can build hospitality by inviting and welcoming new people into our groups. Also, we can include time for sharing our joys and concerns at each meeting. What if, every time we got together, we took a minute to allow each person to share joys or concerns, and then followed that up with prayers for our group members, our church, and for guidance during our tasks?
After we pray, the next step is to listen to one another. Pastor Hawkins, the author of Cultivating Christian Community reminds us of two important points. First, to listen well, we have to suspend our own agendas and concentrate on what the other person is saying, not upon our own response. When we listen, we suspend judgment, memory, and our own desires. We need to try to turn off the emotional filters and our preconceptions that can get in the way of truly listening. Next, we need to understand that listening is not the same as agreeing. We can acknowledge a speaker’s point of view without agreeing with it. Finally, good listening requires us to seek understanding, and avoid blame.
After we pray and listen, the next step is dialogue. Here are two great steps for achieving successful dialogue: First ask yourself: What and I thinking and feeling? What do I want right now? These questions allow us to improve our own self-awareness. Then we consider our intentions: What do I want to happen? Am I willing to be influenced? If not, what is the purpose of the conversation? If we are honest with ourselves, we can begin to work together to seek real solutions. As Pastor Hawkins writes “Conflict rends asunder. Dialogue heals the divisions between us.
Are we ready to give it a try? I think so. Let’s strengthen our spiritual communities, beginning today.

CPR Classes at Rice Hospital

2010-06-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Rice Hospital has CPR classes available to the public. Rice employees have first priority, but others can sign up if the classes are not full. Call 231-8920 to register. Classes cost $15.00

CPR schedule at Rice
July 15, 0800-1030
Aug 24, 0800-1030
Sept 13, 1200-1430
Oct 14, 1530-1800
Nov 10, 1200-1430
Dec 14, 1530-1800

NAMI Western MN support groups

2010-06-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

NAMI-Western Minnesota has support groups for consumers of mental health service and family members. The support groups meet every third Thursday at 7:30 PM at Bethel Lutheran Church. For more information, call Ann 320-894-4464, Dolly 320-841-1457, or George 320-235-4211.

Conflicting Views

2010-06-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

Conflicting Views

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality, Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of man. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Rom 12:10-18
“Living in community as God’s people is the goal and fulfillment of human life. It is the precondition for human life itself. There is no I apart from we.” These are the words of Thomas Hawkins, a district superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Illinois. In his book Cultivating Christian Community, Pastor Hawkins emphasizes the need for Christians to develop communities based upon mutual acknowledgement and recognition (notice that he did not say “complete agreement”). The problem is that Christian community requires us to put forth effort, to use restraint, to address our individual fears, and most of all, to express our Christian love. It doesn’t just happen. How do we make it happen?
Pastor Hawkins writes that we first need to be centered in Christ. We need to put away our own agendas and take up Christ’s agenda. This may require us to try new things that are uncomfortable. Second, we must build spiritual communities and not pseudo communities. A spiritual community is formed from a diverse group of people with different gifts and experiences. It represents a true cross section of our church family. A spiritual community actively seeks to involve persons with varying opinions. Spiritual communities are needed in the church. They are the primary way for us to evangelize, nurture our fellow members, and solve our problems.
We can contrast the benefits of spiritual communities with the problems of pseudo communities. I think members of every church have probably experienced these problems from time to time. Pseudo communities are sneaky-they can develop or they can subvert an existing group without the members even realizing it. How can you tell if your group has accidentally entered the pseudo community mode?
Pseudo communities are composed of people with the same or similar outlook. They don’t represent a spectrum of opinions within the church.
The focus of pseudo communities tends to skip from one problem to another, rather than looking for the most important issues. There may be more of a tendency to fix blame rather than to research creative solutions.
Small, easily solved problems start to look like a crisis.
When we begin to point fingers and label each other, we have at least temporarily forsaken spiritual community for pseudo community. So how do we practice spiritual community? Pastor Hawkins gives some key points:
Listening
Dialogue
Discerning God’s will together
Covenant Making
Prayer and reflection together
In the next column (or two), I want to continue sharing Pastor Hawkins’ insights. His book is inspirational and practical. It has been a valuable part of my Certified Lay Ministry studies and I would recommend it to all. For now, let’s pray for each other, and especially for those whose views differ from our own. Let’s pray for our pastor and the lay leaders of the church and pray that we can continue to work together as a spiritual community.

Rice Insurance Counseling

2010-06-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Buried in Medical Bills and Insurance Paperwork?
Let the Health Insurance Counseling Program help guide you through the insurance maze.
What is the program?
Volunteers will help you organize and track your medical bills and insurance claims. The volunteers have been trained to act as counselors in hospital rights and insurance claim processing. Although not experts, the volunteers have partipicated in a training program designed to provide them with knowledge in private insurance, Medicare, Medical Assistance, Supplemental Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, HMOs and other important areas involved in health care coverage. In addition, the volunteers have many resources available to them and can help guide you through the insurance maze.
Volunteers will help:
Prepare insurance claims
Understand patient's hospital rights and insurance benefits
Explore insurance options
Review long-term care options
Answer questions or concerns
Refer clients to other agencies when appropriate
Who is the program for?
The Health Insurance Counseling Program (HICP) is for individuals of all ages. Concerns about medical bills or insurance coverage do not have to relate to Rice Hospital. If you received care in Rochester, Minneapolis, at your physician's clinic or elsewhere, you can use this free service. The program counselors offer one-on-one assistance to help answer your questions.
How do I use the program?
The HICP is offered every Tuesday and Thursday at Rice Memorial Hospital. Volunteers are on site Tuesdays from 9:00am to 11:00am and Thursdays form 12:30pm to 2:00pm. Clients may walk-in during office hours or call for an appointment at 231-4069. HICP is provided free of charge, however, donations for program costs are accepted.
The Health Insurance Counseling Program (HICP) office is locatedat Rice Memorial HospitalProgram Office Hours:Every Tuesday9:00am - 11:00amEvery Thursday12:30pm - 2:00pmCall 231-4069 for questions or to schedule an appointment.
This program is funded by the Rice Health Foundation & Rice Hospital Auxiliary

Foot Lake Four Walk/Run

2010-06-02T12:23:00.001-07:00

Registration is open for this year's Foot Lake Four Walk/Run! The race starts at 8:00 AM on June 26. For more information, go to www.ricehospital.com/race.

2010-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Count our blessings

2010-05-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Count our Blessings (from computers to crochet)

I want to use today’s column to highlight a few of the many recent contributions from volunteers in Care Ministries. Our elementary Sunday School classes did two mission projects for Care Ministries this year. In February, they made little valentine hearts that we gave to homebound people and hospital patients. In April they made May baskets. These were little cones of construction paper filled with candies and silk flowers. We had 30 baskets for delivery at the beginning of May, and Wendy Nelson and her 7th grade class helped us to deliver them to homebound members and friends of our church. These little gifts brought tears of joy to many eyes as people realized that the loving connection with our church is not broken when you enter a hospital or nursing home. Just this week, I was in several nursing home rooms where the valentines and May baskets are still being used as decorations.
Michele Broman has recently joined us as a volunteer, sending greeting cards on behalf of the church to persons who have been ill, lost a loved one, or had other struggles. Michele sends cards every week, and it is wonderful to have her help. Don Donato set up a new blog site for Care Ministries. It’s called Care Talk, and you can access it by going to the church’s website www.umc.org. Now we can post news updates, information about health topics, and you can blog your questions and comments. Jan Hier recently updated her training in Hospice care, completing a two day course (7:30 AM-5:00 PM both days). She will be using some of her training as she serves as a team captain for the Grief Team. Her co-captain is Judy Foley, also a Rice Hospice volunteer. We thank Jan for her efforts, and we welcome Judy. One of our volunteers had surgery this Spring, and she was forced to give up doing care visits during her recovery. We are thankful that Lori Wright volunteered to visit in her place. Thank you, Lori, and I’m glad you’ve gotten to know a new friend during your visits!
Several skeins of soft, thick yarn were recently donated to our church. How could we use them? Lois Propp has volunteered to design and crochet lap blankets to give to those who are ill or suffering. We also have several knitters who make smaller prayer shawls that are worn on your shoulders. Prayer shawls are a very popular gift, and people often use them every day. One lady was asked by her nurse “who loved you enough to give you that pretty prayer shawl?” She answered “the people from the Willmar church gave me this, and I’m from Olivia!”
I am continuously encouraged by the willingness of so many people in our church to step forward and use their broad range of gifts to keep the Care Ministries program chugging along. “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19. Remember that even during times when we see problems in the church, we are constantly receiving blessings from our Lord. Let’s focus more on the blessings and less on the problems. The blessings come in the form of people who use their gifts in ministry. I’ve mentioned a few of our people/blessings here, and I invite you to think of others as well (you won’t have any trouble coming up with a long list). God’s hope for us is that we will always be a blessing. After all, our gifts come from Him: “Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already (CS Lewis).”
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2Cor 9:12)”

What can I do at a time like this?

2010-05-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

What can I do at a time like this?

CS Lewis wrote the book A Grief Observed as a way of expressing and coping with the grief of losing his wife to cancer. Here is a passage, written shortly after his wife’s death: “Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be-or so it feels-welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting on the inside. After that, silence.”…“Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not ‘So there’s no God after all,’ but ‘So this is what God’s really like. Deceive yourself no longer.’”
C.S. Lewis was one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century, but his grief clearly put his faith in danger. And his reaction is common. Along with the shock, confusion, and sadness of grief, we often experience a feeling of being alone, and a tendency to doubt our most important beliefs. When a friend or family member is grieving, how are God’s people called upon to help?
We can be there and we can listen. These are the two most important parts of helping those who suffer grief, but they aren’t easy. I know my tendency is to say to myself “she won’t want lots of people around right now, just give her some time.” Unfortunately, what happens so frequently is that everyone disappears, and then the grieving person is left to go it alone. “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend. (Psalm 88:18)”
Instead, we should offer our support. Call and invite the grieving person out to coffee. Stop by and bring some cookies or a meal. Just arrange a time to get together and visit. When we do visit, remember to listen. It’s also the hardest task. My own tendency is to talk too much and to try to offer ways to “fix-it” (and it’s not possible). The better path is simply to acknowledge the pain, share the tears, and offer our patient, nonjudgmental love.
How do we help during those times when grief damages someone’s faith in God? Our tool is the Bible, which features a loving God who knows about our suffering and cares for real people. The Bible does not pretend that all of our problems can be resolved, or that our story always has a happy ending. Our physical presence, our prayers, and our scriptures provide comfort during times of pain:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).” Our shepherd is always present, we are not alone. He guides us through the difficult, dangerous times, and He never abandons us.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows (2Cor 1:3-5).” This verse reflects God’s presence and comfort in times of trouble, and it lets us know that we, in turn, are to offer our presence and comfort to others in their pain.
Our newest Care Ministry team is our Grief Team. We offer support for persons in grief and for those caring for a person in grief. Would you like to know more about the Grief Team? Call Judy Foley, Jan Hier, or Susan Cafferty.
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1John 4:12).”