Director's Note, Spirit of Giving: Thank you!, Upcoming Events, Community Events, Did You Know?, and Talking Turkey Over Turkey.
Dear HMN community,
There is much to be thankful for this November. We had a wonderful Spirit of Giving lunch event and raised more than $7,000 for Health Ministries Network! That includes 28 individual gifts and 20 business sponsorships. These funds are essential to continuing our services of seeding new health ministry, and providing foundational and ongoing educational opportunities.
Perhaps most importantly, we honored the more than 100 faith community nurses and health ministers who serve in our region. Thank you to each of the faith community nurses who shared about their service as Angel awardees. We also honored Rev. Bobbi Virta of United Church of Ferndale with the 2019 Clergy Champion award.
If you missed the event, please consider supporting Health Ministries Network with an online donation.
With a thankful heart,
Amelia Vader Executive Director amelia@healthministriesnetwork.net
Spirit of Giving: Thank you!
This year’s lunch was a wonderful event because of the community created by FCNs, HMs, partners and supporters! Thank you. Click here to see photos and read about the 2019 Angel Awardees, Clergy Champion, and more.
Upcoming Events
November Meeting
Friday, Nov 15, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Silverado Memory Care Community, 4400 Columbine Dr., Bellingham Silverado will provide a hot lunch and attendees will have opportunity for group discussion and for a Virtual Dementia Tour. We hope to see you there! . This meeting is free and all are welcome, especially those interested in health ministry! A light lunch will be provided.
December Meeting
Friday, Dec 20, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham
Please join us for a for our December meeting, program TBA. This meeting is free and all are welcome, especially those interested in health ministry! A light lunch will be provided.
Clergy Breakfast: Building a Health Ministry
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham
Join us for a hot breakfast, learn what health ministry can do for your congregation and how to get started. Whether you have an established health ministry or are interested in learning more, we hope you'll join us! Open to clergy, pastors, rabbi, and anyone interested in health ministry.
Community Events
In an effort to connect our volunteers with relevant resources, we publish community events in our monthly newsletter and on our website. Email sampson@healthministriesnetwork.net to add your own.
Holiday Party
Thursday, Nov 14, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Roosevelt Community Center, 2303 Moore St, Bellingham
Please join the Whatcom CHW Network for an evening of merriment.
Realities of Advance Medical Interventions
Wednesday, Dec 04, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM St. Luke's Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, Bellingham
Learn what their outcomes could mean for patients in the short and long term.
Did You Know?
In an effort to connect our volunteers with relevant resources, we publish news and announcements in our monthly newsletter and on our website. Email sampson@healthministriesnetwork.net to add your own.
Take control of opioids, take back your meds
About 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them, usually taken from a friend or family member. Simple steps like safely disposing of unused medications can stop them from being misused. Go to takebackyourmeds.org to find a take back location near you.
Talking Turkey Over Turkey
Courtesy of Micki Jackson, Realities of Advance Medical Interventions Organizer
Who gets the wishbone in your family? What better time to "make your
wishes known" about your end-of-life healthcare choices than at a family
and friends' Thanksgiving gathering?
Believe it or not, advance care planning (ACP) for your end-of-life
healthcare wishes and the holidays go together. I encourage you to
seize the opportunity when grandma and grandpa, Aunt Mary and Uncle
Jack, you, your kids, your friends -- multiple generations, are united
at the table -- and "talk turkey, over turkey" about your wishes, goals,
and values. A little known fact: advance directives are intended for all
adults 18 years of age and up.
To ease into your conversations you might want to get a few decks of
the card game "Go Wish," available in English and Spanish at gowish.org
Our community is setting the standard in Washington state for
promoting the benefits of medical ACP, but we can do better. Accepting
death's inevitability lets us sort out the significant from the trivial,
the spiritual from the material, to better focus on the time we have to
live and love. One healthcare provider has described a completed
advance directive as "a love letter to those we adore."
Given today's medical landscape, the less prepared we are, the more
unpleasant, traumatic and protracted our last days are likely going to
be. Preparing to the extent possible to lessen stress and gain greater
peace of mind when a crisis hits that may signal end of life, is also a
gift to those we care about.
A small team of community volunteers offers the presentation, The
Realities of Advanced Medical Interventions, which is followed up about
a week later with an ACP workshop. This model supports good
decision-making before accident or illness occurs. Our presentations and
workshops for the community are free, including notary service for those
who complete their advance directive.
If your service organization, book club, employees/employer, faith
community, union membership, student club, or other group would like to schedule a
Realities of Advanced Medical Interventions presentation and follow up
advance directive workshop, please let us know.
Contact: Micki Jackson, (360) 201-7840; micki98226@aol.com.
The outcome of this important activity is to say to those you love, "I
care about you." So, let's talk turkey, over turkey while we can still
speak for ourselves.
Support
Help us support the invaluable work of faith community nurses and health ministers in northwest Washington by donating today!
