Dear Health Care Provider

“Each one of us has a body with many parts, and these parts all have different uses.  In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body.  Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts.  We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us.  The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith.  Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve.  Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach.” (Romans 12: 4-7)

We are currently in the process of developing our Health Ministry at First Lutheran Church.  One of the services that we hope to provide is blood pressure clinics.  Our first blood pressure clinic was held on 3/16/08 with positive response and many people wanting to have their blood pressure taken.  A need identified during this time was providing information on preventing and controlling high blood pressure and discussion on other concerns.  This was difficult with just one person providing the hands on skill of taking blood pressures.   Some people were unable to wait to have their blood pressure checked while the Parish Nurse was providing information on health concerns to others.  

We would like to have a few more people willing to take blood pressures while the Parish Nurse provides counseling.  This would allow more people to take advantage of this service.  Dependent on the number of people willing to help with this, you would be called on to assist possibly 3-4 times a year or less.  The blood pressure clinics would most likely occur 1 Sunday a month after services.

We ask that you consider sharing your gift of serving and teaching with the congregation.  We would appreciate an answer by April 30th in order to establish dates and times for the next blood pressure clinic at our next Health Cabinet Meeting.   You can contact: Carla Szklarski at 218-686-8141 or e-mail cszklarski@wiktel.com or contact Pastor Gary.

The parish nurse for the First-Eidsvold Lutheran Parish is Carla Szklarski who is a registered nurse and has been trained by the Concordia College Parish Nurse program.  She is working on a volunteer basis in promoting better health and health care in this parish and would welcome anyone who would like to work with her.

The First Lutheran Church council continues to look for persons who will serve on a health cabinet to advise the parish nurse on ways to serve the congregation through this ministry and to evaluate the programs as they happen or are concluded.  Meetings would be about once a month.  Currently they are on the first Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m.  The council's desire is for the cabinet to be a cross section of the congregation: young and old, medically trained and no in a medical profession, men and women.  To offer to be a member of the health cabinet please conact either the parish nurse or the pastor.

April 16, 2008 is National Healthcare Decisions Day.  No one in the U.S. will be able to open a paper, watch TV, view the internet, see a physician or lawyer, or go to a health care facility without being confronted with the topic of healthcare decision making.    Everyone can benefit from thinking about what their healthcare choices would be if they are unable to speak for themselves, but as Christians what does this mean for us and what are our denominations views on end of life care?

As sited by the ELCA Church Council on November 9, 1992, ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address decisions about dying that are morally acceptable and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits through prayer and careful reflection. 

They go on to state that our faith as Christians informs and guides us in approaching personal and public decisions about death and dying today.  Among the convictions that orient us are:

·        Life is a gift from God, to be received with thanksgiving;

·        The integrity of the life processes which God has created should be respected; both birth and death are part of these life processes;

·        Both living and dying should occur within a caring community;

·        A Christian perspective mandates respect for each person; such respect includes giving due recognition to each person’s carefully considered preferences regarding treatment decisions;

·        Truthfulness and faithfulness in our relations with others are essential to the texture of human life; and,

·        Hope and meaning in life are possible even in times of suffering and adversity; a truth powerfully proclaimed resurrection faith of the church.

“Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lords’” (Rom 14:8). For those who live with this confidence, neither life nor death is absolute.  We treasure God’s gift of life; we also prepare ourselves for a time when we may let go of our lives, entrusting our future to the crucified and risen Christ who is “Lord of both the dead and the living” (Rom 14:9).

Some basic approaches regarding end of life decisions as outlined by the ELCA are in regards to artificially administered nutrition and hydration, refusal of treatment, and physician assisted death.

When medical judgment determines that artificially administered nutrition and hydration will not contribute to an improvement in the patient’s underlying condition or prevent death from that condition patients or their legal spokespersons may consider them unduly burdensome and may be morally responsible to withhold or withdraw them and allow death to occur.  Relieve from suffering, physical comfort, and assurance of God’s enduring love will continue.

Because competent patients are the prime decision makers, they may refuse treatment recommended by health care professionals when they do not believe the benefits outweigh the risks and burdens.  This is also the care for patients who are incompetent but who have identified their wishes through advance directives, living wills, and/or conversations with family or designated surrogates.

The deliberate action of a physician to take the life of a patient, even when this is the patient’s wish is a different matter.  As a church we affirm that deliberately destroying life created in the image of God is contrary to our Christian conscience. Caring treatment that allows death to occur within the bounds of what is morally acceptable may help reduce the appeal of physician assisted death.

Advance directives are welcome means to foster responsible decisions at the end of life.  Below is a list of resources to help you make, discuss and document future healthcare wishes and decisions. 

·        AARP End of Life Planning

·        Aging with Dignity: Five Wishes Order online or call 850-681-2010

·        American Bar Association: Tool kit for health Care Advance Planning

·        American Health Lawyers Association

·        American Hospital Association

·        Caring Connections free state specific advance directives download free or call 800-658-8898

·        Center for Practical Bioethics

·        Speak with your healthcare provider

·        Contact your Parish Nurse