6 Healthy Iniatives Around Our Diocese

Alive and Well in our Churches

A BRIEF OVERVIEW

sex education classes, lice checks, scoliosis checks and immunization reviews. Nurses help staff the Vacation Bible School. Needy folks in the community also benefit from the efforts of Reeves and her associates.

“We have a lot of outreach stuff going on here and people will ask us to follow up on things they’ve noticed in their rounds,” said Ms. Reeves. “Like folks who can’t afford to heat or cool their homes.”

This Won’t Hurt a Bit: Kate Reeves,

R.N. takes the blood pressure of a St. Margaret’s parishioner. Reeves is one of many catalysts for health and wellness in our diocese and the greater Church.

C

hurches in the Diocese of San Diego are caring for the health and well being

of their members. From earth-friendly stewardship committees to parish nurse programs, our congregations are committed to fostering health in our collective community. Below are a few examples, but more abound.

Parish Nurse Program

Kate Reeves, R.N. is the parish nurse at St. Margaret’s in Palm Desert. She holds regular office hours at the church, but spends a significant amount of time consulting by phone regarding medical and insurance problems. She facilitates classes and clinics including an H1N1 clinic, a first aid course and periodic AED trainings. She is part of the pastoral care committee; this team serves by visiting people in the hospital, visiting the homebound, sending bereavement packets, providing food or transportation and calling people the committee feels concerned about. It’s not only the parish that benefits from this kind of expertise and care. At the on site Episcopal school, Reeves’ helps by providing

Spring Calendar

March

30

April

2

4 5

8

Renewal of Ordination Vows, St. Paul’s Cathedral 10:30 a.m.

Good Friday Offering Easter Sunday

Easter Monday Office of the Bishop Closed

Bishop’s Regional Office Hours St. Thomas, Temecula

9-10 Dignity and Diversity Training St. James, La Jolla

22-25 Cursillo Weekend Camp Stevens, Julian

May

1

23-24 Clergy Planning for Tomorrow Conference Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley

24 25

Safeguarding God’s People Good Samaritan, San Diego 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Camp Stevens Sunday and

St. George’s Day Evensong St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, 5:00 p.m.

Daughters of the King Spring Meeting St. Peter’s, Del Mar, 9:30 a.m.

1-2 New Beginnings Good Shepherd, Hemet

27 28 30

June

3

19

The Bishop’s School Baccalaureate The Bishop’s School Commencement Trinity Sunday

31 Memorial Day Office of the Bishop Closed

Communicators’ Quarterly Meeting 12:00 p.m.

Ordination of Deacons St. Paul’s Cathedral 10:00 a.m.

When it comes to stories of people who have benefitted from the parish nurse program, Reeves can’t say enough. She “diagnosed atrial fibrillation in one member and got him to the hospital; took care of one very old lady until death and she was not a member; helped clean out the home of a couple who died within days of each other because there was a huge family ‘to do’ and we were the neutral party; got the sheriff involved in a case of elder abuse.”

“I have loved doing this,” said Reeves. X

Eco-Stewardship Committee

The Eco-Stewardship Committee at St. James by-the-Sea in La Jolla was formed in January 2009. It has iniated many green changes at St. James including: sponsoring an informational ecology fair; working with Icology Group to support its mission to build affordable, earth-friendly homes in Mexico; recycling as many products as possible; sponsoring a monthly exchange of plastic grocery bags for a St. James’ cloth bag; encouraging responsible water use; reducing the church’s use of electrical power and engaging in a partnership with California Interfaith Power and Light. X

Health and Wellness

Ministry

Good Samaritan has recently revived its health and wellness ministry and parish nurse program, with regular meetings beginning in March. Their program provides regular health check-ups for members as well as blood pressure clinics and education services for the congregation. Mimi Santos can be reached for more information: 858-654-1852, rpsantos@ semprautilities.com. X

Health Advocate Honored by

“Peace Begins with a Smile:” Carlene

Gibbons, was honored by her community for being a peacemaker. Her health advocacy at Christ Church, Coronado is legendary. Congratulations!

Community

Carlene Gibbons volunteers for typical church roles at Christ Church, Coronado: greeter, lector and Lay Eucharistic Visitor, but she also serves as chair of the Pastoral Needs Ministry. She was instrumental in acquiring two automatic external defibrillators (AED) for Christ Church from San Diego Project Heartbeat. She works with San Diego Hospice and arranged for a doctor from that organization to present a Sunday forum series about hospice and palliative medicine. Gibbons

encouraged Christ Church to join National Episcopal Health Ministries. She organized an evening event, “Coronado 101,” held at Christ Church, which focused on shingles with a video presentation and a panel of local physicians. Coronado Hospital attended the event and gave flu shots; Project Heartbeat spoke about the AED units; and the local fire department presented emergency information.

While Christ Church has always had faith in Gibbons, now all of Coronado does. Gibbons has been chosen as a Peacemaker Award winner by the Coronado Human Relations Commission in the Faith category. She is recognized as “a religious or spiritual leader in Coronado whose work has been especially effective in promoting and building peace in human relationships.” Awards will be presented on Thursday, April 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Coronado Community Center, Nautilus Room. X

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